th

•
Builds Upon Experiences & Provides Foundation
•
Four Content Strands
– Observing Living Things
–
Understanding Populations and Ecosystems
–
Chesapeake Bay
–
Exploring Heredity and Diversity
•
Strands developed through variety of instructional strategies
–
Emphasis on observation, experimentation, discussion, generalization and application, 85% Hands-On---Learn Through Doing
•
Learn concepts in a variety of ways
– laboratory investigation, making predictions, designing experiments, collect and organize data in charts and graphs, models, communicate results
•
Computer technologies integrated with instruction
–
CD-ROMS, interactive videodisc, digital camera, application software, flex camera, laser disc players. wireless lab stations

•
Students investigate interactions of living things with environment
• Observations, Scientific Drawing
– Work in small groups to build mini ecosystems
– Make detailed observations and inferences about the interdependence of living and nonliving things
– Create Food Chains and Food Webs
– Apply basic ecological concepts to explore human interactions with Chesapeake Bay Watershed

• Students investigate characteristics of living things
–
Classification
–
Experimental Design
– Use compound microscopes to observe a variety of plant and animal cells to see similarities and differences
– Study pattern of organization in multicellular organisms, look at cell processes – osmosis, diffusion, photosynthesis
–
Review life processes of living things
– Introduced to genetic principles of how living things pass traits from one generation to the next, DNA
– Change over time

th

• The 8th grade physical science course, titled
“Investigating Matter and Energy,” builds upon the physical science experiences introduced in upper elementary school.
• There are three content strands developed through a sequence of varied instructional strategies with an emphasis on experimentation, observation, generalization, application, and discussion.
•
Students learn physical science concepts through hands-on laboratory investigations.

Matter
Force

• Through hands-on experiences, students examine different types of matter and create generalizations about the nature of matter including physical and chemical changes.
• They build on their knowledge of the atom and study the organization of the periodic table to gain a better understanding of chemicals and their properties.
Topics
Physical Properties
Mass, Volume, Density
Atoms & the Periodic Table
Chemical Bonds
Chemical Reactions
Acids & Bases

•
Students analyze energy transformations and apply their general knowledge of the forms of energy to understand the how work occurs.
•
Hand-on activities focus on particular forms of energy and their application to gain a deeper understanding of these concepts.
Topics
Forms of Energy
Heat & Temperature
Waves, Light & Sound
Electricity & Magnetism

•
Students form a stronger conceptual understanding of work, force and motion.
•
Activities engage students in learning the relationships of physics principles. They are designed to build confidence in examining and discussing physics concepts based on data and theoretical knowledge.
Topics
Force & Motion
Speed, Velocity & Acceleration
Newton’s Laws
Work & Power
Mechanical Advantage
Efficiency

Communicating Problem-Solving
Thinking Professional
Collaborating Meeting Standards

•
Binders/Lab Manuals/Textbook
•
Planners
•
Tests/Review
•
Portfolio Folders
•
Blackboard

• Organization
– Planners
– Homework buddies
–
Blackboard
• Get Involved
–
Team Events
– Team Parent
– Clubs/Activities
– Dances
• Study Skills
– Study Space at Home
– Review notes/chapter
–
Study-Quiz-Study
•
Parent/Guardian
–
Check Homework
– Check Planner
– We need your help