8th Grade Physical Science Curriculum

1
8th Grade Physical Science Curriculum

• Southwest Middle School
• Becky Fishel and
• Jackie Cromwell-Olson

2
The student will understand that matter is made
of small particles and this explains the
properties of matter.

• How taught?
• Textbook Chapters
• 1-4, 11 12
• Reproducible activities from text
• Labs
• Solubility Lab
• Measurement Labs
• Density of a Gas Lab
• Boiling, melting, freezing, and sublimation labs

• How assessed?
• Chapter Tests
• Sludge Test

3
The student will differentiate between chemical
and physical changes.

• How taught?
• Textbook Chapters1-4, 14
• Reproducible activities from text
• Labs
• Chemical Magic Show
• White Before Your Eyes Lab
• Unpolluting Water Lab

• How assessed?
• Chapter Tests
• Sludge Test

4
The student will understand that energy exists in
many forms and can be transferred in many ways.

• How taught?
• Textbook Chapters 9, 10 20-22
• Reproducible activities from text
• Labs
• Wave Lab
• Sound/ Light Toys
• Tuning Fork Lab

• How assessed?
• Chapter Tests
• Egg Drop
• Roller Coaster Design

5
The student will describe the motion of objects.

• How assessed?
• Chapter Tests
• Egg Drop
• Roller Coaster Design

• How taught?
• Textbook Chapters5 - 7
• Reproducible Activities from Text
• Labs
• Speed of Toys Lab
• Acceleration Lab
• Friction Lab
• Hot Air Balloons!

6
The student will understand that a variety of
forces govern the structure and motion of objects
in the universe.

• How taught?
• Textbook Chapters 17 18
• Reproducible Activities from Text
• Labs
• Magnet Lab
• Static electricity demonstrations
• DC Motor Lab
• Circuit Lab

• How assessed?
• Chapter Tests

7
The student will understand that science is a way
of knowing about the world that is characterized
by empirical criteria, logical argument and
skeptical review.

• How taught?
• Scientific theories as a result of new
  discoveries
• Development of atomic theories
• Development of periodic table

• How assessed?
• Atomic Timeline Project

8
The student will understand that scientific
inquiry is used by scientists to investigate the
natural world in systematic ways.

• How taught?
• Textbook Chapter 1 and continue through out the
  entire year.
• Reproducible Activities from Text
• Frequent hands on activities and labs.
• Simulated computer labs

• How assessed?
• Lab Reports

9
Students will use multiple skills to design and
conduct scientific investigations.

• How taught?
• Lab Inquiry
• Students ask questions and design their own
  experiment versus teacher directed instructions.

• How assessed?
• Teacher observation during lab.

10
The student will understand how scientific
discovery, culture, societal norms and technology
have influenced one another in different time
periods. The student will know that science and
technology are human efforts that both influence
and are influenced by civilizations and cultures
worldwide.

• How taught and assessed?
• Sound projects
• Inventors and Innovators project
• History of flight timeline

11
Role of Science in preparing SW students for the
MCA

• Scientific Inquiry
• Technical reading
• Measurement
• Charts graphs
• Main ideas and supporting detail
• Inference
• Compare and contrast
• Summarizing
• Vocabulary
• Math skills

12
Thank you