Ontario Science and Technology

Grade 8

 
Reference Expectations The Digital Field Trip to The Wetlands The Digital Field Trip to The Rainforest The Digital Field Trip to The Desert
  By the end of this course, students will:  
Life Systems: Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems   Investigate basic cellular processes and certain specialized cells in plants Photosynthesis Botany screens Plant Adaptations, Plant Organism screens
Identify unicellular organisms and multicellular organisms Organism screens, Migration Botany screens: Algae, Bacteria, Fungi, Organism screens  
Investigate ways in which unicellular organisms meet their basic needs Organism screens: Green Algae, Wheel-Animalcule Botany Screens: Algae, Bacteria, Fungi, Organism screen: Green Algae  
Explain the function of selectively permeable membranes in cells Photosynthesis Botany screens: Stomata, Roots, Leaves  
Describe and explain the structure and function of specialized cells and tissues in different parts of plants   Botany screens Plant Adaptations screens (e.g. Storing Water, Protection,
Recognize that cells in multicellular organisms need to reproduce to make more cells to form and repair tissues   Botany screens  
Explain how the structures of a plant permit the movement of food, water and gases Nutrient Cycles, Plant Adaptations Botany screens: Roots, Stems, Leaves Plant Adaptations screens, Plant Organisms screens
Compare the structures of different plants which enable them to live in specific conditions Organism screens: Algae, Plants, Wetland Types, Classifications Botany screens: Algae, Bacteria, Fungi, Flowering Plants, Trees, Vines, Epiphytes Plant Adaptations screens, Plant Organisms screens
Describe, using observation, the movement of gases and water during diffusion and osmosis Nutrient Cycles, Photosynthesis Botany screens: Stomata, Stems, Roots, Leaves Plant Adaptations: Water Efficiency
Describe similar and different functions of comparable structures in different groups of living things Organism screens, Migration Organism screens, Botany screens Organism screens, Plant and Animal Adaptations
Earth and Space Systems: Water Systems Demonstrate an understanding of how the earth’s water systems were formed, the similarities and differences among them, and how they influence the climate and weather of the region in which they are located. Wetland Types, Swamp, Marsh, Carr, Peatland, Bog, Fen, Groundwater, Flooding, Water Cycle, Bog Study section, Bog Formation animations Water Cycle, Water Availability
Investigate the major features of the earth’s water resources (e.g., oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, ice-caps, snowfall, and clouds) and the effects of large bodies of water on global climate and ecosystems. Wetland Types, Swamp, Marsh, Carr, Peatland, Bog, Fen Water Cycle, Climate Climatic Influences, High Pressure Zones, Rain Shadows, Continental Interiors, Cold Ocean Currents, Water Availability
Examine how humans use resources from the earth’s different water systems and identify the factors involved in managing these resources for sustainability. Endangered Wetlands, Conservation, Habitat, Pollution   Water Availability, Human Impact
Identify the various states of water on the earth’s surface and the conditions under which they exist (e.g., glaciers, snow on mountains, and polar ice-caps are solid states of water, oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater are liquid states of water; the atmosphere contains water in its gaseous state.) Water Cycle, Solid — Bog Formation & Succession (glaciers) Liquid - Wetland Types, Swamp, Marsh, Carr, Peatland, Bog, Fen Gas — Water Cycle Liquid, Gas -Water Cycle,   Solid- Deserts of the World — Polar Liquid — Water Availability, Liquid / Gas — Climatic Influences screens
Describe the distribution and circulation of water on the earth (e.g., oceans, glaciers, rivers, groundwater, the atmosphere) Water Cycle Water Cycle Water Availability, Climatic Influences screens
Describe wave formation and the effects of waves on coastal features (e.g., bays, rocky headlands, beaches) Erosion    
Investigate how large bodies of water affect the weather and climate of an area (e.g., lakes affect snow precipitation)     Cold Ocean Currents, Continental Interiors (absence of large water body)
Investigate, using simulations or models, the movement of ocean currents and their impact on regional climates (e.g., Gulf Stream, Labrador Current, Alaska Current)     Cold Ocean Currents