Course: 8th Grade Science
Unit 1: Waves
Priority Standards Covered in Unit: PS4-1, PS4-2
Goals for Morning Work:
✓ 1) Standards Prioritized
✓ 2) Proficiency Scales written for each priority standard in Unit 1 (linked above)
✓ 3) Identify Checks for Understanding (below) for each of the Level 2 learning targets (proficiencies) per
standard
✓ 4) Develop CFA please link to doc below each standard
✓ 5) Assessments made for Unit
✓ PRE-Test
✓ Post Test (make necessary changes using Mini Alignment Tool)
Standard PS4-1
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Describe how frequency corresponds to pitch, Exit/Entrance ticket
or amplitude corresponds to sound volume
● Identify if the height of a wave is doubled, it Exit/Entrance ticket
will have four times the energy
● Identify if waves hit twice as frequently, twice Exit/Entrance ticket
as much energy is transferred
● Draw different wave types Whiteboard
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Describes waves with both qualitative and quantitative thinking.
Students will be given graphical wave information and be able to describe the wavelength, amplitude, and
frequency.
Quiz
Standard PS4-2
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Compare and contrast each (matter/light). Plickers/Kahoot
● Identify and describe characteristics of a Whiteboards
wave (frequency, wavelength, and
amplitude).
● Identify relationships between components Exit Ticket - Venn Diagram
(reflection, absorption, transmission) of a
model of a wave.
● Describe why certain materials with certain Think - Pair - Share
properties are better suited for various wave
interactions.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Model and describe reflection, refraction, absorption, and transmission using
different materials and/or drawings.
Quiz
[Link]
Standard PS4-3
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Describe how digitized signals are a more Close Reading/ Exit Ticket
reliable way to encode and transmit
information.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Unit 2: Force and Motion
Priority Standards Covered in Unit: PS2-1, PS2-2, and PS3-3
Goals for Morning Work:
✓ 1) Standards Prioritized
✓ 2) Proficiency Scales written for each priority standard in Unit 1 (linked above)
✓ 3) Identify Checks for Understanding (below) for each of the Level 2 learning targets (proficiencies) per
standard
✓ 4) Develop CFA please link to doc below each standard
✓ 5) Assessments made for Unit
✓ PRE-Test
✓ Post Test (make necessary changes using Mini Alignment Tool)
Standard PS2-1
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Draw a simple vector. Whiteboards
● Draw force diagrams. Whiteboards
● Balance forces in a simulation. Phet Simulations/Assignment
● Identify each of Newton’s three laws. Exit Ticket/Plickers
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Students will be able to design, build, test, and evaluate a crash test car.
Quiz
Standard PS2-2
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Recall Newton’s first law Quiz
● Solve the equation F=ma. Whiteboard, Exit Ticket, TPS
● Solve the expression F1 + F2 in a diagram Whiteboard, Exit Ticket, TPS
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion
depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object
Quiz
Standard PS3-1
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Construct and interpret kinetic energy graph Go Kart graph discussion / Exit Ticket
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Standard PS3-3
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Identify and describe the three ways thermal Whiteboards/Exit ticket, drawing
energy can be transferred (radiation,
conduction, convection).
● Identify that thermal energy can be Plickers/White boards
transferred from hotter objects to colder
objects.
● Identify materials that can be used to Plickers, Thumbs up/Thumbs Down
minimize or maximize thermal energy.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Design, build, test, and evaluate a solar oven.
Thermal Energy Assessment (Solar Cooker)
Unit 3: Evidence of Common Ancestry
Priority Standards Covered in Unit: LS4-2
Goals for Morning Work:
✓ 1) Standards Prioritized
✓ 2) Proficiency Scales written for each priority standard in Unit 1 (linked above)
✓ 3) Identify Checks for Understanding (below) for each of the Level 2 learning targets (proficiencies) per
standard
✓ 4) Develop CFA please link to doc below each standard
✓ 5) Assessments made for Unit
✓ Pre-Test
✓ Post Test (make necessary changes using Mini Alignment Tool)
Standard LS4-1
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Organize rock layers and fossil data. Rock Layer Puzzle
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Standard LS4-2
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Identify and describe similarities and Exit ticket
differences of organisms from a cladogram.
● Identify and describe types of fossils. White board/Plickers
● Identify and describe vestigial structures. Exit Ticket/Plickers
● Describe the process of fossilization. Exit Ticket
● Identify similarities and differences between White board list
embryos of organisms
● Compare and contrast relative and absolute Venn Diagram
dating.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Explain similarities and differences of select modern and fossilized organisms and
provide evidence for behavior.
Quiz
Standard LS4-3
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Identify similarities and differences between Journal Check, Exit Ticket
embryos of organisms.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Unit 4: Natural Selection
Priority Standards Covered in Unit: LS4-4
Goals for Morning Work:
✓ 1) Standards Prioritized
✓ 2) Proficiency Scales written for each priority standard in Unit 1 (linked above)
✓ 3) Identify Checks for Understanding (below) for each of the Level 2 learning targets (proficiencies) per
standard
✓ 4) Develop CFA please link to doc below each standard
✓ 5) Assessments made for Unit
✓ Pre-Test
✓ Post Test (make necessary changes using Mini Alignment Tool)
Standard LS4-4
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Identify resources available to an Picky Eaters Activity
environment and the effect that has on
selection for advantageous traits.
● Describe how natural selection leads to Exit Ticket
evolution.
● Predict the rate of survival of an organism by White board/ Plickers/ Thumbs up Thumbs down
completing various labs/experiments.
● Identify the chances of successful White board/ Plickers/ Thumbs up Thumbs down
reproduction and natural selection of an
organism by completing various
labs/experiments.
● Reason that organisms with traits that are Exit Ticket
more advantageous will survive and
reproduce by completing various
labs/experiments.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Design a creature with desired traits to survive on a fictional planet and describe
its evolutionary history.
Quiz
Standard LS4-5
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Define and give examples of artificial Dog Breeding Activity
selection.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Standard LS4-6
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Use mathematical representations to support Colored Dot Activity/ Finch Beak Activity
explanations of how natural selection works
on a population.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Unit 5: Weather
Priority Standards Covered in Unit: ESS 2-4 , ESS 2-6
Goals for Morning Work:
✓ 1) Standards Prioritized
✓ 2) Proficiency Scales written for each priority standard in Unit 1 (linked above)
✓ 3) Identify Checks for Understanding (below) for each of the Level 2 learning targets (proficiencies) per
standard
✓ 4) Develop CFA please link to doc below each standard
✓ 5) Assessments made for Unit
✓ Pre-Test
✓ Post Test (make necessary changes using Mini Alignment Tool)
Standard ESS2-4
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Label various stages in the hydrologic cycle Exit Ticket/Plickers
● Describe the role of the sun and gravity as it Exit Ticket
relates to the water cycle
● Describe how heat/energy is transferred Think Pair Share
within the water cycle
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Create a storyboard (comic strip) that demonstrates the life of a H2O molecule in
the water cycle.
Quiz
Standard ESS2-5
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Collect daily weather data and provide Daily weather predictions and checks in notebooks
evidence of how it relates to high vs. low
pressure systems.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Quiz
Standard ESS2-6
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Identify and describe the five factors that Exit Ticket/Plickers/ I have a Question Who Has the
determine climate Answers
● Recall how air masses are crafted Exit Ticket/ Think Pair Share
● Recall the sun’s relationship with the water Exit Ticket/ Readers Theater
cycle.
● Describe how the sun affects ocean currents. Exit Ticket
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Compare and contrast the differences between two different climates of U.S cities.
Quiz
Climate Comparison Assessment
Unit 6: Human Impact
Priority Standards Covered in Unit: ESS3-3, LS2-5
Goals for Morning Work:
✓ 1) Standards Prioritized
✓ 2) Proficiency Scales written for each priority standard in Unit 1 (linked above)
✓ 3) Identify Checks for Understanding (below) for each of the Level 2 learning targets (proficiencies) per
standard
✓ 4) Develop CFA please link to doc below each standard
✓ 5) Assessments made for Unit
✓ Pre-Test
✓ Post Test (make necessary changes using Mini Alignment Tool)
Standard ESS3-3
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Comparing and contrasting renewable and Venn Diagram
nonrenewable resources
● Know cause and effect of personal carbon Carbon Footprint Calculator Activity
footprint
● Infer that renewable technologies can be PSA
used as solutions for global climate change
● Distinguish the relationship between CO2 graph and discussion
population growth and natural resource
availability
● Compare and contrast greenhouse effect and Venn Diagram
climate change
● Identify patterns of climate change in given Satellite Images
data
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Write a letter of proposal to the school principal as to what energy source your
school should rely on.
Quiz
Standard ESS3-4
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Develop claim to be supported over the Quiz
relationship between human population
growth and consumption of natural resources.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Quiz
Standard ESS3-5
Level 2 - learning targets/proficiencies Checks for Understanding
● Ask questions over the evidence linking Phenomena using pics from NASA
global warming to climate change.
CFA (Level 3 - at standard): Not Priority
Quiz
