Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
September 15- November 23
Unit/Concept
Strand
Scientific
Method and
Metric
GLE
Marzano
Vocabulary
Independent
Variable
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
C INQ.1
Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation.
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Scientific inquiry is a thoughtful
and coordinated attempt to search
out, describe, explain and predict
natural phenomena.
C INQ.2
Read, interpret and examine the credibility of scientific claims in different sources
of information.
C INQ.3
Design and conduct appropriate types of scientific investigations to answer
different questions.
Scientific inquiry progresses
through a continuous process of
questioning, data collection,
analysis and interpretation.
C INQ.4
Identify independent and dependent variables, and those variables that are kept
constant, when designing an experiment.
Validity
C INQ.5
Use appropriate tools and techniques to make observations and gather data.
Scientific Method
Scientific inquiry requires the
sharing of findings and ideas for
critical review by colleagues and
other scientists.
C INQ.6
Use mathematical operations to analyze and interpret data.
C INQ.7
Identify and present relationships between variables in appropriate graphs.
C INQ.8
Draw conclusions and identify sources of error.
SCIENTIFIC LITERACY
C INQ.9
Provide explanations to investigated problems or questions.
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Scientific literacy includes
speaking, listening, presenting,
interpreting, reading and writing
about science.
C INQ.10
Communicate about science in different formats, using relevant science
vocabulary, supporting evidence and clear logic.
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Scientific literacy also includes the
ability to search for and assess the
relevance and credibility of
scientific information found in
various print and electronic media.
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SCIENTIFIC NUMERACY
Scientific numeracy includes the ability
to use mathematical operations and
procedures to calculate, analyze and
present scientific data and ideas
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 1
Dependent
Variable
Control
Ongoing GLEs
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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Heredity and
Evolution
1. Describe the structure, location and function of chromosomes, genes
Heredity,
and DNA and how they relate to each other in the living cell.
species,
2. Illustrate and chart the purpose, cell type (somatic and germ)
reproduce,
and resulting chromosome count during cell division in
asexual/sexual,
mitosis and meiosis.
reproduction,
3. Identify the major structures in human male and female reproductive
chromosome,
systems and explain where meiosis and gamete formation take place.
gene, DNA,
4. Investigate and report on the role of hormone production as it initiates and regulates
5. the creation of male and female germ cells from birth
trait, body
through adolescence and into adulthood.
(somatic) cell,
5. Compare and contrast the events and processes that occur
germ cell,
when a human egg is fertilized or not fertilized.
gamete,
6. Demonstrate the relationship of corresponding genes on pairs
meiosis,
of chromosomes to traits inherited by offspring.
7. Describe in writing the role of the germ cells in the formation
of the human zygote and its resulting 23 pairs of chromosomes,
the 23rd of which determines gender and the other 22 of which
determine the characteristics of that offspring.
8.2.a Heredity is the passage of
genetic information from one
generation to another.
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8.2.b Some of the characteristics
of an organism are inherited
and some result from
interactions with the
environment.
 Relate the continued existence of any species to its successful reproduction hormone,
adolescence,
and explain 1. in writing the factors that contribute to successful reproduction.
zygote, fetus
Middletown Public Schools – Page 2
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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November 26 – January 15
Unit/Concept
Strand
GLE
Middletown Public Schools – Page 4
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
Earth and
the Solar
System
1. Relate the strength of gravitational force between two objects to their mass and
the 1.
distance between the centers of the two objects and provide
Force,
gravity,
examples.
orbit,
2. Describe in writing how gravitational attraction and the inertia
of objects in the solar 2. system keep them on a predictable elliptical pathway.
8.3.a Gravity is the force that
governs the motions of
objects in the solar system.
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revolution, year,
1. Distinguish between rotation of Earth on its axis and its elliptical
revolution around the sun.
period, mass,
2. Investigate and report in writing how the Earth’s revolution around the sun weight, rotation,
affects changes in daylight and seasons.
hemisphere,
3. Compare the revolution times of all the planets and relate it to their distance season, phase,
from the sun.
new moon, solar
4. Conduct and report on an investigation that shows how the Earth’s tilt on its eclipse,
axis andlunar
6. position around the sun relates to the intensity of light
striking the Earth’s surface.
eclipse, tides
5. Use a model to demonstrate the phases of the moon relative to the
position of the sun, Earth and moon.
6. Develop a model or illustration to show the relative positions of the Earth,
sun and moon during a lunar and solar eclipse and explain how those
positions influence the view from Earth.
8.3.b The motion of the Earth
and moon relative to the
sun causes daily, monthly
and yearly cycles on Earth.
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Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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Unit/Concept
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 6
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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January 16 – March 7
Strand
Unit/Concept
GLE
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 7
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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Energy in
the Earth’s
System
, core,
Illustrate and describe in writing the composition of the three major layers of the Earth’s
1.mantle,
interior.
folds, .fault/fault
Explain how Earth’s internal energy is transferred to move tectonic plates.2.
line, continent,
Demonstrate the processes of folding and faulting of the Earth’s crust. 3.
tectonic
Correlate common geological features/events (deep sea trenches, mountains, earthquakes,
4. plate,
volcanoes) with the location of plate boundaries.
boundary,
Compare geological features that result from constructive forces (e.g., mountains andplate
5. ridges)
with geological features that result from destructive
convection,
forces (e.g., canyons and flood plains).
Analyze and interpret data about the location, frequency and intensity of earthquakes.mountains,
volcano,
earthquake
7.3.a Volcanic activity
and the folding and faulting
of rock layers during the
shifting of the Earth’s
crust affect the formation
of mountains, ridges and valleys.
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Erosion,
Compare and contrast the major agents of erosion and deposition of sediments: running
7. water, moving ice, wave action, wind and mass movement due
7.3.b Glaciation, weathering
weathering,
to gravity.
and erosion change the Earth’s surface
by moving earth materials from place to place.
glacier,8.valley,
Investigate and determine how glaciers form and affect the Earth’s surface as they change
over time.
floodplain
Distinguish between weathering and erosion.9.
Observe and report on the geological events that are responsible for having shaped 10. Connecticut’s landscape.
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 8
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 9
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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March:
Strand
Unit/Concept
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 10
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
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March 8 – June 20
Unit/Concept
The Changing
Earth- How do
materials cycle
through
Earth’s
Systems
9.7 - Elements on Earth move
among reservoirs in the solid
earth, oceans, atmosphere and
organisms as part of
biogeochemical cycles.
GLE
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 11
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
9.7.a- Elements on Earth exist in
essentially fixed amounts and are
located in various chemical
reservoirs.
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Explain how chemical and physical processes cause carbon to cycle through
the major earth reservoirs.
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 9.7.b- The cyclical movement of Explain how solar energy causes water to cycle through the major earth reservoirs.
matter between reservoirs is
 Explain how internal energy of the Earth causes matter to cycle through the magma
driven by the Earth’s internal
and the solid earth.
and external sources of energy.
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 12
Carbon cycle,
greenhouse effect,
photosynthesis,
decomposition,
combustion, fossil
fuels
Reservoir,
convection
currents
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
May:
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 13
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS
Grade 8th Science Monthly Curriculum Map:
2009-2010
June:
Unit/Concept
GLE
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Middletown Public Schools – Page 14
Marzano
Vocabulary
Textbook
Correlation/Materials
CFAS