South Carolina
8 GRADE SCIENCE
2011-2012 Pacing Guide
th
Unit
Days
Introduction
(Day 1)
1 Day
Scientific Inquiry
(Days 2-10)
9 Days
Standard/
Indicator
Major Topics/Concepts
Introduction to the course
Know the steps and design a controlled scientific
investigation; Scientific observation; Qualitative vs.
Quantitative (Data); Inference; Dependent vs.
Independent variable; Use tables or charts for data
organization; Systematic process for conducting a valid
(safe and accurate) investigation; Construct
explanations and valid conclusions for investigations;
Generate testable questions for further study of a
topic; Repeating trials to detect patterns and trends in
experimental data; Sample; Safe, accurate, and
appropriate use of tools and instruments (slinky
springs); Metric measurement; Safety procedures for
investigations
8-1.1
8-1.2
8-1.3
8-1.4
8-1.5
8-1.6
8-1.7
This unit does not need to be taught in consecutive
days, but all concepts should be introduced by day 41.
It is recommended that four days be direct instruction
on inquiry, and the remaining five days be embedded
throughout the next three units.
Motion
(Days 11-20)
Forces
(Days 21-34 )
Properties of
Waves
(Days 35-41)
Days 42-43
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10 Days
8-5.1
8-5.2
14 Days
8-5.3
8-5.4
8-5.5
8-5.6
7 Days
8-6.1
8-6.2
8-6.3
Motion results from change of position; Reference
point; Displacement; Distance; Direction;
Measurement of motion; Speed; Distance-Time
graphs; Slope of a line; Interpret motion from data on
a graph; Solve problems using V = d/t with
appropriate units; Identify variables involved in speed
problems
How forces (gravity, friction) impact speed and
direction; Impact of varying the amount of force or
mass on motion; Impact of balanced or unbalanced
forces on magnitude and direction of moving objects;
Calculate net force; Use arrows to represent
magnitude and direction of forces; Inertia; Examples
of the effects of inertia
Waves transmit energy; Vibration; Medium (solid,
liquid, gas); How waves travel; Cause of waves;
Mechanical vs. Electromagnetic wave characteristics;
Vacuum; Compressional/Longitudinal waves vs.
Transverse waves; Rarefaction; Crest; Trough; Factors
that influence wave properties (frequency, amplitude,
wavelength, speed); Transverse wave diagrams
Review/1st Benchmark (covering all content through day 41)
1
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Unit
Scientific Inquiry
(Days 44-51)
Days
8 Days
Standard/
Indicator
Major Topics/Concepts
Know the steps and design a controlled scientific
investigation; Scientific observation; Qualitative vs.
Quantitative (Data); Inference; Dependent vs.
Independent variable; Use tables or charts for data
organization; Systematic process for conducting a valid
(safe and accurate) investigation; Construct
explanations and valid conclusions for investigations;
Generate testable questions for further study of a
topic; Repeating trials to detect patterns and trends in
experimental data; Sample; Safe, accurate, and
appropriate use of tools and instruments (convex
lenses, plane mirrors, color filters, prisms); Metric
measurement; Safety procedures for investigations
8-1.1
8-1.2
8-1.3
8-1.4
8-1.5
8-1.6
8-1.7
Eight days are allowed to provide time for inquiry
concepts to be embedded and reinforced through
actual experimentation during the next five units.
Wave Behavior
and Sound
(Days 52-57)
6 Days
8-6.4
8-6.5
The
Electromagnetic
Spectrum and
Light
(Days 58-66)
9 Days
8-6.6
8-6.7
8-6.8
Studying Our
Solar System and
the Universe
(Days 67-75)
9 Days
8-4.1
8-4.9
8-4.10
The Sun
(Days 76-78)
3 Days
8-4.2
8-4.3
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Wave behaviors:
 Refraction (convex lenses, prisms, diffraction
gratings)
 Reflection (plane mirrors)
 Transmission (transparent, opaque, translucent)
 Absorption (infrared radiation)
Main parts of the ear (outer ear, eardrum, middle ear,
inner ear); How the ear and brain interact with sound
waves for hearing to occur
Major parts of the eye (cornea, lens, retina, optic
nerve); How the eye and brain interact with light
waves for sight to occur; Absorption and reflection of
light waves result in color perception; Frequency of
light waves; Color filters; Electromagnetic spectrum
(visible light, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation);
Relationship between wavelength, frequency, and
energy of waves in EM spectrum
Characteristics and movements of objects in our Solar
System (planets, moons, asteroids, comets,
meteoroids); Sequence planets in order from the Sun
or by size; Location relationships between objects
within the Solar System and those out in the Universe;
Position of the Sun in the Universe; Composition and
shapes of galaxies (elliptical, spiral, irregular); Light
year; Milky Way galaxy; Tools and technologies used
to make observations and collect data about objects in
space (telescopes, satellites, space probes,
spectroscopes); Optical vs. Radio telescopes
Characteristics of Sun’s atmosphere (photosphere,
corona); Surface feature characteristics of the Sun
(sunspots, prominences, solar flares); Effects of
surface features on the Earth (solar wind, auroras,
magnetic storms, light and heat radiation)
2
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Unit
The Earth and
Moon
(Days 79-84)
Days 85-86
Days
6 Days
Standard/
Indicator
Major Topics/Concepts
8-4.4
8-4.5
Rotation and revolution of the Earth and the Moon;
Impact of Earth and/or Moon motions on the Earth
(day, year, lunar movement, phases of the Moon,
eclipses, tides); Axis; Elliptical orbit; Moon phases
(new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing
gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter,
waning crescent); Solar vs. Lunar eclipses; High and
low tides; Spring and neap tides; How Earth’s tilt
results in varied hours of daylight and unequal heating
of hemispheres and seasonal change; Solstice vs.
Equinox
Review/2nd Benchmark (covering content from day 1-84)
9 Days
8-1.1
8-1.2
8-1.3
8-1.4
8-1.5
8-1.6
8-1.7
Gravitational
Forces
(Days 96-103)
8 Days
8-4.6
8-4.7
8-4.8
Internal
Structures of the
Earth
(Days 104-109)
6 Days
Scientific Inquiry
(Days 87-95)
Lithospheric
Movement and
Changing
Landforms
(Days 110-121)
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12 days
Same description as previous two sections on Scientific
Inquiry
Nine days are allowed to provide time for inquiry
concepts to be embedded and reinforced through
actual experimentation during the next four units.
Factors influencing the force of gravity (mass,
distance); Impact of varying mass and/or distance on
gravitational force; How the pull of gravity affects tides
and orbits; Mass vs. Weight; Balance and spring scale
Position, density, and composition of the Earth’s layers
(crust, mantle, core); Lithosphere; Asthenosphere;
How data from seismic waves (primary, secondary,
surface) and the magnetic field is used to infer the
Earth’s internal structure; Properties of seismic waves;
Longitudinal vs. Transverse waves; How speed and
direction of a seismic wave depends on the material
through which it passes; Behavior of compass within
Earth’s magnetic field
Use seismograph data to determine epicenter of an
earthquake; Seismogram; Triangulation; How seismic
waves move from the focus of an earthquake;
Lithospheric plate motion (convection currents);
Motion at plate boundaries and the resulting changes
in Earth’s landforms; Divergent boundary; Convergent
boundary; Transform boundary; Pangaea; Continental
drift; Plate tectonics; Impact of volcanic eruptions on
landforms; Magma; Vent; Lava; Ring of Fire; Impact of
mountain-building forces on landforms;
Forces/stresses (tension, compression, shearing);
Faults (normal, reverse, strike-slip); Fault-block
mountain; How internal forces along a fault cause
earthquakes; Compare location and energy of the
epicenter and focus of an earthquake
8-3.1
8-3.2
8-3.3
8-3.6
8-3.7
8-3.8
3
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Unit
Geologic
Features, Rock
Formation, and
Resources
(Days 122-130)
Days 131-133
Days
9 Days
10 Days
Geologic Time
(Days 144-155)
12 Days
Days 161-165
Days 165-180
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Major Topics/Concepts
8-3.4
8-3.5
8-3.9
How the rock cycle results in igneous, metamorphic,
and sedimentary rock formation; Intrusive vs.
Extrusive igneous rock; How weathering, erosion, and
deposition can form sedimentary rock; How certain
physical and chemical properties make minerals, ores,
and fossil fuels important resources; How geologic
features are identified and modeled using aerial
photography, satellite imagery, and topographic maps;
Geologic features (mountains, rivers, tributaries, lakes,
farmland, forests, Carolina bays, coastal features);
Colors and shapes on satellite images; How elevation,
relief, and slope of surface are depicted on
topographic map; Use scale, symbols, contour lines
and intervals to interpret topographic maps
Review/3rd Benchmark (covering content from day 1-130)
Survival and
Diversity of Life
(Days 134-143)
Days 156-160
Standard/
Indicator
How adaptations of populations increase chances of
survival in the environment; Variations; Adaptations;
Natural selection; Use of fossils to study Earth’s history
and diversity; Formation processes of fossils (mold,
8-2.1
cast, petrified, preserved, carbonized, trace); Evidence
8-2.2
from the fossil record; Effect of catastrophic events on
8-2.3
the conditions and diversity of life on Earth;
Catastrophic events (asteroid, comet, volcanoes,
climate change) resulting in environmental changes
that impact life; Ice ages
Units of the geologic time scale (eras, periods,
epochs); Eras (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic);
Ongoing nature of geologic time; Increasing diversity
8-2.4
and complexity of life across geologic time; Organisms
8-2.5
representative of each era; Major geologic changes
8-2.6
due to plate tectonics; Relative age (law of
8-2.7
superposition, index fossils); Trilobites; Extinction of
species (natural factors, man-made factors); Identify
extinct species and the factors that led to their
extinction
Review/Optional Comprehensive Benchmark
(covering all content objectives)
PASS Testing
Review/Enrichment/Special Projects
4
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