Eighth Grade Physical Science - For High School Credit
Credit: 1
SDE Course Code: 3202
MNPS Course Code: SCI6028Y
Course Description: The eighth grade physical science curriculum centers on the MNPS physical science standards. Students will study introductory chemistry and physics, covering fundamental concepts such as structure and properties of matter, interactions of matter, force, motion, and energy. Hands-on laboratory investigations should constitute a major portion of the learning experience. Appropriate use of metric measuring devices and mathematical manipulations are also major curriculum components. Students will be administered the state Physical Science End of Course test at the conclusion of this course. Students completing this course are eligible for high school credit in physical science if they (1) pass the state End of Course test, and (2) earn a 70 or above as a final average in the course.
Course of Study:
o explain and predict the motion of objects using Newton’s Laws of Motion
o explains the relationship between varying gravitational force to mass and distance
o discusses the generation of power, work, and energy as they relate to living and non-living things
- Properties of Matter
- distinguish between physical and chemical properties of matter
- investigate how matter can be separated and identified
- analyze physical characteristics of matter (e.g. melting point, boiling point, density, color, solubility, odor and flammability)
- experiment with various substances to investigate pH, acidic, and basic properties
- compare and contrast pure substances and mixtures
- distinguish between elements and compounds
- compare and contrast heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures
- Structure of Matter
- research and compare current and historical models of the atom
- describe and provide examples for the Law of Conservation of Energy
- build models to represent various atoms, including subatomic particles, electron configuration and valence electrons
- explain various trends and properties (e.g. family names, ionic charge, size, mass, type of matter, state of matter) of elements using the periodic table
- compare and contrast covalent, ionic and metallic bonding
- write formulas for common compounds and symbols for familiar elements
- Interactions of Matter
- writes chemical reactions identifying reactants and products
- explains differences between chemical and physical changes in matter
- uses the Law of Conservation of Mass to balance chemical equations
- investigates chemical properties such as combustion, oxidation and acid-base reactions
- writes and identifies the four types of chemical reactions (synthesis, decomposition, single displacement, and double displacement)
- compares and contrasts exothermic and endothermic reactions
- Energy
- gives examples of energy conversions
- identifies wave characteristics (e.g. trough, crest, amplitude, frequency)
- solves problems involving wave speed, frequency and length
- compares and contrasts transverse and longitudinal waves
- compares and contrasts the characteristics of sound and light
- explains the kinetic theory of motion
- describes and cites examples of conduction, convection and radiation
- investigates the relationship between electricity and magnetism
- designs and creates series and parallel circuits
- uses Ohm’s Law to calculate voltage, current and resistance
- identifies products of nuclear decay
- compares and contrasts nuclear fission and fusion
Standards: MNPS standards for Physical science can be accessed at:
http://www.mnps.org/PageFactory.aspx?PageID=3353
State Physical science standards can be found at: http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/cistandards2001/sci/cisciphysicalscience.htm
Textbook: Science Spectrum: A Physical Approach; Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Recommended/Required Resources:
o Laboratory facility with access to a source of water, electricity and natural gas for lab equipment; required
o Access to computers that are web-accessible; required
o Computer-based probe ware such as light sensors, motion detectors, temperature probes, pH meters, etc; recommended
o Various types of lab equipment and apparatus for inquiry investigations; required