8th Grade Science - Earth & Space

Earth in the Solar System

Understand that the Earth is the third planet from the sun in a system that includes the moon, the sun, and eight other planets and their moons and smaller objects such as asteroids and comets
Understand that most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion
Understand that gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun and governs the rest of the motion in the solar system
Understand that the Sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the Earth such as plant growth, wind, tides, ocean currents, and the water cycle

Earth's History

Understand that the earth processes we see today, including erosion, movement of the lithospheric plates, and changes in the atmospheric composition are similar to those that have occurred in the past, and that knowledge of such occurrences provide the ability to make predictions as to possible events
Understand that fossils provide important evidence of how life and the environment have changed

Properties of Earth's Materials

Earth System

Fresh Water versus Salt Water (lesson plan) - Students create a KWL chart then complete a lab demonstrating the difference in density between fresh and salt water; from Georgia Learning Connections.

Understand that the solid Earth is layered with a lithosphere- hot, convecting mantle; and a dense metallic core
Understand that lithospheric plates constantly move at the rate of just centimeters per year in response to the movements of the mantle, and result in the events of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building
Understand that landforms are the result of a combination of constructive and destructive forces
Understand that changes in the crust include the rock cycle; rock is weathered and deposited in water as silt, compressed, heated, and recrystallized to form new rock
Understand that soil consists of weathered rocks, and decomposed organic materials from dead plants, animals, and bacteria
Understand that water, which covers the majority of the Earth's surface circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere in what is known as the water cycle

Environment: Rivers (lesson plan) - A hands-on assessment of river pollution which uses a stream table set-up to track the dispersion of point source pollution; from Georgia Learning Connections.

Understand that water is a solvent, as it passes through the water cycles it dissolves minerals and carries them to the oceans
Understand that the atmosphere is a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and trace gases and has different characteristics at different elevations

Understand that clouds, formed by condensation of water vapor, affect weather and climate

Skywatchers - Sky Watchers is an interactive educational program for elementary schools, designed specifically to support the science curriculum. Students learn about the science of meteorology by taking weather observations during the school year.

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