Earth Science 8: Fall Semester Review
What should I do to prepare for the semester test?
The semester test will be mostly multiple choice. There may be some matching. You will need
to interpret graphics to answer many of the multiple choice questions. There may be one or two
short essay/free response questions at the end.
To prepare for the test…
 Organize and Review your notebook.
Everything on the test has been covered on handout, notes, daily challenges, worksheets,
and/or projects we have done!
 Read & Review the section and chapter summaries & reviews in the textbook. These are
excellent for getting the main points and important vocabulary words!
 Test yourself with the questions at the end of each section and chapter that we studied.
(Science Explorer chapters 1, 2, 3, 10 and/or Holt chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Again, these are useful for main points and important vocabulary.
 Quiz yourself with the Jeopardy games on the earth science website.
 Complete this review sheet.
Fall Semester Review Topics
Scientific Thinking & Tools
evidence, bias, theories, scientific method, measuring & the metric system
See Holt chapter 1 OR Science Explorer “Intro to Earth Science”
Maps
landforms, projections, topographic maps, GPS
See Holt chapter 2 OR Science Explorer chapter 1
Minerals & Mining
properties, formation, classification, mining methods & environmental impacts
See Holt chapter 3 OR Science Explorer chapter 2
Rocks
rock formation & classification, the rock cycle
See Holt chapter 4 OR Science Explorer chapter 3
Natural Resources & Energy Sources
nonrenwewable vs. renewable resources, traditional & alternative energy sources
See Holt chapter 5 OR Science Explorer chapter 10
Scientific Thinking & Tools
What are the main branches of earth science? What is studied in each field?
What is the scientific method? How is it used?
Know Scientific Method vocabulary:
Hypothesis, Observation, Independent or Manipulated Variable, Dependent or Responding
Variable, Controlled Variables, Controlled Experiment, Experimental Control, Conclusion
What is a model?
What are the 3 different types of models?
What is the metric system? Why is it used internationally?
What is the greenhouse effect? What is global warming?
Maps
What kinds of landforms are found on Earth’s surface?
How do globes and maps represent earth's surface?
What is a map projection? What are the main types of map projections?
What information should be included on every map?
What are latitude and longitude? How are they used to find location of a point on earth?
What is GPS? How does it work?
What is elevation? What is relief?
How do you read a topographic map?
What is map scale and how do you use it?
Minerals & Mining
What are minerals?
How do minerals form?
What are the major rock-forming minerals?
How are minerals identified and classified?
Why do we mine minerals?
What mining methods are commonly used? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each
one?
Rocks
What are the three main types of rocks? How does each type form?
What is the rock cycle?
Why do people study rocks and the rock cycle?
Natural Resources & Energy Sources
What is the difference between nonrenewable, potentially renewable, and perpetually renewable
resources?
What is the tragedy of the commons and why does it happen? How could it be avoided?
What are traditional energy sources? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using
them?
What are alternative energy sources? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using each
one?