Download Science 7

8th Grade Science
Welcoming Statement
Welcome to eighth grade Science! This year you will use scientific inquiry to find
the answers to questions that humankind has pondered for centuries.
Required Materials
Students are required to have the following with them at all times: Planner,
binder, #2 pencil or pen (blue or black ink only), textbook: Earth Science and any
other materials assigned by the instructor.
Course Overview
This course will consist of daily interactive lecture and multi-media presentations.
Students will be encouraged to work individually to complete required
assignments, in addition to actively participating in “hands-on” activities within
small and large cooperative groups.
Course Units of Study
Unit 1: MEAP
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Review and Testing
Unit 2: Earth Materials
The Nature of Science
 Science All Around
 Scientific Enterprise
Matter
 Atoms
 Combination of Atoms
 Properties of Matter
Minerals
 Minerals
 Mineral Identification
 Uses of Minerals
Rocks
 The Rock Cycle
 Igneous Rocks
 Metamorphic Rocks
 Sedimentary Rocks
Earth’s Energy and Mineral Resources
 Nonrenewable Energy and Mineral Resources
 Inexhaustible and Renewable Energy Resources
 Mineral Resources
Unit 3: The Changing Surface of Earth
Views of Earth
 Landforms
 Viewpoints
 Maps
Weathering and Soil
 Weathering
 The Nature of Soil
 Soil Erosion
Erosional Forces
 Erosion by Gravity
 Glaciers
 Wind
Water Erosion and Deposition
 Surface Water
 Groundwater
 Ocean Shoreline
Unit 4: Earth’s Internal Processes
Plate Tectonics
 Continental Drift
 Seafloor Spreading
 Theory of Plate Tectonics
Earthquakes
 Forces Inside Earth
 Features of Earthquakes
 People and Earthquakes
Volcanoes
 Volcanoes and Earth’s Moving Plates
 Types of Volcanoes
 Igneous Rock Features
Unit 5: Change and Earth’s History
Clues to Earth’s Past
 Fossils
 Relative Ages of Rocks
 Absolute Ages of Rocks
Geologic Time
 Life and Geologic Time
 Early Earth History
 Middle and Recent Earth History
Unit 6: Earth’s Air and Water
Atmosphere
 Earth’s Atmosphere
 Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
 Air Movement
Weather
 What is Weather?
 Weather Patterns
 Weather Forecasts
Climate
 What is Climate?
 Climate Types
 Climatic Changes
Ocean Motion
 Ocean Water
 Ocean Currents
 Ocean Waves and Tides
Oceanography
 The Seafloor
 Life in the Ocean
 Ocean Pollution
Unit 7: You and the Environment
Our Impact on Land
 Population Impact on the Environment
 Using Land
 Conserving Resources
Our impact on Water and Air
 Water Pollution
 Air pollution
Expected Learner Outcomes
According to the Michigan Curriculum Framework, all students will be:
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knowledgeable about the important concepts and theories of the three
major branches of scientific study: earth, life, and physical sciences;

able to think scientifically and use scientific knowledge to make
decisions about real-world problems;

able to construct new knowledge for themselves through research,
reading, and discussion;

familiar with the natural world, and respectful of its unity, diversity, and
fragility;

able to make informed judgments on statements and debates claiming
to have a scientific basis; and,

able to reflect in an informed way on the role of science in human
affairs.
What You Can Expect From Me
It is my goal to create and maintain a positive and effective learning environment
in which students will be challenged to reach their greatest potential.
Classroom Management
Our goal at Waypoint Academy is to create a positive atmosphere of learning
where rules are enforced firmly, fairly and consistently with all students.
Therefore, it is your responsibility to know the content of the student handbook
and strictly adhere to its rules and regulations.
Tardiness
According to the student handbook, tardiness is defined as entering the
classroom 10 minutes or less after the start of the class period. Consequences
for being tardy are:
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First Offense – One (1) day in-class lunch detention
Second Offense – Two (2) days in-class lunch detention
Third Offense – Three (3) days in-class lunch detention
Fourth Offense – In addition to four (4) days in-class lunch detention, any
student who accumulates four (4) overall unexcused tardies in a marking
period will be referred to the office and will be assigned a Saturday school.
Assessment
Daily classroom participation is required to succeed in this class. Unit tests will
count for 40% of the total grade. Quizzes will count for 30% of the total grade.
Labs will count for 30% of the total grade. The established grading is:
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93 - 100 = A
90 - 92 = A88 - 89 = B+
83 - 87 = B
80 - 82 = B78 - 79 = C+
73 - 77 = C
70 - 72 = C-

69 and below = N
It is the policy of the Waypoint Academy Board of Directors that a student must
be academically achieving a minimum of a 70% overall average in each of
his/her classes in order to earn credit in the class. Failure to achieve at least a
70% overall average by the end of each marking period in a class will result in
the grade of “N” earned for that class, which equals “No Credit.”
Additional Information
Questions, comments and concerns are always welcome.
Aaron Eling
WayPoint Academy
Room 1
(231) 777-4972 ext.101
Homework Hotline 201
[email protected]
M-F 7:30-8:00, 3:05-3:30