In Eighth Grade Science, students will develop and maintain a wide range of science and critical thinking processes. The science processes include but are not limited to observing, comparing, measuring, classifying, predicting, inferring, hypothesizing, and experimenting. Critical thinking includes analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, generating questions and solving problems. These processes promote the development of well-organized scientific habits. The Physical Science standards stress a more in-depth understanding of the nature and structure of matter and the characteristics of energy. The standards place considerable emphasis on the technological application of physical science principles.