Integrated Science 8
Course Overview:
Integrated Science 8 is a two-semester online middle school science course offered through Holston Academy that strengthens scientific reasoning while exploring advanced topics in physical science, life science, Earth science, and space science. Students build confidence in scientific inquiry by designing experiments, analyzing data, and evaluating evidence. Through interactive lessons, virtual labs, and real-world applications, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare them for high school science coursework.
Semester 1:
In Semester 1, students focus on scientific thinking and investigation, learning how to design experiments, analyze data, and evaluate evidence. The course explores energy and energy transfer, including conservation of energy and real-world energy systems. Students then study the human digestive system and how the body uses food for energy, followed by an examination of human impacts on Earth’s systems, including biodiversity, oceans, and climate. The semester concludes with an in-depth study of major human body systems, including the respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine, skeletal, and muscular systems, emphasizing how these systems interact to maintain health.
Semester 2:
In Semester 2, students explore electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic forces, followed by an investigation of chemical reactions, conservation of mass and energy, and acids and bases. The course introduces planetary science through a study of the solar system and the history of space exploration. Students also examine the nervous system and senses, learning how the body responds to environmental stimuli. The semester concludes with a study of waves, sound, and the electromagnetic spectrum, highlighting how energy travels and how waves are used in communication, medicine, and everyday technology. Throughout the course, students apply Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) to explain real-world phenomena and design solutions using scientific reasoning.