Science Pacing Guide – Eighth Grade
Month
August
2 wks
Aug-Sept
7 wks
Standards & Elements
Content
Laboratory & Inquiry
Skills
S8CS9. Students will
understand the features of
the process of scientific
inquiry. S8CS2. Students
will use standard safety
practices for all classroom
laboratory and field
investigations.
S8CS3. Students will have
the computation and
estimation skills necessary
for analyzing data and
following scientific
explanations.
S8CS4. Students will use
tools and instruments for
observing, measuring, and
manipulating equipment
and materials in scientific
activities utilizing safe
laboratory procedures
Scientific Inquiry
Lab safety procedures
Tools & Equipment
Matter
S8P1. Students will
examine the scientific view
of the nature of matter.
a. Distinguish between
atoms and molecules.
b. Describe the difference
between pure substances
(elements and compounds)
and mixtures.
Atoms and Elements
Molecules
Mixtures /Compounds
Periodic Table
Physical/chemical
properties
Physical and chemical
changes
Law of Conservation of
matter
Science – 8th Grade
Volume, Mass, Length
Kilo, Hecto,Deca, Base
units, Deci, Centi, Milli
Vocabulary
Meters
volume
mass,
Temperature
Area
Density
inquiry,
Safety procedures
Protocols
SEPUP
Skill / Assessment
6, 10, 27, 32,
38, 45, 51,
54, 56, 65,
74, 75, 77
6, 8, 9, 18,
35, 51, 62, 74
10, 19, 22,
35, 40, 41,
49, 74, 76
5, 8, 14, 24,
40, 51, 63, 74
*Identify correct &
incorrect safety lab
scenario
*Draw/illustrate lab safety
rules
*Identify and use
appropriated tools &
units for measuring
objects and /or
substances
*Apply the metric system
to scientific investigations
that include metric to
metric conversions
15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20,
25, 26, 35,
37, 45, 46, 50
*Identify 2 properties of
all matter
*Describe and calculate
mass, volume, density
and weight, relationship
between inertia
*Compare physical and
chemical properties of
matter
*Describe 4 states of
Metric System
Precision
Investigation
Scientific method
Collaboration
Matter, volume, meniscus,
mass, gravity, Newton,
inertia, pressure, Boyle’s
law, plasma, melting,
freezing, vaporization,
sublimation, pure substance,
nonmetals,
Compounds, solution,
solvent, solubility, colloid,
theory, model, electron
Page 1
Oct-Nov
7 wks
c. Describe the movement
of particles in solids, liquids,
gases, and plasmas states.
d. Distinguish between
physical and chemical
properties of matter as
physical (i.e., density,
melting point, boiling point)
or chemical (i.e., reactivity,
combustibility).
e. Identify and demonstrate
the Law of Conservation of
Matter
f. Recognize that there are
more than 100 elements
and some have similar
properties as shown on the
Periodic Table of Elements.
g. Distinguish between
changes in matter as
physical (i.e., physical
change) or chemical
(development of a gas,
formation of precipitate, and
change in color).
States of matter
Energy
S8P2. Students will be
Law of Conservation of
Energy
Science – 8th Grade
clouds, atomic mass unit,
atomic number, mass
number, periodic law, period,
group, covalent bonds, ionic
bonds, physical property,
density, chemical property,
physical change, chemical
change, states of matter,
solid, liquid, gas, Charles’s
law, change of state, boiling,
evaporation, condensation,
element, metals, metalloids,
mixture, solute,
concentration, suspension,
atom, electrons, nucleus,
protons, neutrons, isotopes,
atomic mass, chemical
bonding, valence electrons,
molecule, valence,
coefficient, subscripts,
chemical reactions, chemical
formulas, reactants,
products, law of
conservation of mass,
synthesis reaction,
decomposition reaction,
single-replacement reaction,
double replacement reaction,
exothermic, endothermic,
activation energy, catalyst,
inhibitor, ionic compounds,
covalent compounds, acid,
bases, ph, salt, organic
compounds, nuclear
radiation, radioactive decay,
alpha decay, beta decay,
gamma decay, half-life
Work, joule, power,
watt,
matter
*Describe changes in
states of matter
*Explain & apply
Archimedes, Boyles,
Pascal’s, Bernoulli’s
principles and Charles
law
*Identify subatomic
particles
*Compare and contrast
elements, compounds &
mixtures
*Identify and balance
chemical equations
*Compare & contrast
solutions, colloids and
suspensions
*Interpret and apply
Periodic Table
*Compare & contrast
physical and chemical
changes
*Identify law of
Conservation of mass
*Compare/contrast acids
& bases
* Identify/apply types of
bonding
* Identify 3 types of
decay, radioactive halflife
* Describe difference
between endothermic
and exothermic reactions
54, 55, 56,
57, 58, 61,
*Calculate the
formulas for and
Page 2
Nov-Jan
7 wks
familiar with the forms and
transformations of energy.
a. Explain energy
transformation in terms of
the Law of Conservation of
Energy.
b. Explain the relationship
between potential and
kinetic energy.
c. Compare and contrast
the different forms of energy
(heat, light, electricity,
mechanical motion, sound)
and their characteristics
d. Describe how heat can
be transferred through
matter by the collisions of
atoms (conduction) or
through space (radiation). In
a liquid or gas, currents will
facilitate the transfer of heat
(convection).
Potential vs Kinetic
energy
Forms of energy
Transformation of heat
Heat transfer
lever, inclined plane, wedge,
screw, pulley, wheel/axle,
kinetic energy, energy,
potential energy, mechanical
energy
Energy conversion, friction,
law of conservation of
energy,
energy resource,
nonrenewable resources,
renewable resources, fossil
fuels, temperature, thermal
expansion, absolute zero,
heat, thermal energy,
convection, radiation,
conduction, insulation,
specific capacity
65, 66, 67,
70
distinguish between
kinetic/ potential
energy
* Create & display
diagrams energy
conversions among
the different forms of
energy
*Apply the law of
conservation of
energy to familiar
situations
Magnetism & Electricity
S8P5. Students will
recognize characteristics of
gravity, electricity, and
magnetism as major kinds
of forces acting in nature.
b. Demonstrate the
advantages and
disadvantages of series and
parallel circuits and how
they transfer energy
c. Investigate and explain
that electric currents and
magnets can exert force on
each other.
Gravitational forces
Magnetism
Electric currents
Law of electric charges,
electric force, induction,
conduction, insulator, static
electricity, electric discharge,
cell, battery, potential
difference, photocell,
thermocouple, current,
voltage, resistance, electric
power, circuit, load, series
circuit, parallel circuit,
transformer, generator,
magnetic force,
electromagnetism, solenoid,
electromagnet, electric motor
65, 66, 68
*Distinguish between
conductors &
insulators
*Differentiate
between static
electricity and electric
currents
*Describe & calculate
the relationship
among voltage
difference,
resistance, & current
as it relates to Ohm’s
Law
*Explain how electric
Science – 8th Grade
Page 3
Jan-Feb
7 wks
Waves, Sound, & Light
S8P4. Students will explore
the wave nature of sound
and electromagnetic
radiation.
a. Identify the
characteristics of
electromagnetic and
mechanical waves.
b. Describe how the
behavior of light waves is
manipulated causing
reflection, refraction
diffraction, and absorption
c. Diagram the parts of the
wave and explain how the
parts are affected by
changes in amplitude and
pitch.
d. Describe how the
behavior of waves is
affected by medium (such
as air, water, solids
e. Relate the properties of
sound to everyday
experiences.
f. Explain how the human
eye sees objects and colors
Science – 8th Grade
Wave types
Light
(electromagnetic)
Sound
Mechanical
Properties of waves
Electromagnetic
spectrum
Wave, medium, transverse
wave, longitudinal wave,
amplitude, wavelength,
frequency, wave speed,
reflection, refraction,
diffraction, interference,
electromagnetic wave,
electromagnetic spectrum,
law of reflection, absorption,
scattering, transmission,
transparent, translucent,
opaque, pigment, concave
mirror, convex lens, cornea,
pupil, iris, retina, standing
wave, resonance, outer ear,
middle ear, inner ear, pitch,
infrasonic, ultrasonic,
Doppler, effect, loudness,
decibel, echo, echolocation,
interference, sonic boom,
standing wave, luminous,
illuminated,incandescent
Light, fluorescent light, neon
light, vapor light focal point,
lens, laser, hologram,
concave lens
Investigating
Waves Appendix A
Vol. II, IAPS
Teacher’s
Guide
magnets are
conducted & used
*Give 2 examples of
the effect of Earth’s
magnetic field
*Identify the
relationship between
an electric current
and a magnetic field
*Construct series &
parallel circuits
*Describe the properties
of electromagnetic wave
* Compare various types
of electromagnetic waves
* Describe how waves
affect your life
*Describe differences
among transparent,
opaque, & translucent
materials
*Explain how light is
reflected, scattered and
absorbed
*Compare plane,
concave& convex mirrors
and lenses and how they
form images
*Explain the structure &
function of lasers
*Identify parts of human
eye, function and how
images are interpreted
*Differentiate function of
candescent/incandescent
lighting
*Analyze the
advantages/disadvantag
es of different types
Page 4
in terms of wavelengths.
March-April
8 wks
Motion & Forces
S8P3. Students will
investigate relationship
between force, mass, and
the motion of objects.
a. Determine the
relationship between
velocity and acceleration.
b. Demonstrate the effect of
simple machines (lever,
inclined plane, pulley,
wedge, screw, and wheel
and axle) on work.
c. Demonstrate the effect of
balanced and unbalanced
forces on an object in terms
of gravity, inertia, and
friction.
S8P5. Students will
recognize characteristics
of gravity, electricity, and
magnetism as major
kinds of forces acting in
nature.
a. Recognize that every
object exerts gravitational
force on every other object
and that the force exerted
depends on how much
mass the objects have and
how far apart they are.
Science – 8th Grade
lighting
Velocity vs Acceleration
Newton’s Laws
Simple Machines
Gravity
Velocity, Speed,
Time/Distance,
Acceleration/Deceleratio
n
LOM
Motion, speed, velocity,
force, acceleration,
deceleration, Newton, net
force, friction, gravity,
weight, mass, terminal
velocity,
free fall, projectile motion,
inertia, momentum, fluid,
pressure,
pascal,
atmospheric pressure,
density, Pascal’s principle,
drag, thrust, Archimedes
principles, Bernoulli’s
principles, Pascal’s
principles
74, 75, 78,
79, 80, 81
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