Standardized Test Preparation

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)

References: Texas Education Agency : STAAR Released Tests |

Science - Grade 8

Assessment Exam - TEKS Grade 8 Science

Scientific investigation and reasoning	eTAP Lesson
The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, conducts laboratory and field investigations following safety procedures and environmentally appropriate and ethical practices
Demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and field investigations as outlined in the Texas Safety Standards TX.SCI.112.10.1.A	You Can Be a Scientist
Practice appropriate use and conservation of resources, including disposal, reuse, or recycling of materials TX.SCI.112.10.1.B
The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and field investigations.
Plan and implement comparative and descriptive investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, and using appropriate equipment and technology TX.SCI.112.10.2.A	New Scientific Ideas
The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and field investigations
Design and implement comparative and experimental investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and using appropriate equipment and technology TX.SCI.112.10.2.B	New Scientific Ideas
Collect and record data using the International System of Units (SI) and qualitative means such as labeled drawings, writing, and graphic organizers TX.SCI.112.10.2.C	Finding Answers to Questions
Construct tables and graphs, using repeated trials and means, to organize data and identify patterns TX.SCI.112.10.2.D	Displaying Data
The student uses critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions and knows the contributions of relevant scientists
In all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student TX.SCI.112.10.3.A	New Scientific Ideas
The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and field investigations
Design and implement comparative and experimental investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and using appropriate equipment and technology TX.SCI.112.10.3.B	How to Draw and Present Conclusions
The student uses critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions and knows the contributions of relevant scientists
Identify advantages and limitations of models such as size, scale, properties, and materials TX.SCI.112.10.3.C	Summary
Relate the impact of research on scientific thought and society, including the history of science and contributions of scientists as related to the content TX.SCI.112.10.3.D	New Scientific Ideas
The student knows how to use a variety of tools and safety equipment to conduct science inquiry
Use appropriate tools to collect, record, and analyze information, including lab journals/notebooks, beakers, meter sticks, graduated cylinders, anemometers, psychrometers, hot plates, test tubes, spring scales, balances, microscopes, thermometers, calculators, computers, spectroscopes, timing devices, and other equipment as needed to teach the curriculum TX.SCI.112.10.4.A	Tools and Technology Displaying Data
Use preventative safety equipment, including chemical splash goggles, aprons, and gloves, and be prepared to use emergency safety equipment, including an eye/face wash, a fire blanket, and a fire extinguisher TX.SCI.112.10.4.B	You Can Be a Scientist
Matter and energy	eTAP Lesson
The student knows that matter is composed of atoms and has chemical and physical properties
Describe the structure of atoms, including the masses, electrical charges, and locations, of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and electrons in the electron cloud TX.SCI.112.10.5.A	Atoms and Molecules
Identify that protons determine an element's identity and valence electrons determine its chemical properties, including reactivity TX.SCI.112.10.5.B	Atoms and Molecules Organization and Function
Interpret the arrangement of the Periodic Table, including groups and periods, to explain how properties are used to classify elements TX.SCI.112.10.5.C	Identifying Elements
Recognize that chemical formulas are used to identify substances and determine the number of atoms of each element in chemical formulas containing subscripts TX.SCI.112.10.5.D	Atoms and Molecules
Investigate how evidence of chemical reactions indicate that new substances with different properties are formed TX.SCI.112.10.5.E	The Law of Conservation of Mass
Recognize whether a chemical equation containing coefficients is balanced or not and how that relates to the law of conservation of mass TX.SCI.112.10.5.F	The Law of Conservation of Mass
Force, motion, and energy	eTAP Lesson
The student knows that there is a relationship between force, motion, and energy
Demonstrate and calculate how unbalanced forces change the speed or direction of an object's motion TX.SCI.112.10.6.A	Friction and Other Forces
Differentiate between speed, velocity, and acceleration TX.SCI.112.10.6.B	Speed and Velocity
Investigate and describe applications of Newton's law of inertia, law of force and acceleration, and law of action-reaction such as in vehicle restraints, sports activities, amusement park rides, Earth's tectonic activities, and rocket launches TX.SCI.112.10.6.C	Newton’s Laws of Motion
Earth and space	eTAP Lesson
The student knows the effects resulting from cyclical movements of the Sun, Earth, and Moon
Model and illustrate how the tilted Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night, and revolves around the Sun causing changes in seasons TX.SCI.112.10.7.A	What Causes the Seasons
Demonstrate and predict the sequence of events in the lunar cycledemonstrate and predict the sequence of events in the lunar cycle TX.SCI.112.10.7.B	Phases of the Moon
Relate the position of the Moon and Sun to their effect on ocean tides TX.SCI.112.10.7.C	Beaches
The student knows characteristics of the universe.
Describe components of the universe, including stars, nebulae, and galaxies, and use models such as the Herztsprung-Russell diagram for classification TX.SCI.112.10.8.A	The Planets Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors
The student knows characteristics of the universe
Recognize that the Sun is a medium-sized star near the edge of a disc-shaped galaxy of stars and that the Sun is many thousands of times closer to Earth than any other star TX.SCI.112.10.8.B	The Sun and Other Stars
The student knows characteristics of the universe.
Explore how different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum such as light and radio waves are used to gain information about distances and properties of components in the universe TX.SCI.112.10.8.C	The Sun and Other Stars
The student knows characteristics of the universe
Model and describe how light years are used to measure distances and sizes in the universe TX.SCI.112.10.8.D	The Sun and Other Stars
Research how scientific data are used as evidence to develop scientific theories to describe the origin of the universe TX.SCI.112.10.8.E
The student knows that natural events can impact Earth systems
Describe the historical development of evidence that supports plate tectonic theory TX.SCI.112.10.9.A	Plate Tectonics
Relate plate tectonics to the formation of crustal features TX.SCI.112.10.9.B	Plate Tectonics
Interpret topographic maps and satellite views to identify land and erosional features and predict how these features may be reshaped by weathering TX.SCI.112.10.9.C	Rivers and Streams
The student knows that climatic interactions exist among Earth, ocean, and weather systems
Recognize that the Sun provides the energy that drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents TX.SCI.112.10.10.A	Convection
Identify how global patterns of atmospheric movement influence local weather using weather maps that show high and low pressures and fronts TX.SCI.112.10.10.B	Weather
Identify the role of the oceans in the formation of weather systems such as hurricanes TX.SCI.112.10.10.C
Organisms and environments	eTAP Lesson
The student knows that interdependence occurs among living systems and the environment and that human activities can affect these systems
Describe producer/consumer, predator/prey, and parasite/host relationships as they occur in food webs within marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems TX.SCI.112.10.11.A	The Food Web and the Physical Environment
Investigate how organisms and populations in an ecosystem depend on and may compete for biotic and abiotic factors such as quantity of light, water, range of temperatures, or soil composition TX.SCI.112.10.11.B	Organism Populations Resources in the Ecosystem
Explore how short- and long-term environmental changes affect organisms and traits in subsequent populations TX.SCI.112.10.11.C	Organism Populations
Recognize human dependence on ocean systems and explain how human activities such as runoff, artificial reefs, or use of resources have modified these systems TX.SCI.112.10.11.D