Archived Middle school registration guide 2016-17 | Page 14

Course Selection
SCIENCE

SOCIAL STUDIES

Science 8 [Earth Science]
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Increase knowledge of the nature of
science and engineering processes
through inquiry and experimental
design.
• Develop an understanding of the basic
structure of matter.
• Explore astronomy with a focus on the
Sun, Earth, and Moon.
• Develop an understanding of the geologic processes that shape the Earth.
• Review the hydrologic cycle and its
impact on water sources.
• Understand the meteorological processes
that drive weather and climate.
Projects/Activities: May include physical
and chemical change activities, explorations of moon phases, rock and mineral
identification, geologic modeling, weather
data collection, and heat transfer studies.
Instructional Focus: Students will work
individually as well as in small groups.
They will be involved in inquiry-based
experiments, investigations of relevant
topics, model design and creation,
observation, data collection, and analysis.
Advanced Science 8 [Earth Science]
[full year]
Prerequisite/Selection Process:
District Placement Process
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Advanced Science 8 addresses the
same Minnesota science standards as
Science 8 [Earth Science]. Students in
this course will move through the basic
concepts at a quicker pace to allow for
more in depth study. There will be a
greater emphasis on data collection
and analysis. In addition, students in
this course will work more independently and conduct additional research
outside the school day.
• Increase knowledge of the nature of
science and engineering processes
12

SPECIAL EDUCATION

through inquiry and experimental
design.
• Develop an understanding of the basic
structure of matter.
• Explore astronomy with a focus