Grade 8 Science
Scope
The eighth-grade course is a piece of a banded 6th-8th grade curriculum, which follows the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards. the science curriculum is based on the Next Generation of Science Standards for Middle Schools in New York State. We teach these particular units in grade eight because they provide our students with the necessary foundation and background knowledge needed for high school and beyond. The units, including properties of matter, chemistry, forces, motion, work and machines, energy and heat transfer, have been coordinated with sixth- and seventh-grade curricula.
Units
Unit — Properties of Matter
Essential Questions
How has matter and its properties shaped our world?
Guiding Questions
Why don’t all substances have the same properties?
How do properties of materials determine their use?
Why do some substances sink and some float?
What is natural?
How are synthetic materials made?
Are all plastics the same?
How do we find out about our world?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS1-1
MS-PS1-3
MS-PS1-7
Unit — Phases of Matter
Essential Questions
Why do we have different states of matter?
Guiding Questions
Why do substances freeze and melt at the same temperature?
Why do substances evaporate and condense at the same temperature?
How can thermal energy and particle motion make substances more useful?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS1-4
MS-PS1-6
Unit — Chemistry
Essential Questions
How have interactions of matter changed the past, present, and future of the universe?
Guiding Questions
How do particles combine to form the variety of matter one observes?
How do substances combine or change to make new substances?
How does one characterize and explain reactions and make predictions about them?
How do changes in matter affect your life?
What chemicals do you interact with each day?
What is the difference between a chemical and a physical interaction?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS1-2.A
MS-PS1-5
MS-PS1-6
MS-PS1-8
Unit — Forces
Essential Questions
Why do we have stability and change in our universe?
Guiding Questions
Why do objects move?
Why do objects stay still?
How do we compare the motion of objects?
How/why are objects able to interact with each other when they can’t touch each other?
How can fluids apply forces on other substances/ objects?
How can pressure applied to fluids make changes in a substance?
Do all objects feel the same gravitational pull?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS2-1
MS-PS2-2
MS-PS2-3
MS-PS2-4
MS-PS2-5
Unit — Motion
Essential Questions
Why do we have stability and change in our universe?
Guiding Questions
How do we calculate how much an object’s speed has changed?
Are there different types of acceleration?
How do brakes stop a car’s motion?
Can free fall happen on Earth?
How do Newton’s laws work together to explain the motion of objects?
Can you show a relationship between force, mass, and the motion of an object?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS2-2
Unit — Work and Machines
Essential Questions
What makes something a tool?
What makes a tool useful?
What technology is left to invent?
Guiding Questions
How do we make life easier for ourselves?
What makes a tool more useful than another tool?
How can you improve the efficiency of a machine?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS3-5
Unit — Energy and Heat Transfer
Essential Questions
How will we solve our energy crisis?
What are energy sources of the future?
What is the connection between energy and matter — are they the same?
Guiding Questions
How can heat energy be transferred?
How do temperature and heat energy compare?
Why do substances always want to reach a thermal equilibrium?
How does an object’s kinetic and potential energy compare?
Resources
Textbooks
Websites
Articles
Measuring tools
Lab-related equipment
Skills
Students will:
ask questions and define problems.
develop and use models.
plan and carry out investigations.
analyze and interpret data.
use mathematics and computational thinking.
construct explanations and design solutions.
engage in arguments from evidence.
obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.
MS-PS1-6
MS-PS3-1
MS-PS3-2
MS-PS3-3
MS-PS3-4
MS-PS3-5
MS-PS3-6