Newfoundland & Labrador · Grade 8
Science, Grade 8
Newfoundland & Labrador’s Grade 8 science course, from Earth/Space Science: Water Systems on Earth's Surface to Life Science: Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems.
- Units
- 4
- Lessons
- 8
- Skills
- 29
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 9 skills
Earth/Space Science: Water Systems on Earth's Surface
Earth's Water Systems
How Earth's spheres interact
I can describe how Earth's water (hydrosphere), land (lithosphere), and air (atmosphere) interact.
Skill 1.1
Glaciers and climate change
I can describe how climate change affects glaciers and the effects that has on the environment.
Skill 1.2
Life in oceans and fresh water
I can analyze the factors that affect how much life a water environment supports and where species live.
Skill 1.3
Abiotic factors and aquatic life
I can identify how abiotic factors like temperature, oxygen, and pollution affect where aquatic plants and animals live.
Skill 1.4
Ocean basins and drainage systems
I can describe the processes that form ocean basins and the drainage systems that carry water across the continents.
Skill 1.5
Currents, Tides, and Coastlines
Ocean currents, winds, and climate
I can describe how ocean currents and winds interact and affect regional climates.
Skill 1.6
Waves and tides
I can explain what generates waves and what causes the tides.
Skill 1.7
Shaping shorelines
I can describe how waves and water flow erode and deposit material along shorelines.
Skill 1.8
Coastal landforms
I can recognize coastal landforms and explain how erosion and deposition create them.
Skill 1.9
The official wording · 9 outcomes
- 1.1
- Describe major interactions among the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere
- 1.2
- Describe how periods of climate change affect glaciers and describe the consequent effects on the environment
- 1.3
- Analyze factors that affect productivity and species distribution in freshwater and marine environments
- 1.4
- Identify the effects of abiotic factors on plant and animal distributions in marine and freshwater ecosystems
- 1.5
- Describe processes that lead to the development of ocean basins and continental drainage systems
- 1.6
- Describe the interactions of the ocean currents, winds, and regional climates
- 1.7
- Explain how waves and tides are generated
- 1.8
- Describe the processes of erosion and deposition at shorelines that result from wave action and water flow
- 1.9
- Recognize that landforms result from the processes of erosion and deposition caused by wave action and water flow
Key ideas
The hydrosphere is Earth's water, the lithosphere is its rock and land, and the atmosphere is its air.
Ocean currents move warm and cold water around the planet.
These spheres constantly interact and exchange matter and energy.
Winds drive surface currents; currents in turn affect the air above them.
The water cycle moves water between the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Watch out for
- Thinking Earth's spheres are separate and unrelated — they constantly interact.
- Thinking ocean water just sits still — it moves in large currents around the world.
- Thinking only water moves — energy and matter are exchanged among all three spheres.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 9 skills
Physical Science: Fluids
Viscosity and Density
Viscosity
I can compare the viscosity of different liquids and describe what makes a liquid more or less viscous.
Skill 2.1
Density and the Particle Theory
I can relate mass, volume, and density using the Particle Theory and calculate density.
Skill 2.2
Temperature and density
I can explain how temperature changes the density of solids, liquids, and gases, using the Particle Theory.
Skill 2.3
Density in everyday life
I can describe real-life situations where density changes naturally or is changed on purpose.
Skill 2.4
Forces, Buoyancy, and Pressure
Balanced and unbalanced forces
I can describe how balanced and unbalanced forces affect the movement of objects.
Skill 2.5
Mass and weight
I can describe the difference between mass and weight.
Skill 2.6
Buoyancy — sinking and floating
I can explain how weight and buoyancy decide whether something sinks or floats.
Skill 2.7
Force, area, and pressure
I can describe and calculate how pressure depends on force and area.
Skill 2.8
Pressure, volume, and temperature
I can explain how pressure, volume, and temperature are related when fluids are compressed or heated.
Skill 2.9
The official wording · 9 outcomes
- 2.1
- Compare the viscosity of various liquids
- 2.2
- Describe the relationship among the mass, volume, and density of solids, liquids and gases using the Particle Theory
- 2.3
- Explain the effects of changes in temperature on the density of solids, liquids, and gases and relate the results to the Particle Theory
- 2.4
- Describe situations in life where the density of substances naturally changes or is intentionally changed
- 2.5
- Describe the movement of objects in terms of balanced and unbalanced forces
- 2.6
- Describe qualitatively the difference between mass and weight
- 2.7
- Describe the connection between weight, buoyancy, and sinking or floating
- 2.8
- Describe quantitatively the relationship between force, area, and pressure
- 2.9
- Explain qualitatively the relationship among pressure, volume, and temperature when liquid and gaseous fluids are compressed or heated
Key ideas
Viscosity is a liquid's resistance to flowing — how thick or runny it is.
Forces acting on an object can be balanced or unbalanced.
High-viscosity liquids (honey, syrup) pour slowly; low-viscosity liquids (water) pour fast.
Balanced forces cancel out, so the object stays still or keeps moving steadily.
Heating a liquid usually lowers its viscosity, making it flow more easily.
Watch out for
- Thinking all liquids flow the same — viscosity varies a lot between liquids.
- Thinking a still object has no forces on it — the forces are balanced.
- Thinking temperature has no effect — heating usually lowers viscosity.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 4 skills
Physical Science: Optics
Light and the Spectrum
Properties of visible light
I can identify and describe the properties of visible light.
Skill 3.1
The electromagnetic spectrum
I can describe the types of electromagnetic radiation and compare them to visible light.
Skill 3.2
Reflection and Refraction
The law of reflection
I can describe the law of reflection and give everyday examples of it.
Skill 3.3
Refraction
I can describe how light refracts — bends — as it passes from one material into another.
Skill 3.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 3.1
- Identify and describe properties of visible light
- 3.2
- Describe the different types of electromagnetic radiation and compare properties to visible light
- 3.3
- Describe the laws of reflection of visible light and their applications in everyday life
- 3.4
- Describe qualitatively how visible light is refracted
Key ideas
Visible light is the light our eyes can see.
Reflection is light bouncing off a surface.
Light travels in straight lines and very fast.
The law of reflection: the angle light comes in equals the angle it bounces off.
White light is a mix of all the colours of the rainbow.
Watch out for
- Thinking white light has no colour in it — it is a mix of all colours.
- Thinking light bounces off at any random angle — the angle in equals the angle out.
- Thinking light bends around corners on its own — it travels straight unless something bends it.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 7 skills
Life Science: Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems
Cells
The cell as a living system
I can explain that a cell is a living system and that it shows the characteristics of life.
Skill 4.1
Plant and animal cells
I can distinguish plant cells from animal cells by their parts.
Skill 4.2
Cell division, growth, and reproduction
I can explain how growth and reproduction depend on cells dividing.
Skill 4.3
From Cells to Systems
Cells, tissues, organs, and systems
I can explain how cells, tissues, organs, and systems are organized in the human body.
Skill 4.4
Cells and the whole organism
I can relate the needs and jobs of cells and organs to the needs of the whole body.
Skill 4.5
What affects body systems
I can describe basic factors that affect how well the body's systems work.
Skill 4.6
Systems working together
I can describe examples of how the body's systems depend on and work with each other.
Skill 4.7
The official wording · 7 outcomes
- 4.1
- Illustrate and explain that the cell is a living system that exhibits the four characteristics of life
- 4.2
- Distinguish between typical plant and animal cells
- 4.3
- Explain that growth and reproduction depend on cell division
- 4.4
- Explain structural and functional relationships between and among cells, tissues, organs, and systems in the human body
- 4.5
- Relate the needs and functions of various cells and organs to the needs and functions of the human organism as a whole
- 4.6
- Describe the basic factors that affect the functions and efficiency of the human respiratory, circulatory, muscular, digestive, excretory, and nervous systems
- 4.7
- Describe three examples of the interdependence of various systems of the human body
Key ideas
A cell is the smallest living unit of a living thing.
The body is organized in levels: cells → tissues → organs → systems.
Cells are living systems: they take in nutrients, use energy, grow, and respond.
Similar cells group into a tissue (muscle cells form muscle tissue).
Cells have parts (like a membrane and a nucleus) that each do a job.
Watch out for
- Thinking cells are not alive — a cell is itself a living system.
- Thinking organs are made of just one kind of cell — organs contain several tissues.
- Thinking all living things are made of many cells — some are just one cell.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Newfoundland & Labrador’s own curriculum for Science, Grade 8.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Science, Grade 8 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Science, Grade 8 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 30
- Fillable fields
- 1,394
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Science, Grade 8
What is Science, Grade 8?
Newfoundland & Labrador’s Grade 8 science course: 4 units and 29 skills, from Earth/Space Science: Water Systems on Earth's Surface to Life Science: Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems.
What units are in Science, Grade 8?
1. Earth/Space Science: Water Systems on Earth's Surface, 2. Physical Science: Fluids, 3. Physical Science: Optics and 4. Life Science: Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems.
Is there a provincial exam for Science, Grade 8?
No. Newfoundland & Labrador gives no provincial exam for Science, Grade 8.
What comes after Science, Grade 8?
Science, Grade 9.
Can MapleMind help with Science, Grade 8?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Science, Grade 8, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
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