Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
MONTH
CONTENT/TOPIC
SKILLS
MONTHLY
Nature of Science
Research Methods
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AUGUST
Nature of Science
Laboratory Safety
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Nature of Science
Scientific Research
Methods
(C1 pg. 6-22)
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Page 1 of 10
ASSESSMENTS
STANDARDS
8.N.2.1. Students are able to design a replicable scientific investigation.
Use appropriate

Laboratory
supportive technologies.
experimentation
Assess the limits of

Scientific method-based
accuracy inherent in a
laboratory reports
particular measuring
device or procedure.
Control variables to test
hypotheses by repeated
trials and by identifying
sources of experimental
error.
Interpret data to justify
predictions or
conclusions.
Use research methods
to investigate practical
and/or personal scientific
problems and questions
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(How Does Sunscreen
Work)

Careers in Science
(Cryptographer)
ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS
Why is the scientific
method and a
written record
necessary for
scientific
experiments?
Select appropriate

scientific equipment and
technologies for

investigations and

experiments.
Use proper safety
procedures in all
investigations.
Wear appropriate attire.
8.N.2.1. Students are able to design a replicable scientific investigation.
Laboratory Safety
Contract
Jeopardy Review
Laboratory Safety Rules
Quiz
Identify the skills and

attitude that scientists
use
Explain the process of
scientific inquiry
Define fact, predictions,
theory, and law/principle.
Differentiate between a
scientific theory and
scientific law
Discuss how theory can
Word Wall Vocabulary 8.N.1.1. Students are able to differentiate among facts, predictions, theory, How do scientific
discoveries become
(science, observing,
and law/principles in scientific investigations.
believable?
inferring, predicting,
scientific inquiry,
hypothesis, fact,
controlled experiment,
variable, manipulated
variable, responding
variable, data, scientific
theory, scientific law,
Earth science)
Why are safety
procedures
necessary for
scientific
investigations?
What constitutes a
scientific
investigation?
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
become law
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Investigate the Hubble
Space Telescope
Research competing
theories for the
development of the
universe (Big Bang)
Evaluate the Doppler
Effect in relation to the
Big Bang Theory
Describe the Law of
Gravitation

SEPTEMBER
Earth Science
Universe Formation
(C21 pg. 774-779)
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Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
(Scientific Research
Methods)
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(What is a Black
Hole/Can A Black Hole
Pull in Another)
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Careers in Science
(Scientific Illustrator)
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Stars and Galaxies
(C21 pg. 752-773)
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Page 2 of 10
Identify and represent

the measurement in
space
Clarify spectroscopic
analysis of celestial
bodies
Investigate
constellations and the
societal value
Model the Life Cycle of a
Star
Give examples of the
Word Wall Vocabulary 8.E.2.1. Students are able to compare celestial bodies within the solar
system using composition, size, and orbital motion.
(Big Bang, Hubble’s
Law, cosmic
background radiation,
solar nebula,
panetesimal, dark
matter, dark energy,
Doppler Effect, Law of
Gravitation, universe,
solar system)
Notes
Diagramming (Big
Bang/Universe
Components)
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Web Quest (The
Expanding Universe)
Laboratory Report (The
Big Bang Balloon
Experiment)
Test
Word Wall Vocabulary
(constellation,
spectrograph, apparent
brightness, absolute
brightness, light-year,
parallax, HertzsprungRussell diagram, main
sequence, nebula,
protostar, white dwarf,
supernova, neutron star,
pulsar, black hole,
galaxy)
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
application of the HR
Diagram
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OCTOBER
Page 3 of 10
Notes
Diagramming
(Expansion of
Universe/Galaxies/Stars
/Star Cycles)
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities (Stars
and Galaxies)
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test (Star Chart Cards)
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Moon Landing
Farce/Moon Phases)

Careers in Science
(Astronaut)
Earth Science

Solar System
Composition
(C21 pg. pg. 706-733)
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Word Wall Vocabulary 8.E.2.1. Students are able to compare celestial bodies within the solar
system using composition, size, and orbital motion.
(core, photosphere,
chromosphere, corona,
prominence, solar flare,
sunspot, terrestrial
planets, gas giant,
comet, asteroid,
asteroid belt, meteoroid,
meteor, meteorite)
Notes
Diagramming (Solar
System Composition w/
composition, size, orbit
data in comparison to
Earth)
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Web Quest (The
Formation of the Solar
System)
Laboratory Report
(Solar System Block
Project)
Science in the News
Test
Lunar and solar eclipses, 
moon phases, tides,

seasons

8.E.2.2. Students are able to differentiate the influences of the relative
Word Wall Vocabulary () positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.
Notes
Diagramming (Lunar
Identify the objects that
make up the solar
system.
Describe the
composition of the Sun,
the planets, asteroids,
and comets.
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Earth, Moon, and Sun
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(C19 pg. 660-683 and
C15—earth layers)
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
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Identify the layers of the
earth.
Explain the purpose of
each layer of the earth. 
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NOVEMBER
eclipse, solar eclipse,
moon phases, layers of
the earth)
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Web Quest
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Milky Way Galaxy)

Careers in Science
(Video Game Level
Designer)
Earth Science
Weather Factors
(C16 and C13 pg.
456-461)
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Effects of the ocean on
weather
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Weather Patterns
(C17)
DECEMBER
Page 4 of 10
Examples: air masses, fronts,
pressure systems, Coriolis
effect, wind systems,
humidity, storms
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Condensation

Evaporation

Cloud Formation
Examples: NOAA, AMS
Word Wall Vocabulary () 8.E.1.3. Students are able to explain the factors that create weather and
the instruments and technologies that assess it.
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Class Speaker (KeloLand Meteorologist)
Web Quest
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test

Word Wall Vocabulary () 8.E.1.3. Students are able to explain the factors that create weather and

Notes
the instruments and technologies that assess it.

Vocabulary Quiz
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Center Activities

Web Quest

Laboratory Report

Science in the News

Test
Non-Fiction Book Read
-Journal Log
Children’s Science Book
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Earth Spinning/Tides)

Careers in Science
(Environmental
Consultant)

Subject Area: Science
Earth Science
Climate and Climate
Change
(C18 pg. 614-633,
641-647)
Grade Level: 8
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Identify the factors that
influence temperature
and precipitation.
Explain what causes the
seasons.
Differentiate between
climate and climate
zones.
Identify factors that can
cause climate change.
Identify events that can
cause short-term climate
changes.
Describe events that
lead to short-term
climate changes.
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Nature of Science
Scientific
Contributions

Evaluate important
contributions to the
advancement of science
from people of differing
cultures, genders, and
ethnicity.
Page 5 of 10
Word Wall Vocabulary 8.E.1.3. Students are able to explain the factors that create weather and
(climate, microclimate, the instruments and technologies that assess it.
tropical zone, polar
zone, temperate zone,
marine climate,
continental climate, rain
forest, savanna, desert,
steppe, humid
subtropical, subarctic,
tundra, permafrost, El
Nino, La Nina, and
global warming)
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
(Climate Change)
Web Quest (Global
Warming)
Laboratory Report (Cool
Climate Graphs pg. 634)
Science in the News
Test
8.N.1.1. Students are able to differentiate among facts, predictions, theory,
History of Science Tab
and law/principles in scientific investigations.
Poster

Poster completion

Grading Rubric

KWL chart of two other
student posters.
Examples: Marie Curieradiation, Hess, Galileoastronomy, Keplerastronomy, Newton-physics,
Neil Tice-astronomy,
Mendeleev-physics
Semester
Testing/Project
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
JANUARY
Page 6 of 10
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Evaporation/Colors)

Careers in Science
(Dinosaur
Paleontologist)
Earth Science
Plate Tectonics
(C5, C6 pg. 162-175,
and C7 q. 200-203,
217-223)
Geologic Time
(C10 pg. 310321,327-329)
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Plates boundaries
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Seismic waves
Mountains
Convection currents in
the mantle


Explain how fossils form 
Identify different types of
fossils
Describe what fossils tell
about organisms and
environments of the past
State the law of
superposition
Describe how geologist
determine the relative
age of rocks

Explain how index fossils 
are useful

Differentiate between
extinct species and

species’ adaptations
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Word Wall Vocabulary () 8.E.1.2. Students are able to explain the role of plate tectonics in shaping
Earth.
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Web Quest
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
“Ic” Travel Brochure
Project-Based
Assessment (Realistic
or SarcasticEarthquakes and
Volcanoes)
Word Wall Vocabulary
(fossil, petrified fossil,
trace fossil, carbon
fossil, index fossil
evolution, extinct,
relative age, absolute
age, law of
superposition, fault,
geologic time scale, era,
period)
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
(Geologic Time)
Web Quest ()
Laboratory Report
(Demo 27)
Science in the News
Test
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
FEBRUARY
Page 7 of 10
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Glaciers)

Careers in Science
(Aquaculture
Veterinarian)
Earth Science
Weathering and Soil
Formation (C8)
Erosion and
Deposition (C9)

Detect how soil is
formed.

Express how deposition
creates landforms
(deltas)
Explore various land
transformations (Grand
Canyon/Bad Lands).
Demonstrate glaciation
and predict the future
outcome of current
glaciation.
Use geospatial
technologies to
investigate natural
phenomena (GPS, GIS,
remote sensing).
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Word Wall Vocabulary () 8.E.1.5. Students are able to explain the impact of weathering and erosion
on the Earth.
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Class Speaker (USGS)
Web Quest
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test
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Word Wall Vocabulary ()
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Web Quest
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 8
MARCH
Page 8 of 10
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Density)

Careers in Science
(Sports Biomechanist)
Earth Science

Rocks and Minerals
(C3 pg. 66-79 and C4
pg. 96-106, 110-116) 

Physical Science
Matter


APRIL
Physical Science
Atomic Models


Identify rocks as
sedimentary, igneous, or
metamorphic.
Identify minerals as
oxides, sulfides, halides,
sulfates
Justify how the Law of
Conservation of Energy
and Matter applies to the
rock cycle
Classify matter as
elements, compounds,
or mixtures
Explore physical and
chemical changes that
occur in burning,
weathering, melting, and
acid rain.
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Word Wall Vocabulary () 8.E.1.1. Students are able to identify and classify minerals and rocks.
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Laboratory Report
(Mineral Testing)
Web Quest (Rock
Cycle)
Science in the News
Minerals Test
(Rock/Mineral Star:
Identify minerals;
identify typed of rock;
explain a real-world use
for each.
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Word Wall Vocabulary ()
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Class Speaker (USD
Physics Club)

Web Quest

Laboratory Report

Science in the News

Test
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Metal/Magnets)

Careers in Science
(NASA Food Scientist)
Compare and contrast 
other atomic models.

Use the Bohr model to 
show the arrangement of 
the subatomic particles 
of atomic numbers 1

through 18.


Word Wall Vocabulary ()
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
Center Activities
Web Quest
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test
8.P.1.1. Students are able to classify matter as elements, compounds, or
mixtures.
8.P.1.3. Students are able to compare properties of matter resulting from
physical and chemical changes.
Subject Area: Science
Periodic Table
Grade Level: 8



MAY
Describe the relationship
between the
organization and the
predictive nature of the
Periodic Table.
Combine elements to
create formulas
Differentiate between
covalent and ionic
bonding
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Page 9 of 10
Word Wall Vocabulary ()
Notes
Vocabulary Quiz
8.P.1.2. Students are able to use the Periodic Table to compare and
Center Activities
contrast families of elements and to classify elements as metals, metalloids,
Web Quest
or non-metals.
Laboratory Report
Science in the News
Test
Monthly Bulletin Boards

All Science
Questions…Answered
(Helium/Lead)

Careers in Science
(Diabetes Educator)
Science, Technology, 
Environment, and
Society
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Conduct internet
Science Seminar
research on scientific

Partner PowerPoint
advancement with
presentations
partner.

Grading rubric
Read and summarize

KWL Chart of other
research.
Science Seminar
Explain the operation of
presentations
the scientific
advancement.
Evaluate society’s initial
response to the
advance.
Give reasons that
society accepted the
research.
Consider the applicability
of the research for the
future.
8.S.1.1. Students are able to describe how science and technology have
been influenced by social needs, attitudes, and values.
Examples: GPS, GIS, remote sensing, Corps of Engineers (dams), NOAA
(weather satellites), NASA (earth and space exploration), USGS (mapping)
Issue Forum
Identify a scientific

Student Speech
advancement that
impacts the environment 
Student evaluation of
and is supported (not) by
student speeches
public policy.
Analyze whether the
research has cultural
bias.
Identify why a need for
the research existed
Discuss whether public
access to the research is
8.S.2.1. Students are able, given a scenario, to offer solutions to problems
created by human activity on the local, regional, or global environment.
Examples: global warming, deforestation
Subject Area: Science
10
Grade Level: 8
adequate.
Final Project



Articulate knowledge of
each content area/unit
throughout the academic
year.
Illustrate the content
areas using a visual
depiction.
Connect the content
areas
Page 10 of