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Science (8th Grade)

Course Description:

This is a year long  course in Middle School Comprehensive Science 8th Grade.   It builds on concepts introduced in the first and second courses of the series, including the disciplines of life science, physical science, and earth-space science. In addition, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts are integrated throughout the course. Students learn about properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, atoms and the periodic table of elements, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, the universe, and the solar system. Hands-on and virtual laboratory investigations are included throughout the course to provide students opportunities for exploration through scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, and experimental procedures. By the end of the course, students will be practicing, experimenting, thinking, and talking like a scientist!

Course Details:

Course Title (District): Science (8th Grade)
Course Title (NCES SCED) : Science (grade 8)
Course Provider : North Muskegon Public Schools
Content Provided By : Michigan Virtual
Online Instructor Provided By : North Muskegon Public Schools
Standards Addressed : Next Generation Science Standards
Alignment Document : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YY28s12KeCCsiVniLs5mT9Ch6HwS-mPh/view?usp=sharing
Academic Terms : Year Long
NCES SCED Code :
Subject Area : Life and Physical Sciences
Course Identifier : Science (grade 8)
Course Level : Elem/Middle School (Prior to Secondary)
Available Credit : 1.0
Sequence : 1 of 1

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PtG51oS73yGdtUhvuFwu43fZqDudxmNSTXX2yUyXfuI/edit?ts=611abb54
Email : [email protected]
Phone : (888) 889-2840

Students and Parents: It is important to work closely with your local school counselor or registrar to follow the school's enrollment procedures. By clicking the "Start Registration Request" button below, you will be able to notify the school of your interest in registering for the online course. However, it is the responsibility of the district or school to review the registration request and approve or deny the request. Please make a note to follow up with your school after submitting a registration request.

Start Registration Request

Additional Course Information:

Additional Cost: $0.0

Additional Cost Description:

NA

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

•describe the steps of the scientific method and how it is used to explain natural phenomena;

•recognize common measurements of matter and calculate density, mass, and volume;

•compare and classify substances based on their physical properties;

•describe the atomic theory of atoms and compare the properties of solids, liquids, and gases;

•differentiate between physical and chemical properties of substances and identify processes in nature that represent physical and chemical changes;

•demonstrate that mass is conserved after a physical or chemical change;

•describe how temperature influences chemical changes;

•describe the structure of an atom and the electrical charges/forces that exist between protons, neutrons, and electrons;

•predict properties of an element when given its name or its atomic number;

•explain why there are many, but limited, combinations of elements to make compounds;

•describe the properties of acids, bases, and salts and identify common examples of acids, bases, and salts;

•explain the differences between pure substances, mixtures, and solutions;

•describe the roles of energy, carbon dioxide, and water, in the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration;

•describe the transfer of matter or energy between the components of the carbon cycle;

•explain how space is organized, classify and describe the components of space;

•explain the difference between wavelength and frequency;

•describe the technologies used for exploring and understanding space;

•explain the role of gravity in the formation and motion of astronomical bodies and how position affects objects in the solar system;

•explain what causes seasons/tides/eclipses/moon phases and how they occur.

iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses

Academic Content Standards and Assessments Rating Comments
The goals and objectives clearly state what the participants will know or be able to do at the end of the course. The goals and objectives are measurable in multiple ways. Fully Met
The course content and assignments are aligned with the state’s content standards, Common Core curriculum, or other accepted content standards set for Advanced Placement® courses, technology, computer science, or other courses whose content is not included in the state standards. Fully Met
The course content and assignments are of sufficient rigor, depth and breadth to teach the standards being addressed. Fully Met
Information literacy and communication skills are incorporated and taught as an integral part of the curriculum. Fully Met
Multiple learning resources and materials to increase student success are available to students before the course begins. Partially Met Pacing guide needs to be completed.
Course Overview and Introduction Rating Comments
Clear, complete course overview and syllabus are included in the course. Fully Met
Course requirements are consistent with course goals, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Fully Met
Information is provided to students, parents and mentors on how to communicate with the online instructor and course provider. Fully Met
Legal and Acceptable Use Policies Rating Comments
The course reflects multi-cultural education, and the content is accurate, current and free of bias or advertising. Fully Met
Expectations for academic integrity, use of copyrighted materials, plagiarism and netiquette (Internet etiquette) regarding lesson activities, discussions, and e-mail communications are clearly stated. Fully Met MVS Acceptable Use Policy
Privacy policies are clearly stated. Fully Met MVS Policy
Instructor Resources Rating Comments
Online instructor resources and notes are included. Fully Met
Assessment and assignment answers and explanations are included. Fully Met
Accessing Course Effectiveness Rating Comments
The course provider uses multiple ways of assessing course effectiveness. Fully Met
The course is evaluated using a continuous improvement cycle for effectiveness and the findings used as a basis for improvement. Fully Met
Course Updates Rating Comments
The course is updated periodically to ensure that the content is current. Fully Met
Certification Rating Comments
Course instructors, whether faceto-face or virtual, are certificated and “highly qualified.” The online course teacher possesses a teaching credential from a state-licensing agency and is “highly qualified” as defined under ESEA. Fully Met
Instructor and Student Support Rating Comments
Professional development about the online course delivery system is offered by the provider to assure effective use of the courseware and various instructional media available. Fully Met
The course provider offers technical support and course management assistance to students, the course instructor, and the school coordinator. Fully Met
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, have been provided professional development in the behavioral, social, and when necessary, emotional, aspects of the learning environment. Fully Met
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, receive instructor professional development, which includes the support and use of a variety of communication modes to stimulate student engagement online. Fully Met
The provider assures that course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, are provided support, as needed, to ensure their effectiveness and success in meeting the needs of online students. Fully Met
Students are offered an orientation for taking an online course before starting the coursework. Fully Met
Instructional and Audience Analysis Rating Comments
Course design reflects a clear understanding of all students’ needs and incorporates varied ways to learn and master the curriculum. Fully Met
Course, Unit and Lesson Design Rating Comments
The course is organized by units and lessons that fall into a logical sequence. Each unit and lesson includes an overview describing objectives, activities, assignments, assessments, and resources to provide multiple learning opportunities for students to master the content. Fully Met
Instructional Strategies and Activities Rating Comments
The course instruction includes activities that engage students in active learning. Fully Met
The course and course instructor provide students with multiple learning paths, based on student needs that engage students in a variety of ways. Fully Met
The course provides opportunities for students to engage in higher-order thinking, critical reasoning activities and thinking in increasingly complex ways. Fully Met
The course provides options for the instructor to adapt learning activities to accommodate students’ needs. Fully Met While the course content is not modifiable, assignments and assessments can be modified to meet learners' diverse needs.
Readability levels, written language assignments and mathematical requirements are appropriate for the course content and grade-level expectations. Fully Met
Communication and Interaction Rating Comments
The course design provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student interaction, including opportunities for timely and frequent feedback about student progress. Fully Met
The course design includes explicit communication/activities (both before and during the first week of the course) that confirms whether students are engaged and are progressing through the course. The instructor will follow program guidelines to address non-responsive students. Fully Met
The course provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student and student-student interaction to foster mastery and application of the material. Fully Met
Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Students have access to resources that enrich the course content. Fully Met
Evaluation Strategies Rating Comments
Student evaluation strategies are consistent with course goals and objectives, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Fully Met
The course structure includes adequate and appropriate methods and procedures to assess students’ mastery of content. Fully Met
Feedback Rating Comments
Ongoing, varied, and frequent assessments are conducted throughout the course to inform instruction. Fully Met
Assessment strategies and tools make the student continuously aware of his/her progress in class and mastery of the content. Fully Met
Assessment Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Assessment materials provide the instructor with the flexibility to assess students in a variety of ways. Fully Met
Grading rubrics are provided to the instructor and may be shared with students. Fully Met Rubrics are provided only for bigger projects. If the instructor has need of grading rubrics, they are available through MVS.
The grading policy and practices are easy to understand. Fully Met
Course Architecture Rating Comments
The course architecture permits the online instructor to add content, activities and assessments to extend learning opportunities. Fully Met
The course accommodates multiple school calendars; e.g., block, 4X4 and traditional schedules. Fully Met
User Interface Rating Comments
Clear and consistent navigation is present throughout the course. Fully Met
Rich media are provided in multiple formats for ease of use and access in order to address diverse student needs. Fully Met
Technology Requirements and Interoperability Rating Comments
All technology requirements (including hardware, browser, software, etc...) are specified. Fully Met
Prerequisite skills in the use of technology are identified. Fully Met
The course uses content-specific tools and software appropriately. Fully Met
The course is designed to meet internationally recognized interoperability standards. Fully Met MVS Policy
Copyright and licensing status, including permission to share where applicable, is clearly stated and easily found. Fully Met MVS Policy
Accessibility Rating Comments
Course materials and activities are designed to provide appropriate access to all students. The course, developed with universal design principles in mind, conforms to the U.S. Section 504 and Section 508 provisions for electronic and information technology as well as the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility guidelines (WCAg 2.0). Fully Met MVS Policy
Data Security Rating Comments
Student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Fully Met

Review Conducted By: Michigan Virtual
Date of Review: 05/05/2014

Module 01: Matter (Scientific Knowledge; Measurements of Matter; Volume and Density; Physical Properties; Measuring Physical Properties)

Module 02: Changes in Matter (States of Matter; Physical versus Chemical Changes; Conservation of Mass; Thermal Energy and Chemical Change; Physical Models)

Module 03: Elements and Compounds (Atomic Theory; The Periodic Table; Compounds; pH and Salts; Mixtures and Pure Substances)

Segment One Collaboration Activity

Segment One Exam

Module 04: Cycles and Conservation (Conservation; Photosynthesis; Cellular Respiration; The Carbon Cycle; Conservation Models)

Module 05: The Universe (Space and Beyond; Galaxies; Stars; Solar Properties; Electromagnetic Spectrum; Space Technology)

Module 06: Our Solar System (Formation of the Solar System; Exploring the Solar System; Seasons and Tides; Eclipses and Moon Phases)

Segment Two Collaboration Activity

Segment Two Exam

Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends Random Draw Date Enrollment Drop Date Course Starts Course Ends # of Seats Course Fee Potential Additional Costs
Drop Policy Completion Policy Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends
Students can use chat, email or private message system within the course to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance.

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/