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8th Grade Earth & Space Science

 

Textbook: Glencoe Earth and Space Science


8th grade students develop an understanding of  a wide range of topics in Earth and space science that builds upon science concepts  from elementary school through more advanced content, practice and cross cutting themes. Topics covered include:

 

 

Astronomy

 

  • Observing the Universe

  • Early History of Space Exploration

  • Earth’s Motion

  • Earth’s Moon

  • Eclipses and Tides

  • Galaxies and the Universe

 

 

Earth’s Structure and Materials

 

  • Spherical Earth

  • Earth’s Interior

  • What Is a Mineral?

  • Rocks and the Rock Cycle

  • Igneous Rocks

  • Sedimentary Rocks

  • Metamorphic Rocks

  • Fossils

  • Relative-Age Dating

  • Absolute-Age Dating

 

Earth’s Resources and Human Impact

 

  • Climate Change
  • Sources and Uses of Minerals
  • Energy Resources

  • Renewable Energy Resources

  • Land Resources

  • Air and Water Resources

  • Water Quality

  • Air Quality

  • Environmental Impacts on Oceans

  • Glaciers and Polar Ice Sheets

  • Streams and Lakes

  • Groundwater and Wetlands

 

Geological Changes

 

  • Weathering

  • Soil

  • The Erosion-Deposition Process

  • The Continental Drift Hypothesis

  • The Theory of Plate Tectonics

  • Forces that Shape Earth

  • Landforms at Plate Boundaries

  • Earthquakes

  • Volcanoes



Weather and Climate

 

  • Climate Change
  • Describing Earth’s Atmosphere

  • Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere

  • Air Currents

  • Describing Weather

  • Weather Patterns

  • Weather Forecasts

  • Climates of Earth

  • Ocean Waves and Tides

  • Ocean Currents