Medical Lake Middle School
8th Grade Science Syllabus 2020-21
Teacher: Sam Petersen
Subject Matter: Matter and Chemical Interactions; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth Geology and Geography.
Course Description: The 8th grade science course is part of our districts adopted scope and sequence in science curriculum that provides students with necessary knowledge in physical, chemistry and earth sciences. This course covers the “Next Generation Science Standards”, “Washington State-OSPI” and “Common Core State Standards” that students will need to be successful in science for high school and beyond.
Concepts Covered:
EALR’s (Essential Academic Learning Requirements)
EALR-1 “Systems”
“Inputs, Outputs, Boundaries and Flows”
6-8 SYS A-F: Students can define a system and its boundaries. They can describe its features such as output, input, open, closed and relate these concepts to societal issues.
EALR-2 “Inquiry”
“Questioning and Investigation”
6-8 INQ A-I: Students can generate questions, plan investigations and communicate their results using scientific principles to better understand a phenomena.
EALR-3 “Application”
“Science, Technology and Problem Solving”
6-8 APP A-G: Students can describe changes in technology over time and how it has led to new ideas and designs that have benefited people.
EALR-4 “Domains of Science”
“Balanced and Unbalanced Forces”
6-8 PS1 A-D: Students can measure, illustrate, demonstrate and determine quantities of speed, friction, balanced and unbalanced forces that result in a change of speed.
“Atoms and Molecules”
6-8 PS2 A-F: Students can describe the physical and chemical properties of substances. They can describe matter in terms of elements and compounds.
“Interactions of Energy and Matter”
6-8 PS3 A-F: Students can describe the forms of energy and how it can be transferred from one form or location to another.
“Cycles in Earth’s Systems”
6-8 ES2 A-H: Students can describe the parts of the solid earth, water cycle, rock cycle and their process.
“Evidence of Change”
6-8 ES3 A-E: Students can describe how Earth processes we observe today can help us understand past events and Earth history.
“Flow of Energy through Ecosystems”
6-8 LS2 A-E: Students can explain and analyze an ecosystem and describe the flow of energy in the system. They will be able to predict the results of change in an ecosystem.
Standards/Resources:
http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards
http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RST/6-8/
http://www.commoncoresciences.com/common_core_standards.html
http://www.nsta.org/about/positions/middlelevel.aspx
http://www.k12.wa.us/science/pubdocs/WAScienceStandards.pdf
District Adopted Materials: Glencoe Science “The Nature of Matter”, “The Changing Surface of Earth” and “Motion, Forces and Energy”.
Supplemental Resources: Google Chrome for research and reports, hands on activities (labs) for inquiry and exploration, and various technologies to enhance learning.