8th Grade Science Course

How do invisible forces and fundamental structures shape the world around us, and how can we use scientific understanding to navigate and sustainably interact with our dynamic planet?

Resources for Science Learning

Arizona Science Standards - 8th Grade (PDF)

Back to Curriculum Family Landing

Get ready for a fascinating journey into the world of waves and light! 

We will start by exploring mechanical waves, like sound, and discovering how they travel through different materials. We will use math and hands-on experiments to see these waves in action! 

Then, we will turn our attention to light waves. We will learn how light behaves, from reflecting off mirrors to bending through lenses and prisms.  

It's a year of discovery, where your student will build models, analyze data, and truly understand the invisible forces shaping our world. Expect them to come home with exciting stories about waves, reflections, and the colorful science of light! 

Next, we will dive into the world of matter and energy! 

We will explore heat and energy transfer.  We will learn how heat moves and discover how energy changes affect matter. We will journey into the atomic world, uncovering how the structure of atoms determines a substance's properties. We will classify elements and compounds and explore the fascinating differences between them. 

Finally, we will investigate chemical reactions, exploring how properties and energy change when substances interact.  

It's a year of hands-on learning, where your student will build, analyze, and understand the fundamental principles that govern our world! 

We will unlock the secrets of heredity! We will become genetic detectives, tracing how traits pass from parents to offspring, and discovering why siblings can look so different. We will use tools like Punnett squares and pedigrees to predict how traits are inherited, like solving a genetic puzzle! Finally, we will explore the dynamic world of natural selection, designing an activity to see how populations evolve over time. It's a journey into the fascinating world of genetics, where we will learn how life's blueprints shape the world around us. 

Finally, we will become Earth explorers and problem-solvers! We will journey through time, discovering how powerful geological forces shape our planet's surface. Then, we will tackle real-world challenges, exploring how human population growth impacts Earth's resources and searching for sustainable solutions. Lastly, we will become disaster forecasters, analyzing natural hazards and designing ways to protect communities. Expect them to come home with exciting stories of Earth's dynamic changes and innovative ideas for a sustainable future!