Holy Trinity High School Science Department
Grade 8 Science – Unit 1: Water Systems on Earth: Student Outline
Chapter 1: Water Cycle
Name: _______________________
1. Introduction
a. Describe major interactions between among the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere. (9)
b. Compare the roles of the Hydrologist and Oceanographer. (9, 20)
2. Sources of Water – Fresh and Ocean
a. Distinguish between ocean water and fresh water. (salinity, density and freezing point) (14-17)
i. Core Lab – Salinity’s Effect on Water Density (18-19)
b. Identify sources of fresh water. (drainage basins, groundwater, glaciers) (22-27)
c. Describe the origin of the oceans. (38-41)
3. Water Cycle’s Vital Role
a. Define water cycle. (9, glossary)
b. Sketch and label a diagram of the water cycle. (9)
4. Climate Change and the Water Cycle
a. Describe how long periods of global warming affect glaciers and describe the consequent effects
on the environment. (24-25)
b. Identify when the last ice age began and ended and what parts of North America were covered in
ice. (25)
c. Apply the concept of systems to show how a change in one component of a body of water causes
change in other components in that system.
d. Provide examples of problems related to the oceans that cannot be completely resolved using
scientific and technological knowledge. (Seal Hunt, Cod Moratorium, Regional Food Fishery, Oil
and Gas Exploration).
Terms to Know:
Hydrosphere
Salinity
Glacier
Cod Moratorium
Lithosphere
Density
Water Cycle
Food Fishery
Runoff
Precipitation
Atmosphere
Freezing Point
Global Warming
Oil and Gas
Exploration
Hydrologist
Drainage basin
Ice Age
Dissolve
Oceanographer
Groundwater
Seal Hunt
Sodium Chloride
Chapter 1 Quiz – October
2011-12
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Holy Trinity High School Science Department
Grade 8 Science – Unit 1: Water Systems on Earth: Student Outline
Chp 2: Oceans
Name: _______________________
5. Ocean Basins
a. Describe processes that led to the development of ocean basins and continental drainage systems.
(Volcanic action, plate tectonics, erosion and glaciation) (38-41)
b. Illustrate a typical continental margin from coastal shoreline to mid-ocean ridge. (Continental
shelf, continental slope, abyssal plain and mid-ocean ridge) (41-44)
c. Investigate technologies that assist scientists in research of ocean basins. (SONAR, wire line
depth probes, satellites, core sampling, underwater photos/video, deep sea submersibles and
diving) (44-47)
i. Core STSE – Undersea Adventure
6. Ocean Currents
a. Define ocean current. Ex: Labrador Current and Gulf Stream. (52)
b. Identify and explain surface currents. (wind, earth’s rotation – Coriolis effect, continental shape)
(54-56)
c. Identify and explain deep water currents. (Temperature and salinity) (56-57)
7. Ocean Waves
a. Define Wave. (Glossary)
b. Identify features of waves (wavelength, wave height, crest, and trough). (64-65)
c. Distinguish between ocean waves, swells, breakers and tsunamis. (64-66)
8. Ocean Tides
a. Define tide, explain and illustrate how the tides are generated by the gravitational pull of the Sun
and Moon. (69-71)
b. Define tidal range and distinguish between spring tides and neap tides. (69)
9. Shorelines
a. Describe the processes that form shorelines. (shape, slope, type of rock, wave energy) (66-69)
b. Define headlands and bays with how they are affected by waves and tides. (67-69)
c. Describe the results of erosion and deposition from wave action and tides. (Beaches, shoal, sand
bar, sea caves, sea arches and sea stacks.) (66-69)
d. Provide examples of various technologies designed to contain damage due to waves and tides.
(breakwaters, jetties/wharves and vegetation) (NIT)
Terms to Know:
Ocean Basin
Glaciation
Mid Ocean Ridge
Submersible
Coriolis Effect
Crest
Tide
Wave Energy
Beach
Sea Stack
Drainage System
Continental Margin
SONAR
Ocean Current
Deep Currents
Trough
Tidal Range
Headlands
Shoal
Breakwater
Volcanic Action
Continental Shelf
Depth Probe
Labrador Current
Wave
Swell
Spring Tide
Bays
Sand Bar
Jetty
Plate Tectonics
Continental Slope
Satellite Imaging
Gulf Stream
Wavelength
Breaker
Neap Tide
Erosion
Sea Cave
Wharf
Erosion
Abyssal Plain
Core Sampling
Surface Currents
Wave Height
Tsunami
Shoreline
Deposition
Sea Arch
Chapter 2 Quiz – Early November
2011-12
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Holy Trinity High School Science Department
Grade 8 Science – Unit 1: Water Systems on Earth: Student Outline
Chp 3: Climate and Species Distribution
Name: _______________________
10. Oceans, Weather and Climate
a. Distinguish between weather and climate. (82)
b. Define heat capacity. Note difference between this and Specific Heat Capacity. (83, glossary)
c. Describe how the heat capacity of water affects climate. (83)
d. Describe how convection affects weather. (85)
e. Describe how oceans moderate climate. (frequency of fog, temperature fluctuations) (82)
f. Distinguish between the effects of El Nino and La Nina as global climatic influences. (85-86)
11. Species Distributions (6P)
a. Describe species found in freshwater environments. (Lakes and ponds, wetlands, rivers and
streams, estuaries). (90-93)
b. Describe species found in saltwater environments. (Pelagic zone – top 180m, benthic zone >
180m). (93-94)
c. Identify the effects of abiotic factors on plant and animal distributions in freshwater ecosystems.
(temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, pH, turbidity, pollution)
i. Core Lab “Water Health Test Lab A” (108-110) * Fluvarium or Marine Field Trip?..OR?
d. Identify the effects of abiotic factors on plant and animal distributions in marine ecosystems.
(upwelling, salinity, ocean currents) (NIT)
e. Describe positive/negative effects of marine technologies on ocean species. (Confederation
Bridge, Oil Exploration, Fishing Technologies such as drag nets, fish finders, factory freezer
trawlers, aquaculture) (104-107)
Terms to Know:
Weather
El Nino
Pelagic Zone
pH
Ocean Currents
Fish Finder
Climate
La Nina
Benthic Zone
Turbidity
Marine Technology
Phytoplankton
Factory Freezer
Trawler
Zooplankton
Invasive Species
Overfishing
Heat Capacity
Species
Abiotic Factors
Pollution
Confederation
Bridge
Aquaculture
Convection
Wetland
Dissolved Oxygen
Upwelling
Oil Exploration
Fog
Estuary
Phosphate
Salinity
Drag Net
Bioluminescence
Plankton
Bio-Indicator
Species
Habitat
Acid precipitation
Biotic Index
Urban
Development
Unit Test – November
2011-12
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