8th Grade

At-a-Glance
2015-2016
Please note: It is very important to follow the order of this pacing guide. As students
move from one school to another within the district, students transitional periods will be
made seamless.

Unit I - Earths Structure and Processes (August 20 - November 5)**

Benchmark Window (October 26 - November 10)**
Inquiry
Indicators:

Content
Indicators:

**8.1.1 Design a controlled scientific investigation.

**8-1.2 Recognize the importance of a systematic process for safely and
accurately conducting investigations.
**8-1.3 Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations of
data obtained during a controlled scientific investigation.
**8-1.4 Generate questions for further study on the basis of prior
investigations.
8-1.5 Explain the importance of and requirements for replication of
scientific investigations.
8-1.6 Use appropriate tools and instruments (including convex lenses,
plane mirrors, color filters, prisms, and slinky springs) safely and
accurately when
conducting investigations.
8-1.7 Use appropriate safety procedures when conducting investigations
**THESE INDICATORS WILL BE ASSESSED IN THIS UNITS
BENCHMARK.

8-3.1 Summarize the three layers of earth crust, mantle and core on
the basis of relative position, density, and composition.
8-3.2 Explain how scientists use seismic waves primary, secondary,
and surface waves- and Earths magnetic fields to determine the internal
structure of the Earth.
8-3.3 Infer an earthquakes epicenter from seismographic data.
8-3.4 Explain how igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are
interrelated in rock cycle.
8-3.5 Summarize the importance of minerals, ores, and fossil fuels as
Earth resources on the basis of their physical and chemical properties.
8-3.6 Explain how the theory of plate tectonics accounts for the motion of
the lithospheric plates, the geologic activities at the plate boundaries,
and the changes in landform areas over time.
8-3.7 Illustrate the creation and changing of landforms that have
occurred through the geologic processes (including volcanic eruptions
and mountain-building forces)
8-3.8 Explain how earthquakes result from forces inside Earth.

8-3.9 Identify and illustrate geologic features of SC and other regions of

the world through the use of imagery (including aerial photography and
satellite imagery and topographic maps.)

Dates

Learning Tasks and Activities

8/20 - 8/27

Class Intro, Safety and Notebook Setup

SEPUP 12 Observing Natural Resources
DE- What are Natural Resources?
SEPUP 13 Diamond Dilemma

8/28 - 9/3

SEPUP 14 Analyzing Diamond Data

SEPUP 15 Mineral Properties
Discovery Techbook - Fossil Fuels Everyday Fossil fuels Exploration
9/1 Mini- Assessment (Differentiation)

9/4 - 9/11

SEPUP 16 Mineral Identification

SEPUP 17 The Mineral in Rocks
Gizmo Mineral Identification
Discovery Techbook - Minerals

9/14 - 9/18

SEPUP 18 Every Rock Tells a Story

SEPUP 19 Rock Formation
Interactive Rock Cycle
SEPUP 20 Identifying Rock Types
Gizmo - Rock Classification
DE - Chill Out and Rock On
DE - Gneiss Work

9/21 - 9/25

SEPUP 21 Modeling Rock Layers

DE- Gathered and Glued
SEPUP 22 The Rock Cycle Game
Gizmo- Rock Cycle
*SEPUP Making Minerals
9/24 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

9/28 - 10/2

SEPUP 36 Storing Waste

DE - Yucca Mountain
SEPUP 37 Volcanic Landforms
DE - Effects of Volcanoes
SEPUP 38 Beneath the Earths Surface
Teacher Created Activity - Video - DE Seismic Wave Movement
through the Earth

10/5 - 10/9

SEPUP 39 Earth Time

DE - Evidence for Plate Tectonics
SEPUP 40 The Continent Puzzle
Gizmo Building Pangaea

SEPUP 41 Continental Drift

Gizmo- Building Pangea
10/1 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)
10/5 MIni-Assessment (Differentiation)
10/13 - 10/19

SEPUP 42 Theory of Plate Tectonics

DE - Plate Tectonics
SEPUP 43 Measuring Earthquakes
Gizmo-Recording Station
Teacher Created Lesson - Gizmo- Determination of Epicenter
10/16 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

10/20 - 10/26

SEPUP 44 Mapping Plates

Interactive Plate Tectonics
SEPUP 45 Understanding Plate Boundaries
Interactive- Plate Boundaries
*SEPUP 46 Convection Currents
Visualization- Convection currents

10/27 - 11/02

SEPUP 47 Spreading Plates

DE- Ride the Quaking Coaster (reading activity)
SEPUP 48 Other Types of Plate Motion
DE - It Cracks Me Up (reading activity)
SEPUP 49 Comparing Site Risk
10/29 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

11/02 - 11/05

Teacher Created Activities - Maps: Activity 25 Topographic Maps

Gizmo- Building Topographic Maps
Gizmo - Reading Topographic Maps
DE - Topographic Map Board
11/03 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

Unit II - Earths Biological History (November 5 - December 18)**

Benchmark Window (December 7 - January 8)**
Inquiry
Indicators:

8.1.1 Design a controlled scientific investigation.

8-1.2 Recognize the importance of a systematic process for safely and
accurately conducting investigations.
8-1.3 Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations of data
obtained during a controlled scientific investigation.
8-1.4 Generate questions for further study on the basis of prior
investigations.
**8-1.5 Explain the importance of and requirements for replication of
scientific investigations.
8-1.6 Use appropriate tools and instruments (including convex lenses,
plane mirrors, color filters, prisms, and slinky springs) safely and

accurately when conducting investigations.

**8-1.7 Use appropriate safety procedures when conducting
investigations.
**THESE INDICATORS WILL BE ASSESSED IN THIS UNITS
BENCHMARK

Content
Indicators:

8-2.1 Explain how biological adaptations of populations enhance their

survival in a particular environment.
8-2.2 Summarize how scientists study Earths past environment and
diverse life forms by examining different types of fossils (including molds,
casts, petrified fossils, preserved and carbonized remains of plants and
animals, and trace fossils).
8-2.3 Explain how Earths history has been influenced by catastrophes
(including the impact of an asteroid or comet, climatic changes, and
volcanic activity) that have
affected the conditions on earth and the diversity of all its life-forms.
8-2.4 Recognize the relationship among the units era, epoch, and
period- into which the geologic time scale is divided.
8-2.5 Illustrate the vast diversity of life that has been present on Earth
over time by using the geologic time scale.
8-2.6 Infer the relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and the
ordering of rock layers.
8-2.7 Summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can
contribute to the extinction of a species.

Dates

Learning Tasks and Activities

11/05 - 11/12

SEPUP 89 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

SEPUP 90 Figuring Out Fossils
SEPUP 91 Fossilized Footprints

11/13 - 11/19

SEPUP 91 A Identifying Fossils

SEPUP 92 A Time for Change
Discovery Education - Geologic Time
11/13 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

11/20 - 11/24

Teacher Created Lesson - Geologic Time Scale

Life has a history activity -Web based
Teacher Created Lesson - Catastrophes
11/24 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

11/30 - 12/04

SEPUP 95 Hiding in the Background

GIZMO - Natural Selection
SEPUP 96 Battling Beaks
GIZMO - Rainfall and Bird Beaks

Discovery Education - Adaptations

12/04 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)
12/07 - 12/11

SEPUP 97 Origin of Species

GIZMO - Mutation and Selection
SEPUP 98 Family History

12/14 - 12/18

SEPUP 99 A Whale of a Tale

SEPUP 102 Birds of a Feather

Unit III - Astronomy: Earth in Space (January 5 - March 10)**

Benchmark Window (February 29 - March 15)**
Inquiry
Indicators:

**8.1.1 Design a controlled scientific investigation.

**8-1.2 Recognize the importance of a systematic process for safely and
accurately conducting investigations.
**8-1.3 Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations of
data obtained during a controlled scientific investigation.
**8-1.4 Generate questions for further study on the basis of prior
investigations.
8-1.5 Explain the importance of and requirements for replication of
scientific investigations.
8-1.6 Use appropriate tools and instruments (including convex lenses,
plane mirrors, color filters, prisms, and slinky springs) safely and
accurately when conducting investigations.
8-1.7 Use appropriate safety procedures when conducting investigations.
**THESE INDICATORS WILL BE ASSESSED IN THIS UNITS
BENCHMARK

Content
Indicators:

8-4.1 Summarize the characteristics and movements of objects in the

solar system (including planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteors).
8-4.2 Summarize the characteristics of the surface features of the Sun:
photosphere, corona, sunspots, prominences, and solar flares.
8-4.3 Explain how the surface features of the Sun may affect Earth.
8-4.4 Explain the motions of Earth and the Moon and the effects of these
motions as they orbit the Sun (including day, year, phases of the Moon,
eclipses, and tides).
8-4.5 Explain how the tilt of Earths axis affects the length of the day and
the amount of heating on Earths surface, thus causing the seasons of the
year.
8-4.6 Explain how gravitational forces are influenced by mass and
distance.
8-4.7 Explain the effects of gravity on tides and planetary orbits.
8-4.8 Explain the difference between mass and weight by using the

concept of gravitational force.

8-4.9 Recall the Suns position in the universe, the shapes and
composition of galaxies, and the distance measurement unit (light year)
needed to identify star and galaxy locations.
8-4.10 Compare the purposes of the tools and the technology that
scientists use to study space (including various types of telescopes,
satellites, space probes, and spectroscopes.

Dates

Learning Tasks and Activities

01/05- 01/08

SEPUP 71 Sunlight and Shadows

SEPUP 72 Measuring Shadows, Measuring Time
Sunlight and Seasons Interactive- Web Based
SEPUP 73 A Day On Earth
Day and Night Interactive- Web Based
SEPUP 74 As Earth Rotates

01/11- 01/13

SEPUP 75 Sunlight and Seasons

SEPUP 76 A Year Seen From Space
SEPUP 77 Explaining The Seasons
GIZMO- Summer and Winter
01/11 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

01/19- 01/25

SEPUP 78 The Earth On The Move

GIZMO- Seasons
SEPUP 79 The Predictable Moon
GAME- Moon Challenge- Web Based
SEPUP 80 Explaining The Phases Of The Moon
Discovery Education- Inconstant Moon
SEPUP 81 Moon Phase Simulator
GIZMO- Phases Of The Moon
01/21 Mini- Assessment (Differentiation)

01/26- 02/01

SEPUP 82 Tides and the Moon

GIZMO- Eclipses
GIZMO- Tides
SEPUP 84 Planets in Motion
Windows 2 The Universe- Web Based
01/27 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)
02/01 Mini- Assessment (Differentiation)

02/02- 02/08

SEPUP 85 History of Space Exploration

Nat Geo- History of Space Exploration- Web Based
SEPUP 86 Observing In Objects In Space
02/08 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

02/09- 02/16

SEPUP 87 Telescope Technology

Teacher Created Lesson- Tools For Studying Space

What Satellites See- Web Based

SEPUP 88 Classifying Space Objects
Discovery Education- Galaxy Match
02/17 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)
02/17- 02/23

SEPUP 90 Drawing The Solar System

Interactive Solar System- Web Based
SEPUP 92 The Nearest Star: The Sun
Nat Geo- The Sun Activity- Web Based
Teacher Created Lesson- Features of the Sun
02/23 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

02/24- 03/01

SEPUP 93 Picturing Without Seeing

SEPUP 94 Remote Sensing
Discovery Education- Earth Science: Mapping the Earth

03/02- 03/10

SEPUP 95 Universal Gravitation

Simulation- Gravity and Orbits- Web Based
SEPUP 96 The Effects Of Gravity
GIZMO- Weight and Mass
03/02 Mini- Assessment (Differentiation)

Unit IV - Forces, Motion and Waves (March 10 - April 21)**

Benchmark Window (April 11 - April 26)**
Inquiry
Indicators:

8.1.1 Design a controlled scientific investigation.

8-1.2 Recognize the importance of a systematic process for safely
and accurately conducting investigations.
8-1.3 Construct explanations and conclusions from interpretations
of data obtained during a controlled scientific investigation.
8-1.4 Generate questions for further study on the basis of prior
investigations.
8-1.5 Explain the importance of and requirements for replication of
scientific investigations.
**8-1.6 Use appropriate tools and instruments (including convex
lenses, plane mirrors, color filters, prisms, and slinky springs) safely
and accurately when conducting investigations.
8-1.7 Use appropriate safety procedures when conducting
investigations.
**THESE INDICATORS WILL BE TESTING IN THIS UNITS
BENCHMARK

Content
Indicators:

8-5.1 Use measurement and time-distance graphs to represent the

motion of an object in terms of position, direction, or speed.
8-5.2 Use the formula for average speed, v= d/t, to solve real world
problems.
8-5.3 Analyze the effects of forces (including, gravity and friction) on the
speed and direction of an object.
8-5.4 Predict how varying the amount of force or mass will affect the
motion of an object.
8-5.5 Analyze the resulting effect of balanced and unbalanced forces on
an objects.
8-5.6 Summarize and illustrate the concept of inertia.
WAVE INDICATORS
8-6.1 Recall that waves transmit energy but not matter.
8-6.2 Distinguish between mechanical and electromagnetic waves.
8-6.3 Summarize factors that influence the basic properties of waves
(including frequency, amplitude, wavelength, and speed).
8-6.4 Summarize the behaviors of waves (including refraction, reflection,
transmission, and absorption).
8-6.5 Explain hearing in terms of the relationship between sound waves
and the ear.
8-6.6 Explain sight in terms of the relationship between the eye and the
light waves emitted or reflected by an object.
8-6.7 Explain how the absorption and reflection of light waves by various
materials result in the human perception of color.
8-6.8 Compare the wavelength and energy of waves in various parts of
the electromagnetic spectrum (including visible light, infrared, and
ultraviolet radiation).

Dates

Learning Tasks and Activities

3/10-3/16

Teacher created - Making Waves

Discovery Education - Characteristics and Properties of Waves
Teacher created - Wave Behaviors
Simulation - Waves on a String
Teacher created - Electromagnetic Spectrum
03/15 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

3/17-3/24

Teacher created - Relationship Between Eye and Light Waves

Interactive - How the eye works
Teacher created - Ear and Sound Wave Relationships
Interactive - How the ear works
Modeling the ear
03/21 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)
03/24 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

4/04-4/08

SEPUP - 73 Choosing a Safe Vehicle

SEPUP - 74 Measuring Speed

Gizmo - Measuring motion
SEPUP - 75 Interpreting Motion Graphs
Gizmo - Distance-time graphs
04/08 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)
4/11-4/15

SEPUP - 77 Mass and Collisions

SEPUP - 78* Force, Motion, and Acceleration
Interactive Simulations - Forces and Motion: Basics (Phet)
SEPUP - 79 Inertia Around A Curve
Investigation - inertia - mini lab
04/14 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

4/18-4/21

SEPUP - 80 Law of Motion

SEPUP - 81 The Net Force Challenge
SEPUP - 82 Inertia Around a Curve
Gizmo - Force and Fan Carts
04/21 Mini-Assessment (Differentiation)

Optional

SEPUP - 83* Coming to a Stop

SEPUP - 84* Decelerating Safely
SEPUP - 88* Safety for All

4/21 - testing

PASS REVIEW