Download Grade 8

Grade 8
Core Themes, Content Standards and Expected Performances
Content Standards
Energy in the Earth’s Systems – How do external and
internal sources of energy affect the Earth’s systems?
Expected Performances
C 7. Describe the effect of heating on the movement of
molecules in solids, liquids and gases.
6.3 - Variations in the amount of the sun’s energy
hitting the Earth’s surface affect daily and seasonal
weather patterns.
C 8. Explain how local weather conditions are related to the
temperature, pressure and water content of the atmosphere
and the proximity to a large body of water.
♦ Local and regional weather are affected by the
amount of solar energy these areas receive and by
their proximity to a large body of water.
C 8A. Compare and contrast the specific heat of land
versus bodies of water.
C 8B. Describe the effects of warm and cold ocean currents
on atmospheric conditions.
C 9. Explain how the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface
causes winds.
Energy in the Earth’s Systems – How do external and
internal sources of energy affect the Earth’s systems?
7.3 - Landforms are the result of the interaction of
constructive and destructive forces over time.
♦ Volcanic activity and the folding and faulting of rock
layers during the shifting of the Earth’s crust affect
the formation of mountains, ridges and valleys.
♦ Glaciation, weathering and erosion change the
Earth’s surface by moving earth materials from place
to place.
C A18. Explain how constructive and destructive forces of
the rock cycle create rock layers. (Rock Cycle)
C 18. Describe how folded and faulted rock layers provide
evidence of the gradual up and down motion of the Earth’s
crust.
C 19. Explain how glaciation, weathering and erosion
create and shape valleys and floodplains.
C 19A. Describe how the effect of acid rain accelerates
chemical weathering.
C 19B. Explain why most fossils are formed in sedimentary
rocks.
C 20. Explain how the boundaries of tectonic plates can be
inferred from the location of earthquakes and volcanoes.
Earth in the Solar System – How does the position of Earth
in the solar system affect conditions on our planet?
8.3 - The solar system is composed of planets and
other objects that orbit the sun.
♦ Gravity is the force that governs the motions of
objects in the solar system.
C 28. Explain the effect of gravity on the orbital movement
of planets in the solar system.
C 29. Explain how the regular motion and relative position
of the sun, Earth and moon affect the seasons, phases of the
moon and eclipses.
♦ The motion of the Earth and moon relative to the sun
causes daily, monthly and yearly cycles on Earth.
Science and Technology in Society – How do science and
technology affect the quality of our lives?
6.4 - Water moving across and through earth
materials carries with it the products of human
activities.
C 10. Explain the role of septic and sewage systems on the
quality of surface and ground water.
C 11. Explain how human activity may impact water
resources in Connecticut, such as ponds, rivers and the
Long Island Sound ecosystem.
♦ Most precipitation that falls on Connecticut
eventually reaches Long Island Sound.
Grade 8 – p. 1
Grade 8
Core Themes, Content Standards and Expected Performances
Content Standards
Energy in the Earth’s Systems – How do external and
internal sources of energy affect the Earth’s systems?
Expected Performances
C 7. Describe the effect of heating on the movement of
molecules in solids, liquids and gases.
6.3 - Variations in the amount of the sun’s energy
hitting the Earth’s surface affect daily and seasonal
weather patterns.
C 8. Explain how local weather conditions are related to the
temperature, pressure and water content of the atmosphere
and the proximity to a large body of water.
♦ Local and regional weather are affected by the
amount of solar energy these areas receive and by
their proximity to a large body of water.
C 8A. Compare and contrast the specific heat of land
versus bodies of water.
C 8B. Describe the effects of warm and cold ocean currents
on atmospheric conditions.
C 9. Explain how the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface
causes winds.
Supporting Concepts:
C 7. Describe the effect of heating on the movement of molecules in solids, liquids, and gases.
•
•
•
Explain the relationship between density and temperature changes.
Describe the causes and effects of convection currents.
Explain how temperature is an indicator of the average movement of molecules in substances.
C 8. Explain how local weather conditions are related to the temperature, pressure, water content of the atmosphere, and
the proximity to a large body of water.
•
•
•
Discuss the structure of atmosphere and temperature trends that are found in each specific layers.
Define basic meteorological terms and explain their connection to local weather conditions.
Explain high and low pressure systems impact local weather conditions.
C 8A. Describe the effects of warm and cold ocean currents on atmospheric conditions.
•
Explain the influence of the Gulf Stream and Labrador currents on weather conditions.
C 9. Explain how the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface causes winds.
•
•
•
Investigate high and low pressure systems and their impact on wind direction.
Describe the effect of sun’s radiation at different latitudes causing uneven atmospheric pressure.
Discuss the wind patterns in the atmosphere and on Earth’s surface
C 9A. Compare and contrast the specific heat of land versus large bodies of water.
•
Delineate differences and formation of land and sea breezes.
Grade 8 – p. 2
Grade 8
Core Themes, Content Standards and Expected Performances
Content Standards
Energy in the Earth’s Systems – How do external and
internal sources of energy affect the Earth’s systems?
7.3 - Landforms are the result of the interaction of
constructive and destructive forces over time.
♦ Volcanic activity and the folding and faulting of rock
layers during the shifting of the Earth’s crust affect
the formation of mountains, ridges and valleys.
♦ Glaciation, weathering and erosion change the
Earth’s surface by moving earth materials from place
to place.
Expected Performances
C A18. Explain how constructive and destructive forces of
the rock cycle create rock layers. (Rock Cycle)
C 18. Describe how folded and faulted rock layers provide
evidence of the gradual up and down motion of the Earth’s
crust.
C 19. Explain how glaciation, weathering and erosion
create and shape valleys and floodplains.
C 19A. Describe how the effect of acid rain accelerates
chemical weathering.
C 19B. Explain why most fossils are formed in sedimentary
rocks.
C 20. Explain how the boundaries of tectonic plates can be
inferred from the location of earthquakes and volcanoes.
Supporting Concepts:
C A18. Explain how constructive and destructive forces of the rock cycle create rock layers. (Rock Cycle)
•
Explain how rocks from different stages change into other stages.
C 18. Describe how folded and faulted rock layers provide evidence of the gradual up and down motion of the Earth’s
crust.
•
•
Explain how tectonic forces create mountains.
Describe types of faults.
C 19. Explain how glaciation, weathering and erosion create and shape valleys and floodplains.
•
•
•
•
Compare and contrast Continental and Valley glaciers.
Compare and contrast glacial erosion versus running water.
Explain the work agents of erosion: running water, glaciers, waves, and wind
depositional features of each erosion agent
C 19A. Describe how the effect of acid rain accelerates chemical weathering.
•
•
explain the chemical reactions involved with chemical weathering by water
limestone cave and cavern formation
C 19 B. Explain the process of soil formation
•
C 19 C. Explain why most fossils are formed in sedimentary rocks.
•
explain how deposition of sediments trap living organisms or evidence of living organisms
C 20. Explain how the boundaries of tectonic plates can be inferred from the location of earthquakes and volcanoes.
•
•
•
Explain the Theory of Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
Explain Ring of Fire
Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries
Grade 8 – p. 3
Grade 8
Core Themes, Content Standards and Expected Performances
Content Standards
Expected Performances
Earth in the Solar System – How does the position of Earth
in the solar system affect conditions on our planet?
C 28. Explain the effect of gravity on the orbital movement
of planets in the solar system.
8.3 - The solar system is composed of planets and
other objects that orbit the sun.
♦ Gravity is the force that governs the motions of
objects in the solar system.
C 29. Explain how the regular motion and relative position
of the sun, Earth and moon affect the seasons, phases of the
moon and eclipses.
♦ The motion of the Earth and moon relative to the sun
causes daily, monthly and yearly cycles on Earth.
Supporting Concepts:
C 28. Explain the effect of gravity on the orbital movement of planets in the solar system.
•
weight vs mass as it pertains to the effects of gravity
C 29. Explain how the regular motion and relative position of the sun, Earth and moon affect the seasons, phases of the
moon and eclipses.
•
•
•
•
•
Explain how the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the seasons to occur
revolution vs rotation
day/night vs year
phases of the moon
lunar vs solar eclipses
Grade 8 – p. 4
Grade 8
Core Themes, Content Standards and Expected Performances
Content Standards
Science and Technology in Society – How do science and
technology affect the quality of our lives?
6.4 - Water moving across and through earth
materials carries with it the products of human
activities.
Expected Performances
C 10. Explain the role of septic and sewage systems on the
quality of surface and ground water.
C 11. Explain how human activity may impact water
resources in Connecticut, such as ponds, rivers and the
Long Island Sound ecosystem.
♦ Most precipitation that falls on Connecticut
eventually reaches Long Island Sound.
Supporting Concepts:
C 10. Explain the role of septic and sewage systems on the quality of surface and ground water.
•
•
•
•
•
underground water process
land contour
watershed
explain properties of soil in relation to porosity
structure and function of septic system at home vs city sewage system
C 11. Explain how human activity may impact water resources in Connecticut, such as ponds, rivers and the Long Island
Sound ecosystem.
•
•
•
•
Explain how watershed systems work
Explain how river systems work
Urban storm drainage systems
Where does the city sewage go?
Grade 8 – p. 5