United States · Common Core State Standards
8th Grade Science
A comprehensive inquiry into the physical laws and biological systems that govern the natural world. Students engage in hands-on modeling and data analysis to understand the interconnectedness of Earth and space sciences.
The Architecture of Matter
Students investigate the subatomic and molecular structures that define the physical properties of substances. This unit focuses on how energy changes the state and behavior of matter.
An exploration of how different arrangements of atoms result in unique chemical and physical properties.
Analyzing how atoms rearrange during chemical reactions to form new substances while conserving mass.
Investigating the relationship between particle motion and the temperature of a system.
Forces, Motion, and Interactions
This unit examines the laws of physics that govern movement and the invisible fields that exert force across distances.
Applying Newton's laws to predict the motion of objects based on mass and force.
Investigating magnetic, electric, and gravitational fields and how they influence objects without physical contact.
Exploring the relationship between an object's position and its motion within a system.
Waves and Information Transfer
Students explore the properties of mechanical and electromagnetic waves and how they are used in modern communication.
Understanding amplitude, wavelength, and frequency through the study of sound and light.
Investigating how light is reflected, absorbed, and transmitted through different materials.
Comparing methods of information storage and transmission in modern technology.
Genes and Molecular Biology
An investigation into how organisms grow, reproduce, and pass traits to the next generation through genetic coding.
Studying the mechanisms of sexual and asexual reproduction and the resulting genetic diversity.
Examining how changes in DNA sequences can affect the structure and function of proteins.
Analyzing how humans have influenced the inheritance of desired traits in plants and animals.
Earth's Place in the Universe
Exploring the scale of the solar system and the predictable patterns caused by the motion of celestial bodies.
Investigating the role of gravity in the formation and motion of planets and moons.
Explaining the phenomena of seasons, moon phases, and eclipses through cyclic patterns.
Using the rock record and fossil evidence to reconstruct Earth's 4.6 billion year history.
Human Impact and Earth Systems
Examining how human activities affect Earth's natural resources and global climate systems.
Analyzing why natural resources are distributed unevenly across the globe due to past geological processes.
Mapping the locations of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to predict future risks.
Investigating the evidence for human-induced climate change and potential engineering solutions.