8th Grade Syllabus
Topic 1: Introduction to Earths Systems
In this topic students explore Earth systems. While studying Earth systems, students will recognize the importance of understanding the interactions between Earth’s systems and how those systems affect each other.
Lesson 1: Matter and Energy in the Earths System
Lesson 2: Surface Features in the Geosphere
Lesson 3: The Hydrosphere
Topic 2: Weather in the Atmosphere
The impact of weather and climate on severe storms is the context of this topic. While studying water in the atmosphere and the interactions between air masses, students recognize the direct relationship between weather and climate.
Lesson 1: The Atmosphere Around You
Lesson 2: Water in the Atmosphere
Lesson 3: Air Masses
Lesson 4: Predicting Weather Changes
Lesson 5: Severe Weather and Floods
Topic 3: Minerals and Rocks in the Geosphere
Earth processes are at the center of this topic. Students learn the processes by which rocks and minerals form and how they are recycled as a result of energy flow.
Lesson 1: Earth's Interiors
Lesson 2: Minerals
Lesson 3: Rocks
Lesson 4: Cycling of Rocks
Topic 4: Plate Tectonics
Throughout this topic, students evaluate evidence of plate motion and the continued impact of plate tectonics on Earth’s surface. Students recognize the relationship between plate boundaries and the resulting changes to Earth’s surface over varying time scales.
Lesson 1: Evidence of Plate Motions
Lesson 2: Plate Tectonics and Earths Surface
Lesson 3: Earthquakes and Tsunami Hazards
Lesson 4: Volcanoes and Earths Surface
Topic 5: Earth Surface Systems
This topic details with mechanical and chemical weathering, the formation of soil and erosion and deposition from multiple causes. Students will identify the various causes of erosion and deposition and how these processes change Earth’s surface by building up or tearing down features.
Lesson 1: Weathering and Soil
Lesson 2: Erosion and Deposition
Lesson 3: Water Erosion
Lesson 4: Glacial and Wave Erosion
Topic 6: Distribution of Natural Resources
The distribution of natural resources and the ways humans use the resources are explored in this topic. While studying nonrenewable and renewable resources, students also explore the use of minerals and water resources.
Lesson 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources
Lesson 2: Renewable Energy Resources
Lesson 3: Mineral Resources
Lesson 4: Water Resources
Topic 7: Human Impacts on the Environment
The various ways that humans impact Earth’s systems form the contents of this topic. Students will identify the ways that a growing human population uses and affects Earth’s air, land, and waste. Students will also identify ways to mitigate the impact of humans using technology or sustainable use policies.
Lesson 1: Population Growth and Resource Consumption
Lesson 2: Air Pollution
Lesson 3: Impacts on Land
Lesson 4: Water Pollution
Topic 8: History of Earth
The long history of Earth, its geologic features and its living organisms frames this topic. By studying the ages of rocks and arranging living things and geologic events into a timeline, students recognize just how deep time is and how geologic events have impacted the evolution of living things.
Lesson 1: Determining Ages of Rocks
Lesson 2: Geologic Time Scales
Lesson 3: Major Events in Earths History
Topic 9: Energy in the Atmosphere and Ocean
How energy flows throughout Earth’s atmosphere and oceans is the context that frames this topic. By analyzing models of global patterns of winds and ocean currents, students recognize that energy in the form of heat flows from the equator toward the poles and that this energy distribution impacts weather and climates.
Lesson 1: Energy in Earths Atmosphere
Lesson 2: Patterns of Circulation in the Atmosphere
Lesson 3: Patterns of Circulation in the Ocean
Topic 10: Climate
The impact of both natural and human factors on Earth’s climate is the context in this topic. While comparing evidence between historical and recent data, students recognize the impact of human activity that has caused the extreme rise in global temperatures over the past century.
Lesson 1: Climate Factors
Lesson 2: Climate Change
Lesson 3: Effects of a Changing Climate
Topic 11: Earth-Moon-Sun System
In this topic students explore how the sun and moon affect Earth. They will study how different objects, including the Earth, sun and moon, move through space. Students will also see how the motion and position of Earth, the sun, the moon affect each other.
Lesson 1: Movement in Space
Lesson 2: Earths Movement in Space
Lesson 3: Phases and Eclipses
Topic 12: Solar System and the Universe
Scientists use evidence to piece together how celestial bodies formed (and continue to form), better understand our own regions and discover other planetary systems might support or develop life. In this topic, students examine the evidence and models that support scientists' understanding of the universe.
Lesson 1: Solar System Objects
Lesson 2: Learning About the Universe
Lesson 3: Stars
Lesson 4: Galaxies
Topic 1: Introduction to Earths Systems
In this topic students explore Earth systems. While studying Earth systems, students will recognize the importance of understanding the interactions between Earth’s systems and how those systems affect each other.
Lesson 1: Matter and Energy in the Earths System
Lesson 2: Surface Features in the Geosphere
Lesson 3: The Hydrosphere
Topic 2: Weather in the Atmosphere
The impact of weather and climate on severe storms is the context of this topic. While studying water in the atmosphere and the interactions between air masses, students recognize the direct relationship between weather and climate.
Lesson 1: The Atmosphere Around You
Lesson 2: Water in the Atmosphere
Lesson 3: Air Masses
Lesson 4: Predicting Weather Changes
Lesson 5: Severe Weather and Floods
Topic 3: Minerals and Rocks in the Geosphere
Earth processes are at the center of this topic. Students learn the processes by which rocks and minerals form and how they are recycled as a result of energy flow.
Lesson 1: Earth's Interiors
Lesson 2: Minerals
Lesson 3: Rocks
Lesson 4: Cycling of Rocks
Topic 4: Plate Tectonics
Throughout this topic, students evaluate evidence of plate motion and the continued impact of plate tectonics on Earth’s surface. Students recognize the relationship between plate boundaries and the resulting changes to Earth’s surface over varying time scales.
Lesson 1: Evidence of Plate Motions
Lesson 2: Plate Tectonics and Earths Surface
Lesson 3: Earthquakes and Tsunami Hazards
Lesson 4: Volcanoes and Earths Surface
Topic 5: Earth Surface Systems
This topic details with mechanical and chemical weathering, the formation of soil and erosion and deposition from multiple causes. Students will identify the various causes of erosion and deposition and how these processes change Earth’s surface by building up or tearing down features.
Lesson 1: Weathering and Soil
Lesson 2: Erosion and Deposition
Lesson 3: Water Erosion
Lesson 4: Glacial and Wave Erosion
Topic 6: Distribution of Natural Resources
The distribution of natural resources and the ways humans use the resources are explored in this topic. While studying nonrenewable and renewable resources, students also explore the use of minerals and water resources.
Lesson 1: Nonrenewable Energy Resources
Lesson 2: Renewable Energy Resources
Lesson 3: Mineral Resources
Lesson 4: Water Resources
Topic 7: Human Impacts on the Environment
The various ways that humans impact Earth’s systems form the contents of this topic. Students will identify the ways that a growing human population uses and affects Earth’s air, land, and waste. Students will also identify ways to mitigate the impact of humans using technology or sustainable use policies.
Lesson 1: Population Growth and Resource Consumption
Lesson 2: Air Pollution
Lesson 3: Impacts on Land
Lesson 4: Water Pollution
Topic 8: History of Earth
The long history of Earth, its geologic features and its living organisms frames this topic. By studying the ages of rocks and arranging living things and geologic events into a timeline, students recognize just how deep time is and how geologic events have impacted the evolution of living things.
Lesson 1: Determining Ages of Rocks
Lesson 2: Geologic Time Scales
Lesson 3: Major Events in Earths History
Topic 9: Energy in the Atmosphere and Ocean
How energy flows throughout Earth’s atmosphere and oceans is the context that frames this topic. By analyzing models of global patterns of winds and ocean currents, students recognize that energy in the form of heat flows from the equator toward the poles and that this energy distribution impacts weather and climates.
Lesson 1: Energy in Earths Atmosphere
Lesson 2: Patterns of Circulation in the Atmosphere
Lesson 3: Patterns of Circulation in the Ocean
Topic 10: Climate
The impact of both natural and human factors on Earth’s climate is the context in this topic. While comparing evidence between historical and recent data, students recognize the impact of human activity that has caused the extreme rise in global temperatures over the past century.
Lesson 1: Climate Factors
Lesson 2: Climate Change
Lesson 3: Effects of a Changing Climate
Topic 11: Earth-Moon-Sun System
In this topic students explore how the sun and moon affect Earth. They will study how different objects, including the Earth, sun and moon, move through space. Students will also see how the motion and position of Earth, the sun, the moon affect each other.
Lesson 1: Movement in Space
Lesson 2: Earths Movement in Space
Lesson 3: Phases and Eclipses
Topic 12: Solar System and the Universe
Scientists use evidence to piece together how celestial bodies formed (and continue to form), better understand our own regions and discover other planetary systems might support or develop life. In this topic, students examine the evidence and models that support scientists' understanding of the universe.
Lesson 1: Solar System Objects
Lesson 2: Learning About the Universe
Lesson 3: Stars
Lesson 4: Galaxies