LPMS
th
8 Grade
Science FCAT
Prep Guide
1
Items in this document are designed to review the topics
in 6th, 7th, & 8th grade science. These topics will be
among items tested on the 8th Grade Science FCAT.
The Nature of Science
You should be able to:
 Identify and understand the parts and functions of the Scientific Method
 Understand the difference between an experiment and other types of scientific
investigation
 ***Identification and control of variables – independent variable (test variable)
 and dependent variable (outcome variable)
 Use the terms “results support the hypothesis” or “results fail to support the
hypothesis”
 Explain how hypothesis are valuable if they lead to further investigations, even if
they turn out not to be supported by the data
2
 Analyze data to make predictions and/or defend conclusions
 Explain why scientific investigations should be repeated
 Understand the difference between replication (to be able to be repeated) and
repetition (multiple trials)
 Understand that technology allows us to gather data more easily
 Know that a “limitation” is something that limits our ability or doesn’t allow us
all information
 Understand that science is full of change. There is a great deal of debate among
the scientific community and that new evidence may change a theory.
 Understand that scientific investigations involve the collection of relevant
empirical evidence (the data gathered in an investigation), the use of logical
reasoning, and the application of imagination in coming up with hypotheses,
predictions, explanations , and models to make sense of the collected evidence
3
 Recognize and explain that a scientific theory is a well-supported idea and is not
just a claim made by an individual. Theories may be modified as more data is
collected. A theory explains.
 Explain that a scientific law tells a rule in science.
Earth and Space Science
 Distinguish between the planets and other astronomical bodies in space; planets,
galaxies, universe
 Understand that distance is measured in light years (the distance light travels in
1 earth year) and astronomical units (the distance from earth to the sun =
93,000,000 miles)
 Describe that the universe contains billions of galaxies including planets, stars,
moons, asteroids, nebulae, galaxies, dwarf planets, and comets
 Describe and classify properties of stars; apparent magnitude (brightness),
temperature (color), size, and luminosity (absolute brightness)
4
 Evaluate models of solar properties and characteristics; rotation, structure of the
 Sun, convection, sunspots, solar flares, and prominences
 Explain the role that gravity plays in the formation and motion of planets, stars,
and solar system
 Compare and contrast historical models of the Solar System – heliocentric (suncentered with Earth and other planets orbiting it) and geocentric (Earth-centered
with the sun, moon, and other planets orbiting it)
 Recognize that different planets have atmospheres different than Earth’s, that
some planets’ atmosphere is so thin that it allows more craters from meteors
than other.
 Understand the effect of astronomical bodies on each other – the Sun (Earth’s
orbital path) and Moon’s gravitational effect on Earth (tidal effects)
 Identify and describe the steps of the rock cycle and how they affect surface and
sub-surface events
5
 Recognize examples of ways in which Earth’s surface is built up and torn down
by physical and chemical weathering, erosion, and deposition
 Identify different types of landforms commonly found on Earth – coastlines,
dunes, rivers, mountains, glaciers, deltas, and lakes and relate these landforms
as they apply to Florida and those found outside of Florida
 Identify the impact that humans have had on Earth – deforestation,
urbanization, desertification, erosion, air and water quality, changing the flow of
water
 Explain how physical evidence supports scientific theories that Earth has evolved
over geologic time due to natural processes
 Identify the current methods for measuring the age of Earth – law of
superposition (folding and faulting) and radioactive dating
 Describe the theory of plate tectonics and how the movement of Earth’s crustal
plates cause both slow and rapid changes in Earth’s surface through the flow of
heat and material – volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building
6
 Understand the layers of Earth – lithosphere, hot convecting mantle, dense
metallic liquid outer core and solid inner core
 Recognize that heat flow and movement of materials within Earth causes
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cause mountains and ocean basins
 Explain the interactions between the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere ,
atmosphere, and biosphere
 Explain the cycling of water and how global patterns influence local weather and
climate
 Differentiate between weather and climate
 Describe the composition and structure of the atmosphere and how the
atmosphere protects life and insulates the planet
7
 Explain how energy provided by the Sun influences global patterns of
atmospheric movement and temperature differences among air, water, and land
 Differentiate between conduction, convection, and radiation and how heat is
transferred through Earth’s system – through the hydrosphere, geosphere, and
atmosphere
Physical Science
 Classify substances based on its physical properties – density, thermal or
electrical conductivity, solubility, magnetic properties, melting and boiling point
– know that these properties are independent of the amount of the sample
 Explain density and use the formula for density D = M . Compare the densities of
V
various materials’ masses and volumes.
 Understand the terms solvent, solute, saturation.
 Understand that there are a specific number of known elements and that they
combine in many ways to produce compounds that make up all living and
nonliving things
 Use models to explain solids, liquids, and gases
8
 Understand that elements are grouped on the periodic table according to
similarities of their properties
 Recognize that atoms are the smallest unit of an element – a nucleus containing
protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons
 Compare and contrast properties of compounds including acids, basis, and salts
 Distinguish between mixtures, solutions, and pure substances
 Understand that acids and bases are decided by pH
 Differentiate between physical and chemical change
 Explain that mass is conserved when substances undergo physical and chemical
change – Law of Conservation of Mass (not lost – only changed from one form to
another
 Describe how temperature affects chemical change
9
 Know that the sun’s energy comes to Earth as radiation
 Understand the characteristics of the electromagnetic spectrum – wavelength,
frequency, use and hazards
 Understand that planetary images and satellite photographs are as a result of
the properties of the electromagnetic spectrum
 Compare and contrast the types of radiation from the sun
 Identify common uses of electromagnetic waves
 Explain that waves move at different speeds through different materials
 Explain that light waves can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed
 Describe the transformation of energy from one form to another
 Differentiate between potential and kinetic energy
10
 Identify situations where energy is transformed between kinetic and potential
 Describe the Law of Conservation of Energy – that energy cannot be created or
destroyed, only transformed from one form to another
 Describe that heat flows in predictable ways, moving from warmer objects to
cooler ones until they reach the same temperature
 Understand that adding or removing heat can cause a change in state of matter
 Identify types of forces – contact forces and forces acting at a distance
(electrical, magnetic, and gravitational)
 Describe the relationship among distance, mass, and gravitational force between
any two objects
 Differentiate between mass and weight
 Understand that an unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed,
direction, or both
11
 Interpret the relationship when graphing distance versus time for an object
moving at a constant speed
 Changes in speed should relate to positive acceleration and negative
acceleration
 Understand that friction is a force in both sliding and stationary situations
Life Science

Describe the hierarchical order of organisms – from atoms to molecules, to cells
to tissues, to organs, or organ systems, to organisms

Explain the scientific theory of cells (cell theory) – all organisms are composed of
cells – single-celled or multi-cellular, all cells come from preexisting cells, and
cells are the basic unit of life

Explain how cells follow similar processes to maintain homeostasis (balance)

Compare and contrast the structure and function of major organelles of plant
and animal cells – cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts,
mitochondria, and vacuoles
12

Identify the general functions of the major systems of the human body –
digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, excretory, immune, nervous,
and musculoskeletal – and how they interact with each other

Compare and contrast things that may infect the human body – viruses, bacteria,
fungi, and parasites

Describe how and why organisms are classified – phylum, class, order, family,
genus, or species

Explore the scientific theory of evolution

Recognize and explain ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors
contribute to evolution by natural selection and diversity of organisms

Understand that fossil evidence is consistent with the scientific theory of
evolution that some living things evolved from earlier species

Understand that if a species cannot adapt to their environment that this may
contribute to their extinction

Define genotype and phenotype
13

Determine the probabilities for genotype and phenotype combinations using
Punnett Squares (limited to P and F1 generations)

Compare and contrast reproduction requiring meiosis and mitosis (does not
include the stages of meiosis)

Compare and contrast the relationships among organisms including mutualism,
predation, parasitism, competition, and commensalism

Explain the roles and relationships among producers, consumers, and
decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web

Describe factors that impact native populations in an ecosystem

Understand that living systems follow the Laws of Conservation of Mass and
Energy

Describe the process of photosynthesis including the roles of light, carbon
dioxide, water and chlorophyll, productions of food, and release of energy
14

Describe how cellular respiration breaks down food to provide energy and
releases carbon dioxide

Construct a scientific model of the carbon cycle to show how matter and energy
are continuously transferred within and between organisms and their physical
environment
15