Topics in 8th grade science

Eighth grade science covers some amazing topics. We will utilize our science process skills to examine the topics listed below. I hope you are excited to explore the science that makes up the world around you!

Energy, Forces, and Motion

The overall essential question for this unit is: How can I affect the motion of an object?

Throughout this unit, we will explore this question with other questions such as:

Why do objects speed up, slow down, or change direction?
How can magnets affect motion?
How can we predict if the motion of an object will change or stay the same?
How can gravity affect the motion of objects on Earth?
How would a ball move if you threw it in space?
What happens to energy when two objects collide?

Genes and Molecular Machines

The overall essential question for this unit is: How has human understanding of inheritance allowed us to influence change in biodiversity?

Throughout this unit, we will explore this question with other questions such as:

What are the building blocks of life?
What can cells tell us about how organisms reproduce?
Where do cells come from?
Why do family members look similar but not identical to one another?
How does DNA determine the traits that organisms have?
How do differences within a population help a species survive?
How do natural and artificial selection change a population over time?

Ecosystems and Their Interactions

The overall essential question for this unit is: How do organisms interact with one another and their environments?

Throughout this unit, we will explore this question with other questions such as:

How are ecosystems organized?
How does the availability of resources affect a population of organisms?
How do organisms get matter to grow and repair their bodies?
How do organisms get energy to love and grow?
How do organisms interact with one another?
How do changes to the physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect a population?
How does natural selection change a population over time?
What is biodiversity and why is it important?