Download Grade 5

Grade 8
Planetary
Science
Full Option Science Systems
Middle School Module
(FOSS)
Internet Links:
Overview Students investigate the Milky Way
solar system: the kinds and numbers of
objects in the cosmos, the composition
of the objects and the motions and
interactions of the objects with one
another.
Learning Expectations
► Understand the composition, structure, and formation of the universe.
► Understand the stars and space exploration.
 Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation.
 Design and conduct scientific investigations.
 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence.
 Think critically and logically to make connections between evidence and explanations.
 Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions.
 Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.
 Use mathematics in scientific inquiry.
 Understand that different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific
investigations; current knowledge guides scientific investigations; and mathematics and
technology are important scientific tools.
 Understand that scientific explanations emphasize evidence.
 Record and graph data concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to discover relationships.
 Acquire the vocabulary associated with planetary science..
 Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations:
observing, communicating, organizing, relating and inferring.
 Work collaboratively and relate knowledge to new experiences.
 Understand science safety and follow safe practices.
Content: Life Science
Develop students’ understanding of Earth and its Solar System as a set of closely coupled
systems.
 Earth is the third planet from the Sun in a system that includes the Moon, the Sun, other
planets and their moons, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets. The Sun, an
average star, is the central and largest body in the Solar System.
 Most objects in the Solar System are in regular and predictable motion governed by the
force of gravity. Those motions explain such phenomena as days, years, seasons, phases
of the Moon, and eclipses.
Assessments:
http://www.umtsd.org/Curriculum/Science_list.htm
http://FOSSWEB.com
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/lib/k12/scitech.doc
http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/science/index.shtml









Lab experiments
Performance assessments
Reflective journals
Teacher created assessments
End of unit projects
Rubrics
Checklists
Homework/Class work
Teacher observations
Grade 8
Properties
of Matter
Overview –
Students investigate the physical and
chemical properties of matter as they
explore relationships between mass,
volume, density, and atomic
structure.
Learning Expectations
► Understand the atomic nature of matter.
 Design and conduct scientific investigations.
 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence.
 Think critically and logically to make connections between evidence and explanations.
 Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.
 Use mathematics in scientific inquiry.
 Understand that different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific
investigations; current knowledge guides scientific investigations; and mathematics and
technology are important scientific tools.
 Explain concepts about the structure of matter.
 Understand that scientific explanations emphasize evidence.
 Record and graph data concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to discover relationships.
 Acquire the vocabulary associated with matter.
 Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations:
observing, communicating, organizing, relating and inferring.
 Work collaboratively and relate knowledge to new experiences.
 Understand science safety and follow safe practices.
Internet Links:
Content: Earth Science
Develop students’ understanding of the properties of matter.
 Matter is everything that takes up space and has mass.
 Atoms are composed of even smaller sub-atomic structures whose properties are
measurable.
 Patterns repeat on the periodic table.
 Kinetic Molecular Theory explains the phases of matter.
 Elements form compounds - ionic and covalent bonding .
Assessments:
 Lab experiments
http://www.umtsd.org/Curriculum/Science_list.htm
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/lib/k12/scitech.doc
http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/science/index.shtml








Performance assessments
Reflective journals
Teacher created assessments
End of unit projects
Rubrics
Checklists
Homework/Class work
Teacher observations
Grade 8
Overview Students investigate structures in the
universe, origins, and relationships to
each other.
Space Science
Learning Expectations
► Understand the composition, structure, and formation of the universe.
► Understand the stars and space exploration.
► Understand the properties and uses of light.
► Understand the basic wave nature of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation.
 Design and conduct scientific investigations.
 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence.
 Describe light effects (e.g., Doppler effect, absorption, emission spectra).
 Explain essential ideas about the composition and structure of the universe.
 Think critically and logically to make connections between evidence and explanations.
 Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions.
 Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.
 Use mathematics in scientific inquiry.
 Understand that different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific
investigations; current knowledge guides scientific investigations; and mathematics and
technology are important scientific tools.
 Understand that scientific explanations emphasize evidence.
 Record and graph data concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to discover relationships.
 Acquire the vocabulary associated with planetary science.
 Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations:
observing, communicating, organizing, relating and inferring.
 Work collaboratively and relate knowledge to new experiences.
 Understand science safety and follow safe practices.
Internet Links:
http://www.umtsd.org/Curriculum/Science_list.htm
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/lib/k12/scitech.doc
http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/science/index.shtml
Content: Physical Science
Develop students’ understanding of the universe and its structures..
 Instruments are used to study and record data from space.
 Theories of the formation of the solar system and the universe have changed over time.
 Scientists study all forms of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 Stellar distance is determined by “red-shift”.
 There are many structures in the universe.
 The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram describes the structure and life-cycle of a star.
 Fusion is the nuclear process responsible for the star’s energy.
 Apparent and absolute magnitude is a way of measuring stellar distance.
 Constellations are a way of mapping the stars.
Assessments:
 Lab experiments
 Performance assessments
 Reflective journals
 Teacher created assessments
 End of unit projects
 Rubrics
 Checklists
 Homework/Class work
 Teacher observations
Grade 8
Meteorology
Overview –
Students investigate meteorological
patterns to predict weather patterns
and the impact weather has on the
globe. Real time weather
observations and models will be
explored.
Learning Expectations
► Understand meteorological processes.
► Understand factors that affect weather patterns.
 Design and conduct scientific investigations.
 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence.
 Think critically and logically to make connections between evidence and explanations.
 Interpret meteorological data.
 Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.
 Use mathematics in scientific inquiry.
 Understand that different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific
investigations; current knowledge guides scientific investigations; and mathematics and
technology are important scientific tools.
 Understand that scientific explanations emphasize evidence.
 Record and graph data concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to discover relationships.
 Acquire the vocabulary associated with light and sound.
 Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations:
observing, communicating, organizing, relating and inferring.
 Work collaboratively and relate knowledge to new experiences.
Content: Earth Science
Develop students’ understanding in how to measure, analyze, and predict factors that effect
weather.
 Clouds form in the atmosphere above the earth’s surface.
 Heat can be transferred by radiation, conduction, or convection.
 Solar radiation is a major source of energy for weather phenomena.
 The composition, color, and moisture content of a material affect the rate at which it
absorbs or reflects solar energy.
 The atmosphere has different properties at different altitudes and is a mixture of nitrogen,
oxygen, and trace gases including water vapor.
 Air rises and falls as it is heated or cooled as the surface absorbs or radiates heat.
 Rising water vapor cools, and condenses to form clouds.
 Patterns in atmospheric movement affect weather.


Internet Links:
http://www.umtsd.org/Curriculum/Science_list.htm
http://Achieve.Weatherbug.com
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/home.rxml
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/lib/k12/scitech.doc
http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/science/index.shtml
Convection currents move heat through the troposphere.
Fronts form at the boundary between two air masses with different temperature, pressure,
and humidity conditions.
 The movement and exchange of water between the earth, atmosphere, and oceans is
called the water cycle.
 Precipitation, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes often develop in low-pressure
weather conditions (or when warm and cold air masses meet).
 Oceans have a major effect on climate.
Assessment:
 Lab experiments
 Performance assessments
 Reflective journals
 Teacher created assessments
 End of unit projects
 Rubrics
 Checklists
 Homework/Class work
 Teacher observations