Grade 8 Curriculum Outline based on Progression of Learning

THE MATERIAL WORLD

A. PROPERTIES
1. Properties of matter ST ST EST
a. Mass
i. Denes t!e concept of mass
ii. Compares t!e mass of di"erent substances #it! t!e same $olume
b. %olume
i. Denes t!e concept of $olume
ii. C!ooses t!e appropriate unit of measurement to e&press $olume
'e.g. 1() mL
or ).1( L or 1() cm *
iii. Compares t!e $olume of di"erent substances #it! t!e same mass
c. Temperature
i. Describes t!e e"ect of !eat on t!e degree of agitation of particles
ii. Denes temperature as a measurement of t!e degree of agitation of
particles
iii. E&plains t!e t!ermal e&pansion of bodies
d. States of matter
i. +ames t!e di"erent p!ase c!anges of matter '$apori,ation-
condensation-
free,ing- melting- deposition- sublimation*
ii. .nterprets t!e p!ase c!ange diagram for a pure substance
e. /cidit01al2alinit0
i. Determines t!e obser$able properties of acidic- basic or neutral
solutions
'e.g. reaction to litmus- reacti$it0 #it! metals*
ii. Determines t!e acidit0 or al2alinit0 of common substances 'e.g.
#ater- lemon
3uice- $inegar- soft drin2s- mil2 of magnesia- cleaners*
f. C!aracteristic properties
i. Denes a c!aracteristic propert0 as a propert0 t!at aids in t!e
identication of
a substance or group of substances
ii. .denties groups of substances based on t!eir common
c!aracteristic
properties 'e.g. acids turn litmus red*
iii. /ssociates a c!aracteristic propert0 of a substance or material #it!
its use
'e.g. metal is used to ma2e pots because it is a good conductor
of !eat*
4. Properties of solutions ST ST EST
a. Solutions
i. Describes t!e properties of an a5ueous solution 'e.g. onl0 one $isible
p!ase- translucent*
B. CHANGES
1. C!anges in matter
a. Conser$ation of matter
i. Demonstrates t!at matter is conser$ed during a c!emical c!ange
'e.g. conser$ation of mass in a precipitation reaction*
b. Mi&tures
i. Describes t!e properties of a mi&ture 'e.g. made up of se$eral
substances-
one or more p!ases*
ii. Distinguis!es bet#een a solution or !omogenous mi&ture 'e.g.
drin2ing #ater-
air- allo0* and a !eterogeneous mi&ture 'e.g. tomato 3uice-
smog- roc2*
c. Solutions
d. Separation of mi&tures
i. /ssociates a separation tec!ni5ue #it! t!e t0pe of mi&ture to be
separated
ii. Describes t!e steps in$ol$ed in separating a comple& mi&ture
'e.g. sedimentation- decantation and e$aporation to separate
salt #ater and
sand*
(. P!0sical c!anges
a. P!0sical c!anges
i. Describes t!e c!aracteristics of a p!0sical c!ange 'e.g. substance
retains its
properties- molecules remain intact*
ii. 6ecogni,es di"erent p!0sical c!anges 'e.g. p!ase c!anges-
preparation or
separation of a mi&ture*
4. C!emical c!anges
a. C!emical c!anges
i. Describes t!e indicators of a c!emical c!ange 'formation of a
precipitate-
e"er$escence- colour c!ange- !eat- lig!t*
ii. E&plains a c!emical c!ange based on t!e c!anges in t!e properties
of t!e
substances in$ol$ed
iii. +ames di"erent t0pes of c!emical c!anges 'e.g. decomposition-
o&idation*
C. ORGANIZATION
1. Structure of matter
a. /tom
i. Describes Dalton7s atomic model
ii. Denes t!e atom as t!e basic unit of t!e molecule
b. Molecule
i. Describes a molecule using Dalton7s atomic model 'combination of
atoms
lin2ed b0 c!emical bonds*
ii. 6epresents t!e formation of a molecule using Dalton7s atomic model
c. Element
i. Denes an element as a pure substance made of a single t0pe of
atom
'e.g. 8e- +(*
d. Periodic table
i. Describes t!e periodic table as a structured classication of elements
THE LIVING WORLD
A. DIVERSITY OF LIFE FORMS
1. Ecolog0
a. 9abitat
i. +ames t!e c!aracteristics t!at dene a !abitat 'e.g. geograp!ic
location-
climate- :ora- fauna- pro&imit0 of man;made constructions*
ii. Describes t!e !abitat of certain species
b. Ecological nic!e
i. +ames t!e c!aracteristics t!at dene an ecological nic!e 'e.g.
!abitat- diet-
dail0 r!0t!ms*
ii. Describes t!e ecological nic!e of an animal species
c. Species
i. +ames t!e c!aracteristics t!at dene a species 'common p!0sical
c!aracteristics< natural- $iable and fertile reproduction*
d. Population
i. Distinguis!es bet#een a population and a species
ii. Calculates t!e number of indi$iduals of a species in a gi$en territor0
(. Di$ersit0 of life forms
a. P!0sical and be!a$ioural adaptation
i. Describes p!0sical adaptations t!at enable animals and plants to
impro$e
t!eir c!ances of sur$i$al 'e.g. coat colour matc!ed to t!e
en$ironment- s!ape
of lea$es*
ii. Describes be!a$ioural adaptations t!at enable animals and plants to
impro$e
t!eir c!ances of sur$i$al 'e.g. mo$ement in groups-
p!ototropism*
b. E$olution
i. Describes t!e stages in t!e e$olution of li$ing organisms
ii. E&plains t!e natural selection process
c. Ta&onom0
i. Denes ta&onom0 as a s0stem for classif0ing li$ing organisms based
for t!e
most part on t!eir anatomical and genetic c!aracteristics
ii. .denties a species using a ta&onomic 2e0
d. Genes and c!romosomes
i. Locates c!romosomes in t!e cell
ii. Denes a gene as part of a c!romosome
iii. Describes t!e role of genes 'transmission of !ereditar0
c!aracteristics*
B. LIFE-SUSTAINING PROCESSES
a. C!aracteristics of li$ing t!ings
i. Describes certain c!aracteristics common to all li$ing t!ings
'nutrition-
relations!ips- adaptation- reproduction*
b. Plant and animal cells
i. Denes t!e cell as t!e structural unit of life
ii. +ames $ital functions carried out b0 cells
iii. Distinguis!es bet#een animal and plant cells
c. Cellular components $isible under a microscope
i. .denties t!e main cellular components $isible under a
microscope 'cell
membrane- c0toplasm- nucleus- $acuoles*
ii. Describes t!e role of t!e main cellular components $isible
under a microscope
d. .nputs and outputs 'energ0- nutrients- #aste*
i. +ames cellular inputs
ii. +ames cellular outputs
e. Osmosis and di"usion
i. Distinguis!es bet#een osmosis and di"usion
f. P!otos0nt!esis and respiration
i. +ames t!e inputs and outputs in$ol$ed in p!otos0nt!esis
ii. +ames t!e inputs and outputs in$ol$ed in respiration
E. SURVIVAL OF SPECIES
1. 6eproduction
a. /se&ual and se&ual reproduction
i. Distinguis!es bet#een ase&ual and se&ual reproduction 'e.g. se&ual
reproduction in$ol$es gametes*
b. 6eproducti$e mec!anisms in plants
i. Describes ase&ual reproducti$e mec!anisms in plants 'e.g. cutting-
la0ering*
ii. Describes t!e se&ual reproducti$e mec!anism in plants ':o#ering
plants*
c. 6eproducti$e mec!anisms in animals
i. Describes t!e roles of t!e male and female in t!e reproduction of
certain
t0pes of animals 'e.g. birds- s!- mammals*
d. 6eproducti$e organs
i. +ames t!e main male and female reproducti$e organs 'penis-
testicles-
$agina- o$aries- 8allopian tubes- uterus*
e. Gametes
i. +ames t!e male and female gametes
ii. Describes t!e role of gametes in reproduction
f. 8ertili,ation
i. Describes fertili,ation in !umans
g. Pregnanc0
i. +ames t!e stages of !uman de$elopment during pregnanc0 ',0gote-
embr0o-
fetus*
!. Stages of !uman de$elopment
i. Describes t!e stages of !uman de$elopment 'c!ild!ood-
adolescence-
adult!ood*
i. Contraception
i. Describes contracepti$e met!ods 'e.g. condom- o$ulation
suppression
agents*
ii. Describes t!e ad$antages and disad$antages of di"erent
contracepti$e
met!ods
3. Met!ods of pre$enting t!e implantation of t!e ,0gote in t!e uterus
i. +ames met!ods of pre$enting t!e implantation of t!e ,0gote in t!e
uterus
'intrauterine de$ice- da0;after pill*
2. Se&uall0 transmitted and blood;borne diseases
i. +ames se&uall0 transmitted and blood;borne diseases
ii. Describes be!a$iours to pre$ent contracting se&uall0 transmitted
and
blood;borne diseases 'e.g. #earing a condom*
iii. Describes responsible be!a$iours to adopt after being diagnosed
#it! a
se&uall0 transmitted or blood;borne disease 'e.g. informing
one7s partner*
THE EARTH AND SPACE
A. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARTH
1. General c!aracteristics of t!e Eart!
a. .nternal structure of t!e Eart!
i. Describes t!e main c!aracteristics of t!e t!ree parts of t!e internal
structure
of t!e Eart! 'crust- mantle- core*
(. Lit!osp!ere
a. General c!aracteristics of t!e lit!osp!ere
i. Denes t!e lit!osp!ere as t!e outer s!ell of t!e Eart! comprising t!e
crust
and t!e upper mantle
ii. Describes t!e main relations!ips bet#een t!e lit!osp!ere and
!uman acti$it0
'e.g. sur$i$al- agriculture- mining- land;use planning*
b. 6elief
i. Describes relations!ips bet#een relief 'topolog0* and geological and
geop!0sical p!enomena 'e.g. t!e retreat of a glacier causes t!e
formation of
a plain*
ii. Describes t!e e"ect of relief on !uman acti$ities 'e.g. transportation-
construction- sports- agriculture*
!. T0pes of roc2s
i. Describes t!e formation of t!ree t0pes of roc2= igneous-
metamorp!ic-
sedimentar0
ii. Classies roc2s b0 met!od of formation 'e.g. granite is an igneous
roc2- lime
is a sedimentar0 roc2- slate is a metamorp!ic roc2*
iii. Distinguis!es bet#een roc2s and minerals
i. Minerals
i. +ames basic minerals based on t!eir properties 'e.g. colour-
!ardness-
magnetism*
3. T0pes of soil
i. Classies soils based on t!eir composition 'e.g. sand- cla0- organic
material*
4. 90drosp!ere
a. General c!aracteristics of t!e !0drosp!ere
i. Describes t!e distribution of fres! #ater and salt #ater on t!e Eart!7s
surface
'e.g. glaciers contain inaccessible fres! #ater*
ii. Describes t!e main interactions bet#een t!e !0drosp!ere and t!e
atmosp!ere 'e.g. !eat e&c!anges- climate regulation-
meteorological
p!enomena*
>. /tmosp!ere
a. General c!aracteristics of t!e atmosp!ere
i. Locates t!e main la0ers of t!e atmosp!ere 'troposp!ere-
stratosp!ere-
mesosp!ere- t!ermosp!ere*
ii. Describes t!e composition of pure air at sea le$el 'nitrogen- o&0gen-
carbon
dio&ide- #ater $apour*
iii. Describes t!e relations!ips bet#een t!e atmosp!ere and certain
!uman
acti$ities 'e.g. recreation- transportation- energ0 consumption*
B. GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA
a. Tectonic plate
i. Describes t!e main elements of t!e t!eor0 of tectonic plates 'e.g.
plate-
subduction ,one- mid;oceanic ridge*
b. Orogenesis
i. Describes t!e formation of mountains- folding and brea2s 'tectonic
plate
mo$ements*
c. %olcano
i. Describes a $olcanic eruption
ii. Describes t!e geograp!ical distribution of $olcanoes
d. Eart!5ua2e
i. Describes t!e processes t!at cause eart!5ua2es 'e.g. tectonic plate
mo$ements- slides*
e. Erosion
i. Describes di"erent t0pes of erosion 'e.g. soils dried b0 t!e #ind-
fragmentation of roc2s caused b0 #ater free,ing and t!a#ing*
f. ?inds
i. +ames t!e main factors responsible for #ind 'e.g. con$ection
mo$ements-
mo$ement of air masses*
g. ?ater c0cle
i. E&plains t!e #ater c0cle 'p!ase c!anges- energ0 e&c!anges*
!. +atural energ0 sources
i. Describes t!e role of solar energ0 as a natural energ0 source 'e.g.
#ind-
tornadoes- !urricanes- storms*
ii. 6ene#able and non;rene#able energ0 resources
iii. Distinguis!es bet#een rene#able and non;rene#able energ0
resources
'e.g. Sun- molten roc2- mo$ing #ater- oil*
C. ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA
1. Concepts related to astronom0
a. @ni$ersal Gra$itation
i. Denes gra$itation as a force of mutual attraction bet#een bodies
c. Lig!t
i. Denes lig!t as a form of radiant energ0
ii. Describes properties of lig!t 'propagation in a straig!t line- di"use
re:ection
b0 surfaces*
iii. E&plains di"erent p!enomena using t!e properties of lig!t 'c0cles of
da0 and
nig!t- seasons- p!ases of t!e Moon- eclipses*
(. Solar s0stem
a. C!aracteristics of t!e solar s0stem
i. Compares some of t!e c!aracteristics of t!e planets in our solar
s0stem
'e.g. distances- relati$e si,e- composition*
b. C0cles of da0 and nig!t
i. E&plains t!e alternation of da0 and nig!t in terms of t!e Eart!7s
rotation
c. P!ases of t!e Moon
i. E&plains t!e p!ases of t!e lunar c0cle
d. Eclipses
i. E&plains a lunar or solar eclipse
e. Seasons
i. E&plains t!e p!enomenon of seasons in terms of t!e position of t!e
Eart! #it!
respect to t!e Sun 'tilt- re$olution*
f. Comets
i. Describes t!e main parts of a comet 'core of ice and roc2- tail of gas-
and tail
of dust*
g. /urora borealis 'nort!ern lig!ts*
i. Locates t!e geograp!ic regions #!ere t!e aurora borealis occurs
'polar
regions*
ii. .denties t!e atmosp!eric la0er in #!ic! t!e aurora borealis occurs
!. Meteoroid impact
ii. .denties traces left b0 meteoroid impacts in AuBbec 'e.g. craters-
astroblemes*