Grade 8: Physical Science -- Synopsis

8th Grade Physical Science Standards Correlated to California State Standards

Back to Home

OUSD Standard
California State Standard Reference Number
Comments

1. Investigation and Experimentation

Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

CA Std 8.9

Identical Wording

a. plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis.

CA Std 8.9.a

Identical Wording

b. evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of data.

CA Std 8.9.b

Identical Wording

c. utilize a variety of print and electronic resources (including the World Wide Web) to collect information as evidence as part of a research project.

Not in CA Standards

Not in CA Standards

d. distinguish between variable and controlled parameters in a test.

CA Std 8.9.c

Identical Wording

e. construct appropriate graphs from data and develop qualitative statements about the relationships between variables.

CA Std 8.9.e

Identical Wording

f. apply simple mathematical relationships to determine one quantity given the other two (including speed = distance/time, density = mass/volume, force = pressure x area, volume = area x height).

CA Std 8.9.f

Identical Wording

g. recognize the difference between a linear and a non-linear function on a graph.

CA Std 8.9.g

CA wording changed from "distinguish between linear and non-linear relationships on a graph or table"

OUSD Standard at Grade 8 does not include the CA Investigation Standard 8.9.d: "Recognize the slope of a linear graph as the constant relationship y =kx and apply this to interpret graphs constructed from data." The standards writing committee felt that this standard was premature for those 8th graders who are not enrolled in algebra in OUSD,

2.Motion

The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

CA Std 8.1

Identical wording

a. position is defined relative to some choice of standard reference point and a set of reference directions.

CA Std 8.1.a

Identical wording

b. average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time elapsed. The speed of an object along the path traveled can vary.

CA Std 8.1.b

Identical wording

c. how to solve problems involving distance, time, and average speed

CA Std 8.1.c

Identical wording

d. to describe the velocity of an object one must specify both direction and speed.

CA Std 8.1.d

Identical wording

e. changes in velocity can be changes in speed, direction, or both.

CA Std 8.1.e

Identical wording

f. how to interpret graphs of position versus time and speed versus time for motion in a single direction.

CA Std 8.1.f

Identical wording

3. Forces

Unbalanced forces cause changes in velocity. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know

CA Std 8.2

Identical wording

a. a force has both direction and magnitude.

CA Std 8.2.a

Identical wording

b. when an object is subject to two or more forces at once, the effect is the cumulative effect of all the forces.

CA Std 8.2.b

Identical wording

c. when the forces on an object are balanced, the motion of the object does not change.

CA Std 8.2.c

Identical wording

d. how to identify separately two or more forces acting on a single static object, including gravity, elastic forces due to tension or compression in matter, and friction.

CA Std 8.2.d

Identical wording

e. when the forces on an object are unbalanced the object will change its motion (that is, it will speed up, slow down, or change direction).

CA Std 8.2.e

Identical wording

f. the greater the mass of an object the more force is needed to achieve the same change in motion.

CA Std 8.2.f

Identical wording

Note: The OUSD Physical science standards for Grade 8 do not include CA Standard 8.2.g: "The role of gravity in forming and maintaining planets, stars and the solar system. This topic will be covered in 9th grade under Newton's Laws (US Standards 9 Motion and Forces and Earth's Place in the Universe)

4. Structure of Matter

Elements have distinct properties and atomic structure. All matter is comprised of one or more of over 100 elements. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

CA Std 8.3

Identical wording

a. the structure of the atom and how it is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.

CA Std 8.3.a

Identical wording

b. compounds are formed by combining two or more different elements. Compounds have properties that are different from the constituent elements.

CA Std 8.3.b

Identical wording

c. atoms and molecules form solids by building up repeating patterns such as the crystal structure of NaCl or long chain polymers.

CA Std 8.3.c

Identical wording

d. the states (solid, liquid, gas) of matter depend on molecular motion.

CA Std 8.3.d

Identical wording

e. in solids the atoms are closely locked in position and can only vibrate, in liquids the atoms and molecules are more loosely connected and can collide with and move past one another, while in gases the atoms or molecules are free to move independently, colliding frequently

CA Std 8.3.e

Identical wording

f. how to use the Periodic Table to identify elements in simple compounds

CA Std 8.3.f

Identical wording

5. Density and Buoyancy

All objects experience a buoyant force when immersed in a fluid. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

CA Std 8.8

Identical wording

a. density is mass per unit volume.

CA Std 8.8.a

Identical wording

b. how to calculate the density of substances (regular and irregular solids, and liquids) from measurements of mass and volume.

CA Std 8.8.b

Identical wording

c. the buoyant force on an object in a fluid is an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it has displaced.

CA Std 8.8.c

Identical wording

d. how to predict whether an object will float or sink.

CA Std 8.8.d

Identical wording

6. Reactions

Chemical reactions are processes in which atoms are rearranged into different combinations of molecules. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

CA Std. 8.5

Identical wording

a. reactant atoms and molecules interact to form products with different chemical properties.

CA Std. 8.5

Identical wording

b. the idea of atoms explains the conservation of matter: in chemical reactions the number of atoms stays the same no matter how they are arranged, so their total mass stays the same.

CA Std. 8.5

Identical wording

c. chemical reactions usually liberate heat or absorb heat.

CA Std. 8.5

Identical wording

d. physical processes include freezing and boiling, in which a material changes form with no chemical reaction.

CA Std. 8.5

Identical wording

e. how to determine whether a solution is acidic, basic or neutral.

CA Std. 8.5

Identical wording

7.Periodic Table

The organization of the Periodic Table is based on the properties of the elements and reflects the structure of atoms. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

CA Std. 8.7

Identical wording

a. how to identify regions corresponding to metals, nonmetals and inert gases.

CA Std. 8.7

Identical wording

b. elements are defined by the number of protons in the nucleus, which is called the atomic number. Different isotopes of an element have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus.

CA Std. 8.7

Identical wording

Note: The OUSD Physical science standards for Grade 8 do not include CA Standard 8.7.c: "substances can be classified by their [properties, including melting temperature, density, hardness, heat and electrical conductivity.) This topic is covered in Grade 9 under "Atomic and Molecular Structure: The Periodic Table (PT) displays the elements in increasing atomic number and shows how the periodicity of the physical and chemical properties of elements relates to atomic structure.)

Note: The CA State Standards 8.4 (Earth in the Solar System) are addressed in the OUSD Grad 9 Physical Science Standards , "Earth's Place in the Solar System". The CA State Standards 8.6 (Chemistry of Living Things) are addressed in the OUSD Grade 9 Physical Science Standards "Chemical Bonds, Organic and Biochemistry."

Back to Home

*OUSD Standard*	*California State Standard Reference Number*	*Comments*
1. Investigation and Experimentation Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:	CA Std 8.9	Identical Wording
a. plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis.	CA Std 8.9.a	Identical Wording
b. evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of data.	CA Std 8.9.b	Identical Wording
c. utilize a variety of print and electronic resources (including the World Wide Web) to collect information as evidence as part of a research project.	Not in CA Standards	Not in CA Standards
d. distinguish between variable and controlled parameters in a test.	CA Std 8.9.c	Identical Wording
e. construct appropriate graphs from data and develop qualitative statements about the relationships between variables.	CA Std 8.9.e	Identical Wording
f. apply simple mathematical relationships to determine one quantity given the other two (including speed = distance/time, density = mass/volume, force = pressure x area, volume = area x height).	CA Std 8.9.f	Identical Wording
g. recognize the difference between a linear and a non-linear function on a graph.	CA Std 8.9.g	CA wording changed from "distinguish between linear and non-linear relationships on a graph or table"
OUSD Standard at Grade 8 does not include the CA Investigation Standard 8.9.d: "Recognize the slope of a linear graph as the constant relationship y =kx and apply this to interpret graphs constructed from data." The standards writing committee felt that this standard was premature for those 8th graders who are not enrolled in algebra in OUSD,

2.Motion The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:	CA Std 8.1	Identical wording
a. position is defined relative to some choice of standard reference point and a set of reference directions.	CA Std 8.1.a	Identical wording
b. average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time elapsed. The speed of an object along the path traveled can vary.	CA Std 8.1.b	Identical wording
c. how to solve problems involving distance, time, and average speed	CA Std 8.1.c	Identical wording
d. to describe the velocity of an object one must specify both direction and speed.	CA Std 8.1.d	Identical wording
e. changes in velocity can be changes in speed, direction, or both.	CA Std 8.1.e	Identical wording
f. how to interpret graphs of position versus time and speed versus time for motion in a single direction.	CA Std 8.1.f	Identical wording
3. Forces Unbalanced forces cause changes in velocity. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know	CA Std 8.2	Identical wording
a. a force has both direction and magnitude.	CA Std 8.2.a	Identical wording
b. when an object is subject to two or more forces at once, the effect is the cumulative effect of all the forces.	CA Std 8.2.b	Identical wording
c. when the forces on an object are balanced, the motion of the object does not change.	CA Std 8.2.c	Identical wording
d. how to identify separately two or more forces acting on a single static object, including gravity, elastic forces due to tension or compression in matter, and friction.	CA Std 8.2.d	Identical wording
e. when the forces on an object are unbalanced the object will change its motion (that is, it will speed up, slow down, or change direction).	CA Std 8.2.e	Identical wording
f. the greater the mass of an object the more force is needed to achieve the same change in motion.	CA Std 8.2.f	Identical wording
Note: The OUSD Physical science standards for Grade 8 do not include CA Standard 8.2.g: "The role of gravity in forming and maintaining planets, stars and the solar system. This topic will be covered in 9th grade under Newton's Laws (US Standards 9 Motion and Forces and Earth's Place in the Universe)
4. Structure of Matter Elements have distinct properties and atomic structure. All matter is comprised of one or more of over 100 elements. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:	CA Std 8.3	Identical wording
a. the structure of the atom and how it is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.	CA Std 8.3.a	Identical wording
b. compounds are formed by combining two or more different elements. Compounds have properties that are different from the constituent elements.	CA Std 8.3.b	Identical wording
c. atoms and molecules form solids by building up repeating patterns such as the crystal structure of NaCl or long chain polymers.	CA Std 8.3.c	Identical wording
d. the states (solid, liquid, gas) of matter depend on molecular motion.	CA Std 8.3.d	Identical wording
e. in solids the atoms are closely locked in position and can only vibrate, in liquids the atoms and molecules are more loosely connected and can collide with and move past one another, while in gases the atoms or molecules are free to move independently, colliding frequently	CA Std 8.3.e	Identical wording
f. how to use the Periodic Table to identify elements in simple compounds	CA Std 8.3.f	Identical wording

5. Density and Buoyancy All objects experience a buoyant force when immersed in a fluid. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:	CA Std 8.8	Identical wording
a. density is mass per unit volume.	CA Std 8.8.a	Identical wording
b. how to calculate the density of substances (regular and irregular solids, and liquids) from measurements of mass and volume.	CA Std 8.8.b	Identical wording
c. the buoyant force on an object in a fluid is an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it has displaced.	CA Std 8.8.c	Identical wording
d. how to predict whether an object will float or sink.	CA Std 8.8.d	Identical wording
6. Reactions Chemical reactions are processes in which atoms are rearranged into different combinations of molecules. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:	CA Std. 8.5	Identical wording
a. reactant atoms and molecules interact to form products with different chemical properties.	CA Std. 8.5	Identical wording
b. the idea of atoms explains the conservation of matter: in chemical reactions the number of atoms stays the same no matter how they are arranged, so their total mass stays the same.	CA Std. 8.5	Identical wording
c. chemical reactions usually liberate heat or absorb heat.	CA Std. 8.5	Identical wording
d. physical processes include freezing and boiling, in which a material changes form with no chemical reaction.	CA Std. 8.5	Identical wording
e. how to determine whether a solution is acidic, basic or neutral.	CA Std. 8.5	Identical wording

7.Periodic Table The organization of the Periodic Table is based on the properties of the elements and reflects the structure of atoms. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:	CA Std. 8.7	Identical wording
a. how to identify regions corresponding to metals, nonmetals and inert gases.	CA Std. 8.7	Identical wording
b. elements are defined by the number of protons in the nucleus, which is called the atomic number. Different isotopes of an element have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus.	CA Std. 8.7	Identical wording
Note: The OUSD Physical science standards for Grade 8 do not include CA Standard 8.7.c: "substances can be classified by their [properties, including melting temperature, density, hardness, heat and electrical conductivity.) This topic is covered in Grade 9 under "Atomic and Molecular Structure: The Periodic Table (PT) displays the elements in increasing atomic number and shows how the periodicity of the physical and chemical properties of elements relates to atomic structure.)
Note: The CA State Standards 8.4 (Earth in the Solar System) are addressed in the OUSD Grad 9 Physical Science Standards , "Earth's Place in the Solar System". The CA State Standards 8.6 (Chemistry of Living Things) are addressed in the OUSD Grade 9 Physical Science Standards "Chemical Bonds, Organic and Biochemistry."