Grade 8 Science
8 units matched to the Nova Scotia Curriculum.
Learning focus
- Healthy Cells, Healthy Systems. Learners will analyse how the characteristics of cells relate to the needs of organisms.
- Healthy Cells, Healthy Systems. Learners will evaluate ways to maintain and factors that disrupt cell and system health.
- Climate Change. Learners will create a model that demonstrates the principles of kinetic molecular theory.
- Climate Change. Learners will evaluate oceanographic and other evidence of climate change inclusive of a Mi’kmaw perspective.
- Climate Change. Learners will evaluate the impact of human activity on climate change.
- Climate Change. Learners will formulate a plan to mitigate or adapt to the effects of climate change.
- Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems. Learners will test the effects of changes in temperature and pressure on the properties of fluids.
- Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems. Learners will compare mechanical advantage provided by hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
- Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems. Learners will construct a device that utilizes hydraulics or pneumatics.
Units
Unit 1
Cells & Life Processes
The cell theory, what organelles do in plant and animal cells, how photosynthesis and respiration are connected, osmosis, and how cells form tissues, organs and organ systems.
Learning outcome: Healthy Cells, Healthy Systems · cells, and how they make up living things
Unit 2
Particles & Matter
How the movement of particles explains solids, liquids and gases and changes of state, the parts of an atom (including the quarks inside protons and neutrons, and electrons as leptons), elements and compounds, and telling physical from chemical changes.
Learning outcome: Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems · particle theory and how matter behaves
Unit 3
Viscosity & Flow
What viscosity is, how temperature and other factors change how fluids flow, and how to find a flow rate by dividing volume by time.
Learning outcome: Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems · viscosity and how fluids flow
Unit 4
Density & Buoyancy
Calculating density from mass and volume, explaining why solids, liquids and gases differ in density using the particle theory, and predicting whether objects float or sink in different fluids.
Learning outcome: Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems · density and buoyancy
Unit 5
Pressure & Pascal's Law
Why gases compress easily and liquids do not, how heating or compressing a fluid changes its pressure and volume, and how a hydraulic press uses Pascal's law to multiply a force.
Learning outcome: Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems · pressure in fluids
Unit 6
Hydraulics & Pneumatics
How hydraulic systems (liquids) and pneumatic systems (compressed air) work, where each is used, and how valves, pumps and tubes in machines compare with the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
Learning outcome: Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems · hydraulic and pneumatic systems
Unit 7
Evidence of Climate Change
Practises telling weather from climate, the greenhouse effect, kinetic molecular theory and thermal expansion, and the evidence for climate change, including the Mi’kmaw view that long-term observation counts. Ties to the Nova Scotia Grade 8 science outcomes on Climate Change.
Learning outcome: Climate Change · Explain evidence for climate change, using records, particles and ocean observations
Unit 8
Climate Change: Causes & Action
Practises human causes of climate change, the carbon cycle, effects on coasts and communities, and the difference between mitigation and adaptation. Ties to the Nova Scotia Grade 8 science outcomes on Climate Change.
Learning outcome: Climate Change · Explain causes and effects of climate change and compare ways to respond
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