Grassy Fork School
8th Grade Science/Social Studies
School Year Syllabus: 2022-2023
Teacher: Mr. Mark Tocholke M. Ed.
School Telephone: (423)487-5835 Cell Phone Number: (423)237-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Course Description
8th grade science:
Eighth grade science is designed to involve the students in applying reading, writing, speaking, listening, and conducting skills in an independent manner through meaningful labs and applied technologies.
8th grade social studies:
Eighth grade students will study the European settlement of North America and the role geographic features played in the early settlement of Thirteen Colonies. Students will examine the development and maturation of the Thirteen Colonies and the political, cultural, and economic influences that led to the American Revolution. Students will analyze the major events and outcomes of the American Revolution as well as the individuals who played influential roles in the development of the new nation. Students will follow the development of the United States and its government, continuing through the early 19th century. Students will analyze the impact of the expansion and sectionalism of the U.S., including implications on domestic and foreign policy. Students will also study policies that affected American Indians and African Americans. Finally, students will examine the major events and issues leading up to the Civil War, individuals and events that were significant during the war, and the resulting era of Reconstruction.
Textbook & Course Materials
Required Texts
*United States History & Geography Colonization to Reconstruction Author- Joyce Appleby et al. ISBN: 978-0-07-687169-8
*Integrated Science Grade 8 Authors-Michelle Anderson et al. ISBN: 978-0-02-137805-0
Online Link to Textbooks: upcoming
Student Learning Outcomes and Topic Outline
Social Studies:
1st Nine Weeks-
Colonization (1607 - 1750)
2nd Nine Weeks-
Growth of a Young Nation (1800-1820)
3rd Nine Weeks-
Expansion and Vision of the Nation (1820s - 1860s)
Reconstruction (1865-1877)
4th Nine Weeks-
Science:
1st Nine Weeks
Forces and Motion
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Waves and Applications
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Biological Change
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
2nd Nine Weeks
Earth’s Place in the Universe
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Earth’s Systems
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
3rd Nine Weeks
Earth and Human Activity
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Engineering Design
Students will:
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
4th Nine Weeks
Grading Policy
B = 85 - 92
C = 75 - 84
D = 70 - 74
F = 0 – 69
I = Incomplete
50%-Tests (chapter tests, unit tests, map tests, lab tests)
40%-Performance (lab assignments, oral presentations, essays, student projects)
10%-Daily work (daily assignments or activities, quizzes, and participation)
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations, plagiarism and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. It usually involves an attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that he/she does not possess. A FAILING GRADE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ALL CASES OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND BE ASSIGNED OTHER APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC PENALTIES DEEMED NECESSARY BY TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL.
Attendance Policy: See student handbook
Please Note** Course policies are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be posted in the classroom.
8th Grade Science/Social Studies
School Year Syllabus: 2022-2023
Teacher: Mr. Mark Tocholke M. Ed.
School Telephone: (423)487-5835 Cell Phone Number: (423)237-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Course Description
8th grade science:
Eighth grade science is designed to involve the students in applying reading, writing, speaking, listening, and conducting skills in an independent manner through meaningful labs and applied technologies.
8th grade social studies:
Eighth grade students will study the European settlement of North America and the role geographic features played in the early settlement of Thirteen Colonies. Students will examine the development and maturation of the Thirteen Colonies and the political, cultural, and economic influences that led to the American Revolution. Students will analyze the major events and outcomes of the American Revolution as well as the individuals who played influential roles in the development of the new nation. Students will follow the development of the United States and its government, continuing through the early 19th century. Students will analyze the impact of the expansion and sectionalism of the U.S., including implications on domestic and foreign policy. Students will also study policies that affected American Indians and African Americans. Finally, students will examine the major events and issues leading up to the Civil War, individuals and events that were significant during the war, and the resulting era of Reconstruction.
Textbook & Course Materials
Required Texts
*United States History & Geography Colonization to Reconstruction Author- Joyce Appleby et al. ISBN: 978-0-07-687169-8
*Integrated Science Grade 8 Authors-Michelle Anderson et al. ISBN: 978-0-02-137805-0
Online Link to Textbooks: upcoming
Student Learning Outcomes and Topic Outline
Social Studies:
1st Nine Weeks-
Colonization (1607 - 1750)
- Learning Outcome: Students will examine the European settlement of North America, geographic features that influenced early colonies, and the social, religious, political, and economic reasons for colonization.
- Learning Outcome: Students will explore the growing tensions between Great Britain and its colonies as well as the major events and outcomes surrounding the American Revolution.
- Learning Outcome: Students will explore the foundation of U.S. government, the principles of the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution, and the individuals who played influential roles in the development of the new nation. In addition, students will examine the steps taken by Tennessee to achieve statehood and the initial development of government.
2nd Nine Weeks-
Growth of a Young Nation (1800-1820)
- Learning Outcome: Students will analyze the strengthening of the judicial branch, the major events of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, the War of 1812, and the role of the U.S. on the world stage.
- Learning Outcome: Students will analyze the social, political, and economic development of the North and South during the early 19th century, including the growth of sectionalism and reform movements.
- Learning Outcome: Students will analyze the impact of John Marshall on the strengthening of the judicial branch and the major events of Andrew Jackson’s presidency.
3rd Nine Weeks-
Expansion and Vision of the Nation (1820s - 1860s)
- Students will analyze the social, political, and economic impact of expansion, on the U.S. the growing tensions between the North and South, and how compromise sought to hold the country together.
- Learning Outcome: Students will examine the political changes that sparked the Civil War, the difference in the North and South, and the key leaders, events, battles, and daily life during the war.
Reconstruction (1865-1877)
- Learning Outcomes: Students will analyze the social, economic, and political changes, and conflicts during Reconstruction, the events and lasting consequences of Reconstruction, and Reconstruction’s impact on Tennessee.
4th Nine Weeks-
- TCAP Review
- Finish Study Island Modules
- Remediation
Science:
1st Nine Weeks
Forces and Motion
Students will:
- Design and conduct investigations on the relationships between magnetism and electricity in electromagnets, generators, and electric motors.
- Provide evidence of an object’s change in motion depends on the sum of all forces exerted on the object and describe that change in motion.
- Evaluate and interpret that for every force exerted on an object there is an equal force exerted in the opposite direction.
- Provide evidence that fields exist between objects even when they are not in contact.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Waves and Applications
Students will:
- Develop and use models to represent the basic properties of waves.
- Compare and contrast mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.
- Evaluate the role that waves play in different communication systems.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Biological Change
Students will:
- Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record.
- Compare and contrast structures of extinct and extant organisms.
- Analyze evidence about how phenotypes within a population can increase the probability of survival and leads to adaptation.
- Explain how natural selection plays a role in the survival of organisms.
- Examine technology and communicate information about artificial selection and the inheritance of desired traits.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
2nd Nine Weeks
Earth’s Place in the Universe
Students will:
- Examine the theory of rapid expansion using evidence found in the universe.
- Explain the role of gravity in the formation of the sun and planets in the solar system.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Earth’s Systems
Students will:
- Analyze geographic changes that lead to population changes.
- Evaluate data collected from seismographs to study the interior of Earth.
- Describe the relationship among processes and forces within the rock cycle.
- Gather and evaluate evidence that energy from the Earth’s interior drives physical changes.
- Construct a scientific explanation using data that explains plate tectonics and its relevance to physical features on Earth.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
3rd Nine Weeks
Earth and Human Activity
Students will:
- Interpret data to explain the location of Earth’s natural resources.
- Collect and use data to describe how plate boundaries relate to earthquake and volcano locations.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
Engineering Design
Students will:
- Develop a model for testing and modification of an electromagnet, generator, or electric motor.
- Research and communicate information on how data from technologies provide information about objects in our solar system and universe.
- Assignments and Projects
-Essay
-Oral Presentation
4th Nine Weeks
- TCAP Review
- Standards Review
- Topic Remediation
Grading Policy
- Viewing Grades in Aspen-Points you receive for graded assignments will be posted to Aspen Grade Book weekly. Log in information to be given to parents at the beginning of the school year.
- Late Assignments-10 points will be deducted each day an assignment is late. A score of 0 will be assigned for all missing work…no exceptions!
- Grade Scale-
B = 85 - 92
C = 75 - 84
D = 70 - 74
F = 0 – 69
I = Incomplete
- Final grades assigned for the courses will be based on the following percentage of total points earned and are assigned as follows:
50%-Tests (chapter tests, unit tests, map tests, lab tests)
40%-Performance (lab assignments, oral presentations, essays, student projects)
10%-Daily work (daily assignments or activities, quizzes, and participation)
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations, plagiarism and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. It usually involves an attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that he/she does not possess. A FAILING GRADE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ALL CASES OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND BE ASSIGNED OTHER APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC PENALTIES DEEMED NECESSARY BY TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL.
Attendance Policy: See student handbook
Please Note** Course policies are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be posted in the classroom.