Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 8 Science
This course investigates the interconnectedness of biological, physical, and geological systems. Students engage in evidence based inquiry to understand how microscopic processes drive macroscopic changes in the world around them.
The Cellular Basis of Life
Students explore the fundamental unit of life by investigating cell structure, function, and the relationship between cells and systems.
An introduction to cell theory and the microscopic organisms that inhabit our world.
Investigating how specialized structures within a cell work together to maintain homeostasis.
Examining the hierarchical organization of multicellular organisms from tissues to organ systems.
Fluids and Flow
A study of the properties of fluids, including viscosity, density, and buoyancy in natural and human made systems.
Exploring why different liquids flow at different rates and how temperature affects movement.
Analyzing why objects sink or float and the mathematical relationship between mass and volume.
Investigating how fluids under pressure can be used to multiply force in mechanical systems.
Water Systems on Earth
Investigating the distribution and circulation of water and the impact of human activity on global watersheds.
Mapping the movement of water through local and global drainage basins.
Examining the role of frozen water in shaping the landscape and regulating global temperatures.
Assessing the challenges of providing clean water to a growing global population.
Optics and Light
A study of the behavior of light, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the technology used to extend human vision.
Exploring how light travels, reflects, and refracts when interacting with different materials.
Investigating how the human eye works and how artificial lenses correct or enhance sight.
Analyzing the impact of telescopes, microscopes, and fiber optics on modern society.
Mechanical Systems
Exploring how machines transform energy and how the design of systems improves efficiency.
Identifying the six simple machines and their roles in reducing the effort required to do work.
Calculating the efficiency of systems and understanding the impact of friction.
Examining how complex machines use sensors and programming to perform tasks.
The Dynamic Earth
Investigating plate tectonics, geological cycles, and the internal forces that shape our planet.
Exploring the theory of continental drift and the movement of tectonic plates.
Analyzing the causes and effects of seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.
Investigating how rocks are formed, broken down, and reformed over geological time.