SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

¨     Scientific inquiry is a thoughtful and coordinated attempt to search out, describe, explain and predict natural phenomena.

¨     Scientific inquiry progresses through a continuous process of questioning, data collection, analysis and interpretation.

¨     Scientific inquiry requires the sharing of findings and ideas for critical review by colleagues and other scientists.

SCIENTIFIC LITERACY

¨     Scientific literacy includes speaking, listening, presenting, interpreting, reading and writing about science.

¨     Scientific literacy also includes the ability to search for and assess the relevance and credibility of scientific information found in various print and electronic media.

SCIENTIFIC NUMERACY

¨     Scientific numeracy includes the ability to use mathematical operations and procedures to calculate, analyze and present scientific data and ideas.

C INQ.1      Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation.

C INQ.2      Read, interpret and examine the credibility of scientific claims in different sources of information.

C INQ.3      Design and conduct appropriate types of scientific investigations to answer different questions.

C INQ.4      Identify independent and dependent variables, and those variables that are kept constant, when designing an experiment.

C INQ.5      Use appropriate tools and techniques to make observations and gather data.

C INQ.6      Use mathematical operations to analyze and interpret data.

C INQ.7      Identify and present relationships between variables in appropriate graphs.

C INQ.8      Draw conclusions and identify sources of error.

C INQ.9      Provide explanations to investigated problems or questions.

C INQ.10   Communicate about science in different formats, using relevant science vocabulary, supporting evidence and clear logic.

Grade 8

Core Themes, Content Standards and Expected Performances

Content Standards

Expected Performances

Forces and Motion – What makes objects move the way they do?

8.1 - An object’s inertia causes it to continue moving the way it is moving unless it is acted upon by a force to change its motion.

¨     The motion of an object can be described by its position, direction of motion and speed.

¨     An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed and/or direction of motion.

¨     Objects moving in circles must experience force acting toward the center.

C 1.     Calculate the average speed of a moving object and illustrate the motion of objects in graphs of distance over time.

C 2.     Describe the qualitative relationships among force, mass and changes in motion.

C 3.     Describe the forces acting on an object moving in a circular path.

Heredity and Evolution – What processes are responsible for life’s unity and diversity?

8.2 - Reproduction is a characteristic of living systems and it is essential for the continuation of every species.

¨     Heredity is the passage of genetic information from one generation to another.

¨     Some of the characteristics of an organism are inherited and some result from interactions with the environment.

C 4.     Explain the similarities and differences in cell division in somatic and germ cells.

C 5.     Describe the structure and function of the male and female human reproductive systems, including the process of egg and sperm production.

C 6.     Describe how genetic information is organized in genes on chromosomes, and explain sex determination in humans.

Earth in the Solar System – How does the position of Earth in the solar system affect conditions on our planet?

8.3 - The solar system is composed of planets and other objects that orbit the sun.

¨     Gravity is the force that governs the motions of objects in the solar system.

¨     The motion of the Earth and moon relative to the sun causes daily, monthly and yearly cycles on Earth.

C 7.     Explain the effect of gravity on the orbital movement of planets in the solar system.

C 8.     Explain how the regular motion and relative position of the sun, Earth and moon affect the seasons, phases of the moon and eclipses.

Science and Technology in Society – How do science and technology affect the quality of our lives?

8.4 - In the design of structures there is a need to consider factors such as function, materials, safety, cost and appearance.

¨     Bridges can be designed in different ways to withstand certain loads and potentially destructive forces.

C 9.     Explain how beam, truss and suspension bridges are designed to withstand the forces that act on them.