09/03/03 S. M.
Smoller e-mail
Higgins Middle School has adopted the
FISH
philosophy.
PEABODY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM, GRADE 8, 2002
Prepared by: Daryl Mazzaglia | Administrator of Instruction: C. Milton Burnett, Ed.D.
COURSE OVERVIEW
The grade eight Science program at the Higgins Middle School concentrates on the study of the physical and space sciences. The topics are taught through the constant use of process and critical thinking skills within a hands-on, guided inquiry lab approach to covering the curriculum.
The text used is the Science Explorer modular series published by Prentice Hall. At the eighth grade level there are three student version texts available for each student.
Astronomy:
1. Earth, Moon and Sun
2. The Solar System
3. Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
Chemical Building Blocks:
1. An Introduction to Matter
2. Changes in Matter
3. Elements in the Periodic Table
4. Carbon Chemistry
Chemical Interactions
1. Chemical Reactions
2. Atoms and Bonding
3. Acids, Bases and Solutions
4. Exploring Materials
The Prentice Hall Explorer series offers rich resources for everything from student self-assessment to teacher-guided interdisciplinary explorations.
This curriculum guide is designed to be a common core of information and activities to be provided for all eighth grade students to experience while allowing time for individual teachers to have autonomy in their classrooms.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The grade eight Science program uses a wide variety of teaching techniques where the students work both independently and cooperatively to satisfy the following strands and concepts put forth in the Massachusetts Frameworks published on May of 2001. The Prentice Hall, Science Explorer series is the text supplement used to present the subject matter.
Inquiry and Experimentation – All grade (6 – 8) inquiry standards
Strand 1 – Earth and Space Domain
The Earth in the Solar System – Learning Standards 8 – 12
Strand 2 – Life Science (Biology)
Energy and Living Things – Learning Standard 11
Strand 3 – Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics)
Properties of Matter – Learning Standards 1 – 3
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures – Learning Standards 5 – 10
Heat Energy – Learning Standards 14 – 16
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INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS – GRADE 8 |
STRAND 1 EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE |
STRAND 2LIFE SCIENCE |
STRAND 3 PHYSICAL SCIENCE |
STANDARD |
Astronomy |
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Student Edition |
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Chapter 1: Earth, Moon and Sun |
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Section 1: Earth in Space |
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Section 2: Phases, Eclipses, and Tides |
9,11 |
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Discover: Why does the earth have day and night? |
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Discover: How does the moon move? |
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Sharpen Your Skills: Calculating |
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Sharpen Your Skills: Making Models |
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Skills Lab: Reasons for Seasons |
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Skills Lab: A “Month” of Phases |
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Teacher’s Edition |
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Building Inquiry Skills: Comparing and Contrasting |
9,11 |
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Demonstrations: pp. J16, J19 |
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Inquiry Challenge: p. J20 |
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Student Edition |
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Chapter 2: The Solar System |
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Section 1: Observing the Solar System |
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Section 3: The Inner Planets |
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Section 4: The Outer Planets |
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Discover: How does Mars look from the Earth? |
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Discover: How large are the outer planets? |
8,10 |
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Sharpen Your Skills: Graphing |
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INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS – GRADE 8 |
STRAND 1 EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE |
STRAND 2 LIFE SCIENCE |
STRAND 3 PHYSICAL SCIENCE |
STANDARD |
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Try This: Remote Control |
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Try This: Model Saturn |
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Skills Lab: Speeding Around the Sun |
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Interdisciplinary Activities: Music, Language Arts |
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Teacher’s Edition |
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Integrating Earth Science |
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Demonstrations: p. J65 |
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Building Inquiry Skills: Observing p. J64 |
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Making Models: p. J72 |
8,10 |
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Relating Cause and Effect: p. J76 |
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Using the Visuals: p. J74 |
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Chapter 3: Stars, Galaxies and the Universe |
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Student Edition |
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Section 4: Star Systems and Galaxies |
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Section 5: History of the Universe |
12 |
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Discover: Why does the Milky Way look hazy? |
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Discover: How does the Universe expand? |
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Try This: A Spiral Galaxy |
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Teacher’s Edition |
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Inquiry Challenge: p. J118 |
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INSTRUCTIONAL UNITS – GRADE 8 |
STRAND 1 EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE |
STRAND 2 LIFE SCIENCE |
STRAND 3 PHYSICAL SCIENCE |
STANDARD |
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Building Inquiry Skills: Communicating p. J124 |
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Teaching Resource |
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Sections: 3-4, 3-5: Lesson Plan |
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Section Summary: Review and Reinforce |
12 |
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Enrich: pp. J89-92, J93-96 |
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Copied from 6th grade book: From Bacteria to Plants: Student Edition |
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Chapter 4: Introduction to Plants p. A108 |
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16 |
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Section 2: Photosynthesis and Light |
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Discover: What colors make up sunlight? |
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Teacher’s Edition |
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Building Inquiry Skills: Observing p. A121 |
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16 |
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Integrating Chemistry: p. A123 |
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Teaching Resources |
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Section 4-2 Lesson Plan, Section Summary, Review and Reinforce, Enrich A95-A98 |
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