Grade 8 Science
13 units matched to the Ontario Curriculum.
Overall expectations
- A1 STEM Investigation and Communication Skills: Use a scientific research process, a scientific experimentation process, and an engineering design process to conduct investigations, following appropriate health and safety procedures
- A2 Coding and Emerging Technologies: Use coding in investigations and to model concepts, and assess the impact of coding and of emerging technologies on everyday life and in STEM-related fields
- A3 Applications, Connections, and Contributions: Demonstrate an understanding of the practical applications of science and technology, and of contributions to science and technology from people with diverse lived experiences
- B1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess developments in cell biology and their impact on individuals, society, and the environment
- B2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic structure and function of plant and animal cells and cell processes
- C1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Analyse uses of various technologies that rely on the properties of fluids, and assess the impact of these technologies on society and the environment
- C2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of basic fluid mechanics, including the properties and uses of fluids
- D1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess the social and environmental impacts of various systems, and evaluate improvements to the systems or alternative ways of meeting the same needs
- D2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of different types of systems and the factors that contribute to their safe and efficient operation
- E1 Relating Science and Technology to Our Changing World: Assess the impact of human activities and technologies on the sustainability of water resources
- E2 Exploring and Understanding Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of Earth’s water systems and of factors that affect these systems
Units
Unit 1
Think Like a Scientist
Planning fair tests with variables and controls, following lab safety, using the engineering design process, understanding how coding and AI are used, and seeing how science connects to skilled trades and to people of many backgrounds.
Expectation: A1.1–A1.5, A2.1, A2.2, A3.1–A3.3 · research and experiment skills, the engineering design process, safety, coding and emerging technology, and careers and contributions in science and technology
Unit 2
Cells, Organisms & Technology
How microscopes and newer technologies such as stem cell research and gene editing have changed our understanding of cells, how single-celled and many-celled organisms meet their needs, and the benefits and concerns of cell biology developments.
Expectation: B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.5, B2.6 · technologies that help us understand cells, the cell theory, unicellular and multicellular organisms, and cells, tissues, organs and systems
Unit 3
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.
Expectation: B2.1–B2.4, B2.6 · the cell theory, organelles, plant and animal cells, diffusion and osmosis, and cells, tissues, organs and systems
Unit 4
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.
Expectation: C2.1, C2.8 · viscosity, volumetric flow rate and factors that affect the flow of fluids
Unit 5
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.
Expectation: C2.2, C2.3, C2.5 · the relationship between mass, volume and density, density and the particle theory, and buoyancy in different fluids
Unit 6
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.
Expectation: C2.4, C2.6, C2.7 · compressibility of liquids and gases, how pressure, volume and temperature are related, and Pascal's law
Unit 7
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.
Expectation: C2.8–C2.10 · factors that affect fluid flow, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and how fluids are used and regulated in living things and in machines
Unit 8
Fluids, Spills & Society
The benefits and risks of technologies that use fluids, such as pipelines and hydroelectric dams, how spills affect wildlife, the economy and communities (including Indigenous communities who rely on the land and water), and why cleanup is costly and difficult.
Expectation: C1.1, C1.2 · environmental, social and economic impacts of fluid technologies and of fluid spills, including impacts on First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities
Unit 9
Systems in Action
Identifying inputs, outputs and purposes of systems including food processing, what makes systems safe and efficient, how automation changes work, and why people's needs and values change systems over time.
Expectation: D1.1, D1.2, D2.1–D2.3, D2.8, D2.10 · types of systems, inputs, outputs and components, safe and efficient operation, consumer information, automation and social factors that change systems
Unit 10
Work, Energy & Efficiency
Using the scientific terms force, displacement, work, energy and efficiency, calculating work as force times displacement, finding efficiency, and how friction and design affect the energy lost from machines.
Expectation: D2.4, D2.5, D2.7 · displacement, force, work, energy and efficiency, and how energy dissipates from mechanical systems
Unit 11
Simple Machines & Advantage
Identifying the six simple machines, finding mechanical advantage from input and output forces, understanding that machines trade force for distance, and how innovations such as combine harvesters and robotics raised productivity.
Expectation: D2.6, D2.9 · input and output forces, mechanical advantage of simple machines and technological innovations that increased productivity
Unit 12
Water Systems of Earth
Where Earth's water is found and in what form, the water cycle, watersheds and the Great Lakes, how groundwater and the water table change, and how large lakes shape local weather.
Expectation: E2.1, E2.2, E2.3, E2.5 · states, distribution and circulation of water, watersheds, changes in the water table, and how bodies of water change the atmosphere
Unit 13
Caring for Water
Why fresh water must be managed with care, how water quality is measured, how drinking water and wastewater are treated, the effects of melting glaciers and sea ice, and the many teachings of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities about caring for water.
Expectation: E1.1–E1.3, E2.4, E2.6, E2.7 · fresh water sustainability, Indigenous knowledges and values about water, technology and water systems, melting ice, water quality indicators and municipal water treatment
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