September Class Plans

During September, we will begin with the expectations of what is expected in class and working on the basic skills that will be necessary to be successful. Note taking, use of the textbook, graphing and short answer essays will be taught.

We will then move into the astronomy unit of 8^th grade science. This class is the third year of science with a state test to be administered this spring over the content that was taught during those years. This year's curriculum will be different than previous years in that 8ht grade will now be primarily Earth Science. The first unit will approach the features of the universe beginning with the close and moving outward to the most distant objects that are billions of light years away at the edge of the universe.

Starting with the Earth/Moon system, we will study the formation, motions interactions and the history of the exploration of space. Moon phases, eclipses, rotation, revolution, and orbits are the beginnings of what we will be studying. The distance to the moon, night and day, seasons, and the origin of tides will be some of the items that are part of this unit. This unit will then move to the sun and the other components of the solar system. Finally, in October, we will be looking out into the

The unit will be broken into small sections with tests and review guides for these sections about every seven class days, the first of which will be a test on the Earth and its motion in space. In addition, with each chapter in the textbook, there will be a study guide to help focus student reading for background. Students will not be tested on material that is not studied in class. This will be the first month for students to be graded on their notes that are taken in class. These will be due the day of the test and must be in a bound notebook.

It is difficult to predict the exact dates of tests as it will depend on the overall progress of class and unexpected interruptions. It is easier to predict reading assignments.

Chapter 1 September 15

Chapter 2 September 22

Chapter 3 September 29

The first test on basic skills will be on September 15^th. Students will receive a review guide on September 11^th to help focus the test preparation. This is a pattern that you will see all year, a review guide to prepare for a test two school days prior to the test. This is extra credit but will be essential for many students to do to be adequately prepared for the test.

The first astromony test will on September 24 and the second one will be on October 1.