| Reading/Language Arts
Performance Standards By the end of grade eight, students will: A.8.1 Use effective reading strategies to achieve their purposes in reading.
A.8.2 Read, interpret, and critically analyze literature.
A.8.3 Read and discuss literary and nonliterary texts in order to understand human experience.
A.8.4 Read to acquire information.
B.8.1 Create or produce writing to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
B.8.2 Plan, revise, edit, and publish clear and effective writing.
B.8.3 Understand the function of various forms, structures, and punctuation marks of standard American English and use them appropriately in communications.
C.8.1 Orally communicate information, opinions, and ideas effectively to different audiences for a variety of purposes.
C.8.2 Listen to and comprehend oral communications.
C.8.3 Participate effectively in discussion.
D.8.1 Develop their vocabulary and ability to use words, phrases, idioms, and various grammatical structures as a means of improving communication.
D.8.2 Recognize and interpret various uses and adaptations of language in social, cultural, regional, and professional situations, and learn to be flexible and responsive in their use of English.
E.8.1 Use computers to acquire, organize, analyze, and communicate information.
E.8.2 Make informed judgments about media and products.
E.8.3 Create media products appropriate to audience and purpose.
E.8.4 Demonstrate a working knowledge of media production and distribution.
E.8.5 Analyze and edit media work as appropriate to audience and purpose.
F.8.1 Conduct research and inquiry on self-selected or assigned topics, issues, or problems and use an appropriate form to communicate their findings.
A.8.1 Develop their understanding of the science themes* by using the themes to frame questions about science-related issues and problems A.8.2 Describe* limitations of science systems* and give reasons why specific science themes* are included in or excluded from those systems A.8.3 Defend explanations* and models* by collecting and organizing evidence* that supports them and critique explanations and models by collecting and organizing evidence that conflicts with them A.8.4 Collect evidence* to show* that models* developed as explanations* for events were (and are) based on the evidence available to scientists at the time A.8.5 Show* how models* and explanations*, based on systems*, were changed as new evidence* accumulated (the effects of constancy*, evolution*, change*, and measurement* should all be part of these explanations) A.8.6 Use models* and explanations* to predict* actions and events in the natural world A.8.7 Design real or thought investigations* to test the usefulness and limitations of a model* A.8.8. Use the themes* of evolution*, equilibrium*, and energy* to predict* future events or changes* in the natural world B.8.1 Describe* how scientific knowledge and concepts have changed over time in the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences B.8.2 Identify* and describe* major changes that have occurred over in conceptual models* and explanations* in the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences and identify* the people, cultures, and conditions that led to these developments B.8.3 Explain* how the general rules of science apply to the development and use of evidence* in science investigations, model*-making, and applications* B.8.4 Describe* types of reasoning and evidence* used outside of science to draw conclusions about the natural world B.8.5 Explain* ways in which science knowledge is shared, checked, and extended, and show* how these processes change over time B.8.6 Explain* the ways in which scientific knowledge is useful and also limited when applied to social issues C.8.1 Identify* questions they can investigate* using resources and equipment they have available C.8.2 Identify* data and locate sources of information including their own records to answer the questions being investigated C.8.3 Design and safely conduct investigations* that provide reliable quantitative or qualitative data, as appropriate, to answer their questions C.8.4 Use inferences* to help decide possible results of their investigations, use observations to check their inferences C.8.5 Use accepted scientific knowledge, models*, and theories* to explain* their results and to raise further questions about their investigations* C.8.6 State what they have learned from investigations*, relating their inferences* to scientific knowledge and to data they have collected C.8.7 Explain* their data and conclusions in ways that allow an audience to understand the questions they selected for investigation* and the answers they have developed C.8.8 Use computer software and other technologies to organize, process, and present their data C.8.9 Evaluate*, explain*, and defend the validity of questions, hypotheses, and conclusions to their investigations* C.8.10 Discuss the importance of their results and implications of their work with peers, teachers, and other adults C.8.11 Raise further questions which still need to be answered PROPERTIES AND CHANGES OF PROPERTIES IN MATTER D.8.1 Observe*, describe*, and measure* physical and chemical properties of elements and other substances to identify* and group* them according to properties such as density, melting points, boiling points, conductivity, magnetic attraction, solubility, and reactions to common physical and chemical tests D.8.2 Use the major ideas of atomic theory and molecular theory to describe* physical and chemical interactions* among substances, including solids, liquids, and gases D.8.3 Understand* how chemical interactions* and behaviors lead to new substances with different properties D.8.4 While conducting investigations*, use the science themes* to develop explanations* of physical and chemical interactions* and energy* exchanges MOTIONS AND FORCES D.8.5 While conducting investigations*, explain* the motion of objects by describing* the forces acting on them D.8.6 While conducting investigations*, explain* the motion of objects using concepts of speed, velocity, acceleration, friction, momentum, and changes over time, among others, and apply* these concepts and explanations* to real-life situations outside the classroom D.8.7 While conducting investigations* of common physical and chemical interactions* occurring in the laboratory and the outside world, use commonly accepted definitions of energy* and the idea of energy conservation TRANSFER OF ENERGY D.8.8 Describe* and investigate* the properties of light, heat, gravity, radio waves, magnetic fields, electrical fields, and sound waves as they interact* with material objects in common situations D.8.9 Explain* the behaviors of various forms of energy* by using the models* of energy transmission, both in the laboratory and in real-life situations in the outside world D.8.10 Explain* how models* of the atomic structure of matter have changed over time, including historical models and modern atomic theory STRUCTURE OF EARTH SYSTEM E.8.1 Using the science themes*, explain* and predict* changes* in major features of land, water, and atmospheric systems E.8.2 Describe* underlying structures of the earth that cause changes* in the earth's surface E.8.3 Using the science themes* during the process of investigation*, describe* climate, weather, ocean currents, soil movements and changes* in the forces acting on the earth E.8.4 Using the science themes*, analyze* the influence living organisms have had on the earth's systems, including their impact on the composition of the atmosphere and the weathering of rocks EARTH'S HISTORY E.8.5 Analyze* the geologic and life history of the earth, including change* over time, using various forms of scientific evidence E.8.6 Describe* through investigations the use of the earth's resources by humans in both past and current cultures, particularly how changes in the resources used for the past 100 years are the basis for efforts to conserve and recycle renewable and non-renewable resources EARTH IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM E.8.7 Describe* the general structure of the solar system, galaxies, and the universe, explaining the nature of the evidence* used to develop current models* of the universe E.8.8 Using past and current models* of the structure of the solar system, explain* the daily, monthly, yearly, and long-term cycles of the earth, citing evidence* gained from personal observation* as well as evidence used by scientists STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN LIVING THINGS F.8.1 Understand* the structure and function* of cells, organs, tissues, organ systems, and whole organisms F.8.2 Show* how organisms have adapted structures to match their functions*, providing means of encouraging individual and group survival within specific environments F.8.3 Differentiate between single-celled and multiple-celled organisms (humans) through investigation, comparing the cell functions of specialized cells for each type of organism REPRODUCTION AND HEREDITY F.8.4 Investigate* and explain* that heredity is comprised of the characteristic traits found in genes within the cell of an organism F.8.5 Show* how different structures both reproduce and pass on characteristics of their group REGULATION AND BEHAVIOR F.8.6 Understand* that an organism is regulated both internally and externally F.8.7 Understand* that an organism's behavior evolves through adaptation to its environment POPULATIONS AND ECOSYSTEMS F.8.8 Show* through investigations* how organisms both depend on and contribute to the balance or imbalance of populations and/or ecosystems, which in turn contribute to the total system* of life on the planet DIVERSITY AND ADAPTATIONS OF ORGANISMS F.8.9 Explain* how some of the changes* on the earth are contributing to changes in the balance of life and affecting the survival or population growth of certain species F.8.10 Project how current trends in human resource use and population growth will influence the natural environment, and show how current policies affect those trends. G.8.1 Identify* and investigate* the skills people need for a career in science or technology and identify the academic courses that a person pursuing such a career would need G.8.2 Explain* how current scientific and technological discoveries have an influence on the work people do and how some of these discoveries also lead to new careers G.8.3 Illustrate* the impact that science and technology have had, both good and bad, on careers, systems, society, environment, and quality of life G.8.4 Propose a design (or re-design) of an applied science model or a machine that will have an impact in the community or elsewhere in the world and show* how the design (or re-design) might work, including potential side-effects G.8.5 Investigate* a specific local problem to which there has been a scientific or technological solution, including proposals for alternative courses of action, the choices that were made, reasons for the choices, any new problems created, and subsequent community satisfaction G.8.6 Use current texts, encyclopedias, source books, computers, experts, the popular press, or other relevant sources to identify* examples of how scientific discoveries have resulted in new technology G.8.7 Show* evidence* of how science and technology are interdependent, using some examples drawn from personally conducted investigations* H.8.1 Evaluate* the scientific evidence* used in various media (for example, television, radio, Internet, popular press, and scientific journals) to address a social issue, using criteria of accuracy, logic, bias, relevance of data, and credibility of sources H.8.2 Present a scientific solution to a problem involving the earth and space, life and environmental, or physical sciences and participate in a consensus-building discussion to arrive at a group decision H.8.3 Understand* the consequences of decisions affecting personal health and safety Math A.8.1 Use reasoning abilities to
A.8.2 Communicate logical arguments clearly to show why a result makes sense A.8.3 Analyze non-routine* problems by modeling*, illustrating, guessing, simplifying, generalizing, shifting to another point of view, etc. A.8.4 Develop effective oral and written presentations that include
A.8.5 Explain mathematical concepts, procedures, and ideas to others who may not be familiar with them A.8.6 Read and understand mathematical texts and other instructional materials and recognize mathematical ideas as they appear in other contexts B.8.1 Read, represent, and interpret various rational numbers* (whole numbers*, integers*, decimals, fractions, and percents) with verbal descriptions, geometric models*, and mathematical notation (e.g., expanded*, scientific*, exponential*) B.8.2 Perform and explain operations on rational* numbers (add, subtract, multiply, divide, raise to a power, extract a root, take opposites and reciprocals, determine absolute value) B.8.3 Generate and explain equivalencies among fractions, decimals, and percents B.8.4 Express order relationships among rational numbers using appropriate symbols
(>, <, >, <, B.8.5 Apply proportional thinking in a variety of problem situations that include, but are not limited to
B.8.6 Model* and solve problems involving number-theory concepts such as
B.8.7 In problem-solving situations, select and use appropriate computational procedures with rational numbers such as
C.8.1 Describe special and complex two- and three-dimensional figures (e.g., rhombus, polyhedron, cylinder) and their component parts (e.g., base, altitude, and slant height) by
C.8.2 Identify and use relationships among the component parts of special and complex two- and three-dimensional figures (e.g., parallel sides, congruent* faces). C.8.3 Identify three-dimensional shapes from two-dimensional perspectives and draw two-dimensional sketches of three-dimensional objects preserving their significant features C.8.4 Perform transformations* on two-dimensional figures and describe and analyze the effects of the transformations on the figures C.8.5 Locate objects using the rectangular coordinate system* D.8.1 Identify and describe attributes* in situations where they are not directly* or easily measurable (e.g., distance, area of an irregular figure, likelihood of occurrence) D.8.2 Demonstrate understanding of basic measurement facts, principles, and techniques including the following
D.8.3 Determine measurement directly* using standard units (metric and US Customary) with these suggested degrees of accuracy
D.8.4 Determine measurements indirectly* using
E.8.1 Work with data in the context of real-world situations by
E.8.2 Organize and display data from statistical investigations using
E.8.3 Extract, interpret, and analyze information from organized and displayed data by using
E.8.4 Use the results of data analysis to
E.8.5 Compare several sets of data to generate, test, and, as the data dictate, confirm or deny hypotheses E.8.6 Evaluate presentations and statistical analyses from a variety of sources for
E.8.7 Determine the likelihood of occurrence of simple events by
F.8.1 Work with algebraic expressions in a variety of ways, including
F.8.2 Work with linear and nonlinear patterns* and relationships in a variety of ways, including
F.8.3 Recognize, describe, and analyze functional relationships* by generalizing a rule that characterizes the pattern of change among variables. These functional relationships include exponential growth and decay (e.g., cell division, depreciation) F.8.4 Use linear equations and inequalities in a variety of ways, including
F.8.5 Recognize and use generalized properties and relations, including
Social Studies A.8.1 Use a variety of geographic representations, such as political, physical, and topographic maps, a globe, aerial photographs, and satellite images, to gather and compare information about a place A.8.2 Construct mental maps of selected locales, regions, states, and countries and draw maps from memory, representing relative location, direction, size, and shape A.8.3 Use an atlas to estimate distance, calculate scale, identify dominant patterns of climate and land use, and compute population density A.8.4 Conduct a historical study to analyze the use of the local environment in a Wisconsin community and to explain the effect of this use on the environment A.8.5 Identify and compare the natural resource bases of different states and regions in the United States and elsewhere in the world, using a statistical atlas, aerial photographs, satellite images, and computer databases A.8.6 Describe and distinguish between the environmental effects on the earth of short-term physical changes, such as those caused by floods, droughts, and snowstorms, and long-term physical changes, such as those caused by plate tectonics, erosion, and glaciation A.8.7 Describe the movement of people, ideas, diseases, and products throughout the world A.8.8 Describe and analyze the ways in which people in different regions of the world interact with their physical environments through vocational and recreational activities A.8.9 Describe how buildings and their decoration reflect cultural values and ideas, providing examples such as cave paintings, pyramids, sacred cities, castles, and cathedrals A.8.10 Identify major discoveries in science and technology and describe their social and economic effects on the physical and human environment A.8.11 Give examples of the causes and consequences of current global issues, such as the expansion of global markets, the urbanization of the developing world, the consumption of natural resources, and the extinction of species, and suggest possible responses by various individuals, groups, and nations B.8.1 Interpret the past using a variety of sources, such as biographies, diaries, journals, artifacts, eyewitness interviews, and other primary source materials, and evaluate the credibility of sources used B.8.2 Employ cause-and-effect arguments to demonstrate how significant events have influenced the past and the present in United States and world history B.8.3 Describe the relationships between and among significant events, such as the causes and consequences of wars in United States and world history B.8.4 Explain how and why events may be interpreted differently depending upon the perspectives of participants, witnesses, reporters, and historians B.8.5 Use historical evidence to determine and support a position about important political values, such as freedom, democracy, equality, or justice, and express the position coherently B.8.6 Analyze important political values such as freedom, democracy, equality, and justice embodied in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights B.8.7 Identify significant events and people in the major eras of United States and world history B.8.8 Identify major scientific discoveries and technological innovations and describe their social and economic effects on society B.8.9 Explain the need for laws and policies to regulate science and technology B.8.10 Analyze examples of conflict, cooperation, and interdependence among groups, societies, or nations B.8.11 Summarize major issues associated with the history, culture, tribal sovereignty, and current status of the American Indian tribes and bands in Wisconsin B.8.12 Describe how history can be organized and analyzed using various criteria to group people and events chronologically, geographically, thematically, topically, and by issues C.8.1 Identify and explain democracy's basic principles, including individual rights, responsibility for the common good, equal opportunity, equal protection of the laws, freedom of speech, justice, and majority rule with protection for minority rights C.8.2 Identify, cite, and discuss important political documents, such as the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, and explain their function in the American political system C.8.3 Explain how laws are developed, how the purposes of government are established, and how the powers of government are acquired, maintained, justified, and sometimes abused C.8.4 Describe and explain how the federal system separates the powers of federal, state, and local governments in the United States, and how legislative, executive, and judicial powers are balanced at the federal level C.8.5 Explain how the federal system and the separation of powers in the Constitution work to sustain both majority rule and minority rights C.8.6 Explain the role of political parties and interest groups in American politics C.8.7 Locate, organize, and use relevant information to understand an issue of public concern, take a position, and advocate the position in a debate C.8.8 Identify ways in which advocates participate in public policy debates C.8.9 Describe the role of international organizations such as military alliances and trade associations D.8.1 Describe and explain how money makes it easier to trade, borrow, save, invest, and compare the value of goods and services D.8.2 Identify and explain basic economic concepts: supply, demand, production, exchange, and consumption; labor, wages, and capital; inflation and deflation; market economy and command economy; public and private goods and services D.8.3 Describe Wisconsin's role in national and global economies and give examples of local economic activity in national and global markets D.8.4 Describe how investments in human and physical capital, including new technology, affect standard of living and quality of life D.8.5 Give examples to show how government provides for national defense; health, safety, and environmental protection; defense of property rights; and the maintenance of free and fair market activity D.8.6 Identify and explain various points of view concerning economic issues, such as taxation, unemployment, inflation, the national debt, and distribution of income D.8.7 Identify the location of concentrations of selected natural resources and describe how their acquisition and distribution generates trade and shapes economic patterns D.8.8 Explain how and why people who start new businesses take risks to provide goods and services, considering profits as an incentive D.8.9 Explain why the earning power of workers depends on their productivity and the market value of what they produce D.8.10 Identify the economic roles of institutions such as corporations and businesses, banks, labor unions, and the Federal Reserve System D.8.11 Describe how personal decisions can have a global impact on issues such as trade agreements, recycling, and conserving the environment E.8.1 Give examples to explain and illustrate the influence of prior knowledge, motivation, capabilities, personal interests, and other factors on individual learning E.8.2 Give examples to explain and illustrate how factors such as family, gender, and socioeconomic status contribute to individual identity and development E.8.3 Describe the ways in which local, regional, and ethnic cultures may influence the everyday lives of people E.8.4 Describe and explain the means by which individuals, groups, and institutions may contribute to social continuity and change within a community E.8.5 Describe and explain the means by which groups and institutions meet the needs of individuals and societies E.8.6 Describe and explain the influence of status, ethnic origin, race, gender, and age on the interactions of individuals E.8.7 Identify and explain examples of bias, prejudice, and stereotyping, and how they contribute to conflict in a society E.8.8 Give examples to show how the media may influence the behavior and decision-making of individuals and groups E.8.9 Give examples of the cultural contributions of racial and ethnic groups in Wisconsin, the United States, and the world E.8.10 Explain how language, art, music, beliefs, and other components of culture can further global understanding or cause misunderstanding E.8.12 Explain how beliefs and practices, such as ownership of property or status at birth, may lead to conflict among people of different regions or cultures and give examples of such conflicts that have and have not been resolved E.8.13 Describe conflict resolution and peer mediation strategies used in resolving differences and disputes E.8.14 Select examples of artistic expressions from several different cultures for the purpose of comparing and contrasting the beliefs expressed E.8.15 Describe cooperation and interdependence among individuals, groups, and nations, such as helping others in times of crisis |
