8th Grade Science Curriculum
In grade 8, students continue to build on their understanding of complex scientific principles and concepts. They learn about the different types of organisms and how they have evolved over time, how the Earth’s climate has changed over time, and how the solar system formed. They also learn about the different types of waves and how they interact with matter, and how forces can be used to design and build things.
Scientific Inquiry and Observation
- Introduction to the scientific method
- Conducting simple observations and recording data
Life Science
- What is evolution?
- How does genetic variation contribute to evolution?
- How do populations adapt to their environment?
- How do predator and prey populations coevolve?
- How can we design constructed ecosystems?
- What does the fossil record tell us about evolution?
Earth Science
- How do Earth’s systems interact?
- How do internal and external processes shape Earth’s landforms?
- How do human activities affect climate change?
- How does water cycle through the Earth’s systems?
- How can we reduce the impacts of human activities on the environment?
Physical Science
- What is electricity?
- What are forces?
- How is energy transferred?
- How can we convert energy from one form to another?
- How do forces affect motion?
Engineering Design
- Introducing the engineering design process
- Conducting simple design challenges and problem solving
- Exploring technological advancements and their impacts
- Investigating how engineers solve real-world problems