8th Grade Physical Science Honors

8^thGrade Physical Science Honors

 

Honors Physical Science provides a conceptual foundation for high school Honors/AP courses, especially chemistry and physics. Laboratory experiments, demonstrations and investigations are an integral part of this course and laboratory skills and safety awareness will be regularly assessed. Instruction centers around inquiry-based learning and Honors students will regularly work independently from the teacher in order to achieve student autonomy as expected of advanced students. Higher-level thinking will be incorporated into each lesson as well as use of technology to increase student achievement.

 

Physical Science Textbook:  Foundations of Physical Science 3rd Edition by Tom Hsu, PhD

 

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Quarter 1

PSCI.PS1: Matter 

Students will be able to:

 

1 – Develop models to explain changes of state for solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.

1) Using the kinetic molecular theory and heat flow considerations, explain the changes of state for solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.

2 – Graph changes of state with variations in pressure, temperature, and volume of a gas.

2) Graphically represent and discuss the results of an investigation involving pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas.

3) Construct a graphical organizer for the major classifications of matter using composition and separation techniques.

4 – Investigate physical and chemical changes.

4) Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide explanations about physical and chemical changes.

4 – Construct a timeline to trace development of the modern atomic theory to describe atomic particle properties and position. and characterize the difference between isotopes of an element.

5) Trace the development of the modern atomic theory to describe atomic particle properties and position.

6) Characterize the difference between atoms of different isotopes of an element.

5 – Interpret data and patterns from the periodic table to predict relative properties of elements, bonding characteristics and formulas.

7) Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements.

8) Using the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level, predict how elements may combine.

9) Use the periodic table as a model to predict the formulas of binary ionic compounds. Explain and use the naming conventions for binary ionic and molecular compounds.

6 – Calculate conservation of atoms and mass in balanced chemical equations and identify chemical reactions.

10) Develop a model to illustrate the claim that atoms and mass are conserved during a chemical reaction (i.e., balancing chemical equations).

11) Use models to identify chemical reactions as synthesis, decomposition, single-replacement, and double-replacement. Given the reactants, use these models to predict the products of those chemical reactions.

7 - Classify a substance as acidic, basic, or neutral and research and communicate explanations on how acid rain is created and its impact on the ecosystem

12) Classify a substance as acidic, basic, or neutral by using pH tools and appropriate indicators.

13) Research and communicate explanations on how acid rain is created and its impact on the ecosystem.

8 – Analyze data on the composition of atomic nuclei and energy released during fission, fusion, and radioactive decay and communicate scientific and technical information about nuclear energy and radioactive isotopes.

14) Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.

15) Communicate scientific and technical information about nuclear energy and radioactive isotopes with respect to their impact on society.

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Quarter 2 - Draft

PSCI.PS2: Motion and Forces

 

Students will be able to:

1 - Calculate and graph how distance and speed determine motion.

2 – Calculate and graph how velocity and acceleration affect motion.

3 - Plan and conduct an investigation to provide a mathematical explanation about the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

4 – Use free body diagrams to illustrate the contact and non-contact forces acting on an object.

5 - Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.

6 - Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on an object during a collision.

7 - Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field.

 

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Quarter 3 - Draft

PSCI.PS3: Energy

 

Students will be able to:

1 – Identify forms of energy and solve mathematical problems regarding work-energy theorem and power.

2 - Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that thermal energy will move as heat between objects of two different temperatures, resulting in uniform energy distribution.

3 - Design a prototype for a device with a series of simple machines to transfer energy and/or do mechanical work and present your findings regarding the law of conservation of energy and efficiency, mechanical advantage, and power.

4 - Investigate relationships among kinetic, potential, and total energy within a closed system (the law of conservation of energy).

5 – Calculate specific heat using heat, mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change.

6 - Demonstrate Ohm's Law through design and construction of simple series and parallel circuits.

7 - Plan and conduct an experiment illustrating thermodynamics using a controlled chemical reaction to transfer thermal energy and/or do mechanical work.

8 - Analyze data on the impact of starting amounts of reacting substances upon energy released to create graphical representations of endergonic and exergonic reactions.

 

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Quarter 4 - Draft

PSCI.PS4: Waves

 

Students will be able to:

1 - Compare and contrast properties of transverse and longitudinal waves and illustrate examples.

2 – Design and conduct an investigation and interpret gathered data to explain how mechanical waves transmit energy through a medium.

3 - Develop mathematical models to represent frequency, amplitude, wavelength, and speed of waves.

4 - Describe and communicate similarities and differences across the electromagnetic spectrum and research methods and devices used to measure these characteristics.

5 - Research and communicate scientific explanations about how electromagnetic waves are used in modern technology to produce, transmit, receive, and store information.