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Skills available for North Carolina eighth-grade science standards

Standards are in black and IXL science skills are in dark green. Hold your mouse over the name of a skill to view a sample question. Click on the name of a skill to practice that skill.

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North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Biological Evolution - Unity and Diversity North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Biological Evolution - Unity and Diversity
North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Earth and Human Activity North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Earth and Human Activity
North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Earth's Place in the Universe North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Earth's Place in the Universe
North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Earth's Systems North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Earth's Systems
North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Ecosystems - Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Ecosystems - Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): From Molecules to Organisms - Structures and Processes North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): From Molecules to Organisms - Structures and Processes
North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Matter and its Interactions North Carolina Standard Course of Study (adopted in 2023): Matter and its Interactions
North Carolina Standard Course of Study: Grade 8 North Carolina Standard Course of Study: Grade 8
North Carolina Standard Course of Study: Biology (Grade 8) North Carolina Standard Course of Study: Biology (Grade 8)

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P Physical Science

Matter: Properties and Change
- NCES.8.P.1 Understand the properties of matter and changes that occur when matter interacts in an open and closed container.
  - NCES.8.P.1.1 Classify matter as elements, compounds, or mixtures based on how the atoms are packed together in arrangements.
    - Classify elementary substances and compounds using chemical formulas (8-E.5)
    - Classify elementary substances and compounds using models (8-E.6)
  - NCES.8.P.1.2 Explain how the physical properties of elements and their reactivity have been used to produce the current model of the Periodic Table of elements.
    - What are atoms and chemical elements? (8-E.1)
  - NCES.8.P.1.3 Compare physical changes such as size, shape and state to chemical changes that are the result of a chemical reaction to include changes in temperature, color, formation of a gas or precipitate.
    - Compare physical and chemical changes (8-F.5)
  - NCES.8.P.1.4 Explain how the idea of atoms and a balanced chemical equation support the law of conservation of mass.
    - Count atoms and molecules in chemical reactions (8-F.2)
    - Calculate amounts of reactants or products in chemical reactions (8-F.3)
Energy: Conservation and Transfer
- NCES.8.P.2 Explain the environmental implications associated with the various methods of obtaining, managing, and using energy resources.
  - NCES.8.P.2.1 Explain the environmental consequences of the various methods of obtaining, transforming and distributing energy.
  - NCES.8.P.2.2 Explain the implications of the depletion of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and the importance of conservation.
    - Evaluate claims about natural resource use: groundwater (8-Z.1)
    - Evaluate claims about natural resource use: fossil fuels (8-Z.2)

E Earth and Space Science

Earth Systems, Structures and Processes
- NCES.8.E.1 Understand the hydrosphere and the impact of humans on local systems and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans.
  - NCES.8.E.1.1 Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including: water distribution on Earth and local river basins and water availability.
  - NCES.8.E.1.2 Summarize evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms: estuaries; marine ecosystems; upwelling; behavior of gases in the marine environment; value and sustainability of marine resources; and deep ocean technology and understandings gained.
    - Identify ecosystems (8-W.2)
    - Describe ecosystems (8-W.3)
  - NCES.8.E.1.3 Predict the safety and potability of water supplies in North Carolina based on physical and biological factors, including: temperature; dissolved oxygen; pH; nitrates and phosphates; turbidity; and bio-indicators.
  - NCES.8.E.1.4 Conclude that the good health of humans requires: monitoring of the hydrosphere; water quality standards; methods of water treatment; maintaining safe water quality; and stewardship.
    - Evaluate claims about natural resource use: groundwater (8-Z.1)
Earth History
- NCES.8.E.2 Understand the history of Earth and its life forms based on evidence of change recorded in fossil records and landforms.
  - NCES.8.E.2.1 Infer the age of Earth and relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and ordering of rock layers (relative dating and radioactive dating).
    - Compare ages of fossils in a rock sequence (8-T.2)
  - NCES.8.E.2.2 Explain the use of fossils, ice cores, composition of sedimentary rocks, faults, and igneous rock formations found in rock layers as evidence of the history of the Earth and its changing life forms.
    - Compare ages of fossils in a rock sequence (8-T.2)

L Life Science

Structures and Functions of Living Organisms
- NCES.8.L.1 Understand the hazards caused by agents of diseases that effect living organisms.
  - NCES.8.L.1.1 Summarize the basic characteristics of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites relating to the spread, treatment and prevention of disease.
  - NCES.8.L.1.2 Explain the difference between epidemic and pandemic as it relates to the spread, treatment and prevention of disease.
- NCES.8.L.2 Understand how biotechnology is used to affect living organisms.
  - NCES.8.L.2.1 Summarize aspects of biotechnology including: specific genetic information available; careers; economic benefits to North Carolina; ethical issues; and implications for agriculture.
    - Genes, proteins, and traits: understanding the genetic code (8-R.8)
    - How do genes and the environment affect plant growth? (8-R.10)
Ecosystems
- NCES.8.L.3 Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment.
  - NCES.8.L.3.1 Explain how factors such as food, water, shelter and space affect populations in an ecosystem.
  - NCES.8.L.3.2 Summarize the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers including the positive and negative consequences of such interactions including: coexistence and cooperation; competition (predator/prey); parasitism; and mutualism.
  - NCES.8.L.3.3 Explain how the flow of energy within food webs is interconnected with the cycling of matter (including water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen).
Evolution and Genetics
- NCES.8.L.4 Understand the evolution of organisms and landforms based on evidence, theories and processes that impact the Earth over time.
  - NCES.8.L.4.1 Summarize the use of evidence drawn from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy to form the basis for biological classification systems and the theory of evolution.
  - NCES.8.L.4.2 Explain the relationship between genetic variation and an organism's ability to adapt to its environment.
    - Introduction to natural selection (8-S.2)
    - Construct explanations of natural selection (8-S.5)
Molecular Biology
- NCES.8.L.5 Understand the composition of various substances as it relates to their ability to serve as a source of energy and building materials for growth and repair of organisms.
  - NCES.8.L.5.1 Summarize how food provides the energy and the molecules required for building materials, growth and survival of all organisms (to include plants).
    - The chemistry of cellular respiration (8-O.2)
  - NCES.8.L.5.2 Explain the relationship among a healthy diet, exercise, and the general health of the body (emphasis on the relationship between respiration and digestion).

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P Physical Science

Matter: Properties and Change

NCES.8.P.1 Understand the properties of matter and changes that occur when matter interacts in an open and closed container.

NCES.8.P.1.1 Classify matter as elements, compounds, or mixtures based on how the atoms are packed together in arrangements.

NCES.8.P.1.2 Explain how the physical properties of elements and their reactivity have been used to produce the current model of the Periodic Table of elements.

NCES.8.P.1.3 Compare physical changes such as size, shape and state to chemical changes that are the result of a chemical reaction to include changes in temperature, color, formation of a gas or precipitate.

NCES.8.P.1.4 Explain how the idea of atoms and a balanced chemical equation support the law of conservation of mass.

Energy: Conservation and Transfer

NCES.8.P.2 Explain the environmental implications associated with the various methods of obtaining, managing, and using energy resources.

NCES.8.P.2.1 Explain the environmental consequences of the various methods of obtaining, transforming and distributing energy.

NCES.8.P.2.2 Explain the implications of the depletion of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and the importance of conservation.

E Earth and Space Science

Earth Systems, Structures and Processes

NCES.8.E.1 Understand the hydrosphere and the impact of humans on local systems and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans.

NCES.8.E.1.1 Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including: water distribution on Earth and local river basins and water availability.

NCES.8.E.1.3 Predict the safety and potability of water supplies in North Carolina based on physical and biological factors, including: temperature; dissolved oxygen; pH; nitrates and phosphates; turbidity; and bio-indicators.

NCES.8.E.1.4 Conclude that the good health of humans requires: monitoring of the hydrosphere; water quality standards; methods of water treatment; maintaining safe water quality; and stewardship.

Earth History

NCES.8.E.2 Understand the history of Earth and its life forms based on evidence of change recorded in fossil records and landforms.

NCES.8.E.2.1 Infer the age of Earth and relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and ordering of rock layers (relative dating and radioactive dating).

NCES.8.E.2.2 Explain the use of fossils, ice cores, composition of sedimentary rocks, faults, and igneous rock formations found in rock layers as evidence of the history of the Earth and its changing life forms.

L Life Science

Structures and Functions of Living Organisms

NCES.8.L.1 Understand the hazards caused by agents of diseases that effect living organisms.

NCES.8.L.1.1 Summarize the basic characteristics of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites relating to the spread, treatment and prevention of disease.

NCES.8.L.1.2 Explain the difference between epidemic and pandemic as it relates to the spread, treatment and prevention of disease.

NCES.8.L.2 Understand how biotechnology is used to affect living organisms.

NCES.8.L.2.1 Summarize aspects of biotechnology including: specific genetic information available; careers; economic benefits to North Carolina; ethical issues; and implications for agriculture.

Ecosystems

NCES.8.L.3 Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment.

NCES.8.L.3.1 Explain how factors such as food, water, shelter and space affect populations in an ecosystem.

NCES.8.L.3.2 Summarize the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers including the positive and negative consequences of such interactions including: coexistence and cooperation; competition (predator/prey); parasitism; and mutualism.

NCES.8.L.3.3 Explain how the flow of energy within food webs is interconnected with the cycling of matter (including water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen).

Evolution and Genetics

NCES.8.L.4 Understand the evolution of organisms and landforms based on evidence, theories and processes that impact the Earth over time.

NCES.8.L.4.1 Summarize the use of evidence drawn from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy to form the basis for biological classification systems and the theory of evolution.

NCES.8.L.4.2 Explain the relationship between genetic variation and an organism's ability to adapt to its environment.

Molecular Biology

NCES.8.L.5 Understand the composition of various substances as it relates to their ability to serve as a source of energy and building materials for growth and repair of organisms.

NCES.8.L.5.1 Summarize how food provides the energy and the molecules required for building materials, growth and survival of all organisms (to include plants).

NCES.8.L.5.2 Explain the relationship among a healthy diet, exercise, and the general health of the body (emphasis on the relationship between respiration and digestion).