What is Eighth Grade Science Class Like?

By: Casey Robinson on Nov 28, 2021 | Categories: General, Academic

What is eighth grade science class like? I was recently asked this question by a teacher of mine, and I myself have asked this question in the past. Students in schools are sometimes given a brochure of what the agenda for an upcoming class is, but this explanatory article is different. It's different because it is written by a fellow student. In this paper, I will give a run-down of all of the subjects that we have gone over in class.

First, we started the 2021-2022 school year off by learning about different ways of viewing the Earth. We learned about different types of maps, and technology like satellites to see our world from a higher perspective. We learned how to tell the difference between different maps and what they are used for. For example, we learned about topographic maps. We learned how to tell the elevation, slope, and relief.

Next, as we dove deeper into the school year, we learned about minerals and their characteristics. One of my favorite moments was when we got a little bit of hands-on activity when LTC Reeder brought his own personal collection of rock to the classroom and we were able to tell apart the different characteristics within them by using what we had learned in class.

Afterwards, we strayed not too far from minerals by learning about rocks. We were introduced to the rock cycle and the different types of rock. We learned about igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and how they were formed and where they are found. I was personally surprised about all the different types of rocks when we read about shale, slate, phyllite, schist, and gneiss.

As we dove deeper, we learned about weathering and soil formation. We learned about the chemical makeup of different soils and the categories of soil. We were taught both chemical and physical weathering, as well as different cultivation techniques. After weathering came erosion and deposition. We read about different ways that glaciers, wind, and water all move sediment and what forms after it is deposited.

Overall, we have learned a lot this year in eighth grade science. I feel like I have grown not only as a child but also as a student. I have really enjoyed myself and am excited for the next semester to come.

By Cadet Derrik Bailey