8th Grade Science
March 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Third quarter grades were due today, and grade cards will be going out next
week. As the weather gets nicer and the end of the year approaches, I want to
encourage students to continue to try their best during 4th quarter. As a reminder, 4th
quarter grades do affect eligibility for students planning to play sports or planning to be
involved in extracurricular activities in high school next year.
Important Dates:
Thursday, March 19:
Earth’s History Quiz!
Saturday, 3/28-Sunday 4/5:
NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
Tuesday, 4/28:
The FINAL Current Event Article
Analysis is due  (25 points)
I also want to inform you that students will be taking a quiz over
Earth’s history next week, on Thursday, March 19. Each student received
a copy of the study guide, and I have attached a copy below. We will
spend some time in class next week reviewing, but students should also
spend time this weekend and next week going over notes and activities
from class in order to be best prepared for the quiz. I have also posted a
practice test on Study Island (an online science account that all students
have through Westerville) that students may complete for extra credit. The
directions are attached to this E-mail. Please let me know if you have any
questions! For more classroom information, check out the class website
OR the class Instagram: @MrsORyanScience
Best,
Kylie O’Ryan
Earth’s History Quiz: Thursday, March 19, 2015
Geologic Time Scale (Webquest, in class timeline)
When did Earth form? Other important dates/events
How species changed over time (due to the atmosphere and Earth changing, started simple and became more complex)
Ice cores: What are they? What can scientists learn from them?
Fossils: (Bill Nye video questions, “Getting Into the Fossil Record” online activity, etc.)
Form in what type of rock? How do they form?
Besides in rock, what other three substances can fossils form in?
Who studies them?
The fossil record- How do we use it? What does it tell us? (fossils helped scientists develop the geologic timescale)
Body vs. Trace Fossils
Explain WHY a turtle would fossilize better than a caterpillar
Relative age of rocks/fossils (based on layers) *this was on the last test!!
Law of Superposition (oldest layers on the bottom, new layers form on top)
Pictures with: igneous intrusions, faulting, folding, tilting, erosion, uplifting
o Put in order from oldest to youngest
Absolute age of rocks/fossils (based on radiometric dating)
Radiometric dating: in class and homework problems
o use provided information and the “Percent of Parent Remaining” table to solve for the absolute age of a rock or
fossil sample
Bracketing (on the “Radiometric Dating Information: notes)
o If a layer of sedimentary rock sits between igneous rock layers that we can determine the age of, we can estimate the
age of the sedimentary rock
What is a half-life?
Interpreting a chart of radioactive decay methods (we did this for SEVERAL P.O.Ds!)
I posted an “Earth’s History Practice Test” to Study Island that you can take to help you study!! Anyone who completes this practice
test by 10:00 PM Wednesday, March 18 will earn extra credit (based on your test score)! You may use your notes on this practice test.