Download 8th Grade Science - Peters Township School District

PETERS TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL
COURSE SYLLABUS: SCIENCE 8
Course Information
Course Length: Full Year
Teacher Information
Name: Mrs. Raggi, Mrs. Prince, Mr. Kelly
Course Overview and Essential Skills
During 8th grade students will take an inquiry based approach as they utilize STEM and 21st century science skills
to study six different units that relate to real life. Students will gain knowledge needed to collect and express data
in the scientific community during the measurement and metric system unit. In the weather unit students will
learn how to predict and explain weather patterns. During the outdoor project students will gather scientific data
using probeware and other related equipment to determine if the outdoor site behind the school is
environmentally healthy. The ecology and environment unit covers a range of topics including watersheds,
wetlands, and biotic and abiotic factors that affect the quality of the environment. Through the examination of
sound & light concepts students will investigate characteristics of waves, sound, electromagnetic waves, and light.
Students will use different scientific processes to collect, analyze, and interpret crime scene evidence as a means of
solving crimes in the forensic science (crime scene investigation) unit.
Students will have many opportunities to engage with the process of science – to ask questions, collect and analyze
data, and draw conclusions. Students will develop a set of problem solving skills that can be applied in many facets
of life, in particular as an educated consumer of science. By participating in structured group activities, students
will have opportunities to further develop cooperative group work and communication skills.
Course Textbook, Supplemental Resources and Required Materials
Textbooks Used:


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Unit D: Weather and Climate, McGraw Hill, 2002. ISBN: 0-02-280071-9
Environment and Ecology for Pennsylvania Meeting the Standards, Pearson Learning Group, 2003.
ISBN: 0-13-024187-3
Interactive Science: Sound and Light, Pearson Learning Group, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-13-368482-7
Prentice Hall Forensic Science, Pearson Education Inc, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-13-362746-6
Required Materials:
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Binder, notebook paper, writing utensils, calculator
Course Outline of Material Covered:
Unit or Topic
Measurement & the Metric
System
Weather
Outdoor Project
Course Activities/Resources
Timeframe
Length lab, mass lab, volume lab,
2.5 weeks
Gummy Bear lab, measurement &
metric test
Cloud in bottle lab, hail lab, air
3.5 weeks
pressure demos, weather test, weather
map analysis, weather map quiz
pH lab, water health tests,
4 weeks
macroinvertebrate collection and
classification, macroinvertebrate and
Environment & Ecology
Sound & Light
Forensics
(Crime Scene Investigation)
water quality test, soil pH lab, soil
testing, UV beads and nail polish
activity, nitrogen cycle, air, soil health
test, outdoor site conclusion
Pond water web activity, biomes
video, Kaibab deer and deer – wolf
graphing activities, ecosystems & their
interactions test (Ch. 6.1),
Pennsylvania’s Mighty Susquehanna
activity, 6 ways to the sea activity,
wetland stations, wetlands &
watersheds test (Ch. 1), alternative
energy video, coal video, renewable &
nonrenewable resources test (Ch. 2),
living or nonliving stations,
dichotomous key activities,
classification test, Biosphere 2 video,
environmental health test (Ch. 3), Bug
mobile video, integrated pest
management (Ch. 5) quiz, Food, Inc.
documentary, Dr. X video,
Pennsylvania agricultural product
brochure
Wave demos, ball bounce lab, waves
test (Ch. 1), sound stations, changing
pitch lab, sound test (Ch. 2), NASA
electromagnetic spectrum video,
electromagnetic spectrum test (Ch. 3),
mirror and lens activities, light test
(Ch. 4)
Optical illusions, FACES interactive
software, fingerprint activities, lip
print lab, fiber lab, chromatography
lab, deductive reasoning activities,
forensics test
13 weeks
7 weeks
6 weeks
**A 20 point cumulative quarterly quiz will be given at the end of each 9 weeks.**
*Depending on the needs of the class or changes in the school year, the course outline is subject to change.