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Grade 8 Earth and Space
Science’s
By Tia Stitt
ESS 1.1.1. Question
• Identify and describe the processes
involved in the water cycle and explain it’s
effects on climatic patterns.
ESS 1.1.1 Answer
• The water cycle consists of many processes. It first
starts out in the process of evaporation, in which
molecules at the surface of a liquid absorb enough
energy to change into the gaseous state. When the
water gets absorbed into the air it turns into water vapor.
The further the gas goes into the atmosphere the more
condensed it becomes. During condensation, a process
by which a gas changes into a liquid, some of the vapor
turns into clouds and the vapor that does not, turns into
precipitation. The water is held in the clouds for a period
of ten days. When this period is over precipitation
happens; forms of water such as snow, rain, hail, or
freezing rain fall form the clouds to Earth. When it hits
the Earth it usually runs down mountain sides as runoff,
or gets stored in the ground as ground water and then
gets put into bodies of water. The water cycle has no real
beginning or end.
ESS 1.1.1. Picture
ESS 1.1.1. Definitions
• Evaporation- is the process by which molecules at the
surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change to
the gaseous state.
• Condensation- is the process by which a gas, such as
water vapor, changes into a liquid, such as water.
• Precipitation- forms of water such as snow, rail, hail and
freezing rain.
• Snow- water vapor in a cloud converted directly into ice
crystals
• Rain- the most common type of precipitation
• Hail- round pellets of ice larger than 5 millimeters
• Freezing Rain- rain that freezes when it hits a cold
surface
ESS 1.1.2. Question
• Identify and describe the impact certain
factors have on the Earth’s climate,
including changes in the ocean‘s
temperatures, changes in the composition
of the Earth’s atmosphere, and geological
shifts due to events, such as a volcanic
eruptions and glacial movements.
ESS 1.1.2 Answer
• One factor could be El Niño. It changes the oceans
temperatures and the climate on the coastal regions.
Global warming and ozone depletion are causing the
Earth’s temperature to rise immensely and UV rays are
more easily let into the atmosphere. With the
temperature rising, cold places are going to get warmer,
but the glaciers and ice caps will melt causing sea level
to go up and hurricanes to happen more frequently. With
all of these things going on, if a volcanic eruption
happens, the ashes would be carried up into the
atmosphere and cause a blockage. When this happens
the sun and heat cannot get though, thus causing maybe
another ice age.
ESS 1.1.2. Definitions
• El Niño- is every 2-7 years in the pacific ocean;
unusual wind patterns form over the western
pacific; vast sheets of warm water move
eastward toward the South American coast.
• Global Warming- is a gradual increase in the
temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.
• Ozone Depletion- the thinning of the ozone layer
due to chemicals produced by humans.
ESS 1.2.1 Question
• Describe the layers of the Earth, including
the core, mantle, lithosphere, hydrosphere
and atmosphere.
ESS 1.2.1. Answer
• The many layers of the Earth include mantle, outer core,
inner core, lithosphere, asthenosphere, atmosphere,
hydrosphere and biosphere. The mantle is a layer of hot
rock between five and 40 kilometers. The outer and inner
cores are similar, but the outer surrounds the inner core
and is molten metal; the inner is a dense ball of solid
metal. The lithosphere is the uppermost part of the
mantle and crust together and the asthenosphere is a
soft flowing material. The atmosphere has many different
levels and is the outer most sphere mad of gasses. The
biosphere is all the living things in the world and needs
the hydrosphere, all water in the world, to survive.
ESS 1.2.1. Picture
ESS 1.2.2. Question
• Use geological evidence provided to
support the idea that Earth’s
crust/lithospheres composed of plates that
move.
ESS 1.2.2. Answer
• The theory of plate tectonics is proven true through many
things like earthquakes, tsunamis and mountains.
Earthquakes and tsunamis are caused by the Earth’s plate
moving and colliding into each other causing movement in
the ground. Mountains are created from the plates colliding
and building up Earth’s surface.
• There are many different types of stress concerning the
Earth’s crust and plates. There is shearing, which is the
stress that pushes a mass of rock in two opposite directions,
tension, which pulls on the crust stretching the rock so that it
is thinner in the middle, and compression, which squeezes
rock until it folds or breaks.
• There are many different faults too. They are strike-slip, the
rocks on either side of the fault slip past each other
sideways with a little up-or-down motion, normal, the fault is
at an angle so one block lays below the other, and reverse
faults, is the same structure as a normal fault but the blocks
move in opposite directions.
ESS 1.3.1. Question
• Explain how fossils found in sedimentary
rock can be used to support the theories of
Earth’s evolution over geologic time, and
describe how the folding, breaking, and
uplifting of the layers affects the evidence.
ESS 1.3.1. Answer
• Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of living
things. Fossils are found in sedimentary rock, is the type
of rock made of hardened sediment. They can be used
to support the theories of Earth’s evolution over geologic
time because many plants and organisms that were
once alive have been discovered. Depending on what
was found, could say what the surface used to be like
and what organisms where there.
• The folding, breaking and uplifting of layers affects
fossils because without these actions happening, the
fossils would not get exposed and we would never find
them or know they were there. This would cause us to
not be able to discover more about our planet.
ESS 1.4.1. Question
• Describe how catastrophic changes that
have taken place on the Earth’s surface
can be revealed by satellite images.
ESS 1.4.1. Answer
• Catastrophic changes that have taken place on the
Earth’s surface can be revealed by many different types
of satellite images. When the images are taken, they are
transmitted to meteorologists on Earth; who then
interpret the information. You can see fronts, natural
disasters, clouds and other things in these images; they
are used to predict the weather over weeks, days or
even hours.
• The one of the many different types of images is a
weather map. A weather map consists of fronts, type of
precipitation, wind speed, cloud cover, pressure and
temperature. Weather maps are used to predict weather
or tell the current forecast.
ESS 1.4.1. Definitions
• Front- an area where two air masses with
different temperatures and densities
collide
• Air mass- a huge body of air that has
similar temperature, humidity and air
pressure throughout it
ESS 1.5.1. Question
• Explain that the Earth’s crust is divided
into plates that move at extremely slow
rates in response to movements in the
mantle.
ESS 1.5.1. Answer
• The Earth’s crust is divided into plates that move at a
steadily slow rate due to the mantle. Scientists believe
this is true because the mantle/asthenosphere is made
up of a soft flowing material. The Earth’s
plates/lithosphere float on top of the asthenoshpere;
convection currents rise and spread out beneath the
surface thus causing the plates to move.
• There are many different Lithospheric plates; the
Eurasian Plate, North American Plate, Pacific Plate,
Caribbean Plate, African Plate, Nazca Plate, South
American Plate, Antarctic Plate and Indo-Australian
Plate.
ESS 1.5.1. Picture
ESS 1.5.2. Question
• Explain how earth events, abruptly and
over time, can bring about changes in
Earth’s surface: landforms, ocean floor,
rock features, or climate.
ESS 1.5.2. Answer
• Earth events can, abruptly and over time, bring changes
about in the Earth’s surface. Faults, folding and
earthquakes can build tons of different landforms or rock
features, but it happens over time. On the ocean floor
many things can happen; if an earthquake happens, it
will cause a tsunami which happens abruptly and there
are underwater volcanoes. Many things can change the
climate too, like El Niño and the switching of seasons. El
Niño changes the oceans temperatures and the climate
on the coastal regions and the switching of seasons
brings the sun closer or further away and changes the
temperatures.
ESS 1.5.3. Question
• Explain the role of differential heating or
convection in ocean currents, winds,
weather and weather patterns,
atmosphere or climate.
ESS 1.5.3. Answer
• There is differential heating or convection in ocean
currents, winds, weather and weather patterns, the
atmosphere and climate. Ocean currents are caused by
differential heating; lighter, warmer material rises while
heavier, cooler material sinks. It is this movement that
creates circulation patterns known as convection
currents in air, water and the mantle of the Earth. Winds
are created by differential heating in the atmosphere; as
warm air rises allowing cooler air to flow underneath.
Along with the turning of the Earth, this movement of air
causes winds.
ESS 1.6.1. Question
• Describe the process of the rock cycle.
ESS 1.6.1. Answer
• The rock cycle is a series of processes on and beneath
the Earth’s surface that slowly transforms rocks form one
from type to another. To get to the igneous rock stage
there must be volcanic activity. From there, there must
be erosion to get to the sedimentary rock stage and heat
and pressure to get to the metamorphic rock stage. From
sedimentary rock you can get to metamorphic by heat
and pressure. Metamorphic rock can transfer back into
sedimentary rock by erosion. To get to molten material
from all of the other stages, there must be melting.
ESS 1.6.2. Question
• Explain that sedimentary, igneous, and
metamorphic rocks contain evidence of
the minerals, temperatures, and forces
that created them.
ESS 1.6.2. Answer
• Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain
evidence of the minerals, temperatures, and forces that
created them. Sedimentary rocks are created by
sediments being pressured together in many different
layers. The processes to get to that stage are erosion,
deposition, compaction, and cementation. Igneous rocks
are hardened pieces of magma or lava. Metamorphic
rocks are any type of rock heated and pressured. To find
out what type of minerals each rock is made of, a
geologist looks under a telescope and can observe the
shape and size of the crystals in the rock. Different
temperatures create different rocks; you can usually tell
the temperature of when the rock was created by which
category it fits under.
ESS 1.6.2. Definitions
• Sediments- are small, solid pieces of material
that come from rocks or living things.
• Erosion- occurs when running water or wind
loosen and carry away the fragments of rock.
• Deposition- is the process by which sediment
settles out of the water or wind carrying it.
• Compaction- is the process that presses
sediments together.
• Cementation- is the process in which dissolved
minerals crystallize and glue particles of
sediment together.
ESS 1.6.3. Question
• Explain how sediments of sand and
smaller particles, which may contain the
remains of organisms, are gradually buried
and cemented together by dissolved
minerals to form solid rock.
ESS 1.6.3. Answer
• Sediments of sand and smaller particles are gradually
buried and cemented together by dissolved minerals to
form solid rock. To get the sediments, rocks have to be
warn away causing fragments to be carried away. The
sediments are gradually collected and compressed.
During this process they get forced into the ground, thus
burying them. Some, when buried, turn into fossils.
ESS 1.6.4. Question
• Using data about a rock’s physical
characteristics make and support an
inference about the rock’s history and
connection to the rock cycle.
ESS 1.6.4. Answer
• There are many different ways to tell about a rock’s
history and where in the rock cycle they are. To figure
out it’s history and category you collect and study
samples. When studying a rock sample, geologists
observe a rock’s color and texture and determine it’s
mineral composition. Color alone cannot classify a rock;
when discovering a rock’s texture they look for grain
size, grain shape, grain pattern, and some have no
visible grain. To figure out the rocks connection to the
rock cycle it must get classified under either igneous,
sedimentary, or metamorphic.
ESS 1.6.4. Definitions
• Texture- to a geologist, a rock’s texture is
it’s size, shape and pattern of the grains.
• Grains- particles of minerals or other rocks
ESS 1.7.1 Question
• Describe how water flows into and through
a watershed, falling on the land, collecting
in rivers and lakes, soil, and porous layers
of rock, until much of it flows back into the
ocean.
ESS 1.7.1. Answer
• A watershed is the land area that supplies
water to a river system; also called
drainage basins. This is where a river and
it’s tributaries collect their water.
ESS 1.7.1. Picture
ESS 1.7.2. Question
• Identify the physical and chemical
properties that make water an essential
component of the Earth’s system.
ESS 1.7.2. Answer
• There are many physical and chemical properties that
make water an essential component of the Earth’s
system. Water is not just used for household purposes it
is used for agriculture, industry, transportation, and
recreation. Water is a odorless and tasteless liquid.
Water is usually transparent, but when frozen has a tint
of color to it. Since water is transparent, aquatic plants
can get sun light.
ESS 1.7.3. Question
• Explain the processes that cause cycling
of water into and out of the atmosphere
and their connections to our planet’s
weather patterns.
ESS 1.7.3. Answer
• The water cycle consists of many processes.
Evaporation is the first, in which molecules at the
surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to
change into the gaseous state. Next is
condensation, a process by which a gas
changes into a liquid, some of the vapor turns
into clouds and the vapor that does not
precipitates. The last process is precipitation;
forms of water such as snow, rain, hail, or
freezing rain fall form the clouds to Earth.
ESS 2.1.1. Question
• Identify the characteristics of the sun and
its position in the universe.
ESS 2.1.1. Answer
• The sun has many different characteristics. The sun’s
layers are the core, photosphere, chromosphere and
corona. On the surface there are sunspots, prominence,
and solar flares. The sunspots just seem to move across
the surface, which makes it known that the sun rotates
on it’s axis like the Earth. The sun gets it’s energy from
nuclear fusion which only occurs under conditions of
extremely high temperatures. The sun is in the middle of
our galaxy giving light to all of the planets.
ESS 2.1.1. Definitions
• Sunspots- are areas of gas on the sun that
are cooler than the gasses around them.
• Prominence- is a huge looping mass of
gas seen above the chromosphere.
ESS 2.1.2. Question
• Recognize the relationships between the
tides and the phases of the moon, and use
tide charts and NOAA information to
describe them.
ESS 2.1.2. Answer
• The tides and the phases of the moon have a huge
relationship. Tides mainly occur because of the
differences in how much the moon pulls the Earth.
Depending on where the moon is tells weather or not the
tide is high or low. The tides change about every six
hours. If the moon is full the tides are irregularly high and
if the moon is new the tides are irregularly low.
ESS 2.1.3. Question
• Recognize and describe how the regular
and predictable motions of the Earth and
Moon account for phenomena on Earth,
including the day, the year, phases of the
moon, shadows and eclipses.
ESS 2.1.3. Answer
• Day and night occur when the Earth rotates and the
moon is on the dark side of the Earth and the sun is on
the light side. It takes 24 hours to complete this process
and for a new year to start it takes 365 day of the Earth
rotating and then making a revolution around the sun.
• During the phases of the moon the Earth only sees one
side of the Earth. This is due to the moon revolving
around the Earth in the same amount of time the moon
takes to rotate on its axis.
ESS 2.1.4. Question
• Explain the temporal or positional
relationships between or among the Earth,
Sun and Moon (e.g., night/day, seasons,
years, tides.)
ESS 2.1.4. Answer
• Day and night occur when the Earth rotates and
the moon is on the dark side of the Earth and the
sun is on the light side. It takes 24 hours to
complete this process. For a new year to start it
takes 365 day of the Earth rotating and then
making a revolution around the sun. Tides
mainly occur because of the differences in how
much the moon pulls the Earth.
ESS 2.2.1. Question
• Describe the Sun as the principle energy
source for phenomena on the Earth’s
surface.
ESS 2.2.1. Answer
• The sun is the principle energy source for phenomena
on the Earth’s surface. All organisms need the Sun’s
energy to survive and plants use the sun for
photosynthesis to produce food. The energy comes to
Earth in the forms of visible light and inferred radiation;
only a small amount is ultraviolet radiation which is very
harmful.
ESS 2.3.1. Question
• Identify the characteristics and movement
patterns of the planets in out solar system
and differentiate between them.
ESS 2.3.1. Answer
• Mercury is the planet closest to the sun. Scientists only know what one
side of Mercury looks like and it is just like the Earth’s moon; Mercury
also has a very thin atmosphere. Venus takes about 7.5 Earth months to
revolve around the sun and is called Earth’s twin. The atmosphere on
Venus is so thick that everyday is a cloudy one; Venus is covered in
rocks, volcanoes and craters. Mars has a tilted axis and therefore has
seasons. The surface of Mars is covered with craters and volcanoes;
Mars’s atmosphere is mainly carbon dioxide. Jupiter is the most
massive planet and has a think atmosphere made up of mainly
hydrogen and helium. There are 17 moons orbiting Jupiter. Saturn is the
second largest planet and has rings. There are 5 moons orbiting Saturn.
Uranus is twice the distance form the sun than Saturn is and rotates in
17 hours. The axis is in a 90 degrees tilt and there are 18 moons orbiting
Uranus. Neptune is 30 times Earth’s distance from the sun and has 8
moons. The last planet is Pluto; it has solid surfaces and masses much
less than Earth. Pluto revolves around the sun once every 248 Earth
years; Pluto is not actually a planet, it is a dwarf planet.
ESS 2.3.1. Distances
Planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Distance (to sun in km)
58,000,000 km
108,000,000 km
150,000,000 km
228,000,000 km
778,000,000 km
1,427,000,000 km
2,871,000,000 km
4,497,000,000 km
5,913,000,000 km
ESS 2.3.1. Picture
ESS 2.3.2. Question
• Explain the affects of gravitational force on
the planets and their moons.
ESS 2.3.2 Answer
• Gravitational force is the force of attraction
between all masses in the universe. This
causes tides and effects on the seasons
and weather. Gravitational force also
keeps the planets and their moons in orbit
around the sun.
ESS 2.3.3. Question
• Explain why Earth and our Solar System
appear to be somewhat unique, while
acknowledging recent evidence that
suggests similar systems in the universe.
ESS 2.3.3. Answer
• Earth and our Solar System are unique because
there are most likely no other planets like them
out in the universe. There might be planets with
life, but not with the same atmosphere and
climate as Earth. All of the other planets are
special too. They have more moons and
different, more unique conditions concerning
climate, atmosphere and preserved organisms.
ESS 2.3.4. Question
• Compare and contrast planets based on
data provided about size, composition,
location, orbital movement, atmosphere, or
surface features.
ESS 2.3.4. Answer
• Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are the inner
planets are composed of rock and earthly
materials. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus and Neptune; they are the gas giants of
the universe. Pluto is a dwarf planet. The planets
atmospheres are either very thin, very thick or
average like the Earth. Moons can very
depending on which planet you talk about. The
moons help to keep the planets in orbit around
the sun.
ESS 2.3.5. Question
• Explain how gravitational force affects
objects in the Solar System.
ESS 2.3.5. Answer
• Gravitational force affects many things in the
Solar System. It keeps planets, moons, and
satellites in orbit; affecting tides and seasons.
Gravitational force pulls on the Earth, thus
causing high tide and low tide depending on
where the moon is. By keeping satellites in orbit
they can observe and take pictures of our Solar
System and planets.
ESS 2.4.1. Question
• Explain how technological advances have
allowed scientists to re-evaluate or extend
existing ideas about the Solar System
ESS 2.4.1. Answer
• Many technological advances have allowed
scientist to re-evaluate or extend ideas existing
about the Solar System. The main technical
advances have been in the telescopes and in
the space program; leading to more discoveries
like life may have one point been on Mars and
discovering that Pluto is a dwarf planet. More
has been discovered about each planet
including problems like global warming.
ESS 3.1.1. Question
• Define an astronomical unit as the
distance from the Earth to the Sun.
ESS 3.1.1. Answer
• An astronomical unit is a unit of length used in
measuring astronomical distances within the
solar system equal to the mean distance from
the Earth to the sun; approximately 150 million
kilometers (93 million miles).
ESS 3.1.2. Question
• Explain that special units of measure, such
as light years and astronomical units are
used to calculate distances in space.
ESS 3.1.2. Answer
• There are different and unusual measurements
for distances in space. A light year is the
distance that light travels in one year and is
usually used to measure the distance to stars
because a kilometer is so small. In space, light
travels at a speed of 300,00 kilometers per
second. An astronomical unit is used to measure
the distance between planets or to other
galaxies.
ESS 3.2.1. Question
• Describe objects such as asteroids,
comets and meteors in terms of their
characteristics and movement patterns.
ESS 3.2.1. Answer
• Asteroids are objects revolving around the sun
that are to small and to numerous to be
considered planets; most revolve between the
planets Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt.
Comets are chunks of ice and dust whose orbits
are usually very long, narrow ellipses; a comets
tail can stretch out millions of kilometers. A
meteor is a streak of light in the sky caused by
the burning of a meteoroid in Earth’s
atmosphere; there are many stages. The stages
are meteoroid, meteor and meteorite.
ESS 3.3.1. Question
• Describe the universe as being comprised
of billions of galaxies, each containing
many billions of stars, and explain that
there are vast distances separating these
galaxies and stars from one another, and
from the Earth.
ESS 3.3.1. Answer
• The universe is composed of billions of different
galaxies each containing billions of stars and
planets. There are light-years between the Milky
Way and these other galaxies. Scientists
discover and observe them from a far using
telescopes. Many new ones are discovered
each day.
ESS 3.3.1. Picture
ESS 4.1.1. Question
• Describe ways in which technology has
increased our understanding of the world
in which we live.
ESS 4.1.1. Answer
• Technology has increased our understanding so
much about this planet. Scientists have learned
about the past life and the problems occurring
now. Global warming can be stopped and we
discovered that not to long ago. Each layer of
the Earth is different and technology has helped
teach us this along with new landforms and
climate patterns.
ESS 4.1.2. Question
• Recognize the importance of technology
as it relates to science, for purposes such
as: access to space and other remote
locations, sample collection and treatment,
measurement, data collection, and
storage, computation, and communication
of information.
ESS 4.1.2. Answer
• Technology relates to the important of science in
so many ways. It is used for sample collection
and treatment on rocks, core samples and other
things. New locations are discovered everyday
and we can communicate this to each other
thought e-mail. Data can be collected and stored
on computers for use later. Technology has
transformed and helped in so many ways.
ESS 4.2.1. Question
• Calculate temperature in degrees Celsius.
ESS 4.2.1. Answer
• The United States is the only country to not use
the metric system. To convert Fahrenheit into
Celsius you mist complete the equation: n-32;
multiply by 0.5555. To convert Celsius into
Fahrenheit you must complete the equation:
n∙1.8; add 32.
ESS 4.2.2. Question
• Perform calculations using metric
measurements
ESS 4.2.2. Answer
Measurement
Symbol
Meaning
Kilometer
K
1,00
Hectometer
H
100
Dekameter
Da
10
Decimeter
D
.1
Centimeter
C
.01
Millimeter
m
.001
ESS 4.2.3. Question
• Describe how man uses land based light
telescopes, radio telescopes, satellites,
manned exploration, probes and robots to
collect data.
ESS 4.2.3. Answer
• Man uses land based light and radio telescopes
to collect data on our Solar System, universe
and other galaxies. Pictures are collected by
satellites, probes and robots. During manned
exploration you can find all kinds of different
data.
ESS 4.3.1. Question
• Provide examples of how creative thinking
and economic need has shaped the way
people use natural materials, such as the
use of metal ores, petroleum, and fresh
water.
ESS 4.3.1. Answer
• Creative thinking and economic need has
shaped the way people used natural materials.
Petroleum is being over used now and is
causing problems in our atmosphere; soon it will
disappear and we will not have any fuel. Fresh
water is used for household purposes and other
sources.
ESS 4.3.2. Question
• Explain how to test natural materials to
measure and compare their properties.
ESS 4.3.2. Answer
• You can test natural materials to measure and
compare their properties in many ways. You can
check for their hardness, color, shape, texture,
basically anything depending what the material
is. You can do this by computer or telescope.
ESS 4.3.3. Question
•
Explain how technologies can reduce
the environmental impact of natural
disasters.
ESS 4.3.3. Answer
• Technologies can help reduce the impact of a
natural disaster. With the new technology we
have, we can predict a disaster earlier and
therefore we can prepare for it. A weather map is
able to see storms and fronts coming in a head
of time and then they can be predicted on harsh
they are going to be.
ESS 4.3.4. Question
• Identify the potential impact of converting
forested land to uses such as farms,
homes, factories, or tourist attractions.
ESS 4.3.4. Answer
• The impact of cutting down all forested land is
destroying homes, the Earth and lives. By
destroying forests all animals in them have no
habitats and are becoming endangered; humans
are loosing oxygen and more carbon dioxide is
being released into the air and atmosphere.
Forests are being replaced by factories and
other buildings which are destroying the
atmosphere and environment because of all the
fossil fuels they burn.
ESS 4.4.1. Question
• Understand that some scientific
jobs/careers involve the application of
Earth Space science content knowledge
and experience in specific ways that meet
the goals of the job.
ESS 4.4.1. Answer
• There are many jobs that involve the work and
knowledge of Earth Space science. Some are
oceanographers, geologists, astronomers,
environmental scientists, and meteorologists.