STAAR Middle School Science Study Guide (Grades 6-8)

This study guide is designed to help students prepare for the STAAR Science test by summarizing key topics for Grades 6, 7, and 8. While this page provides a general guideline, students, parents, and educators should consult the official STAAR website for the most up-to-date information, including specific topics and test formats for different years.

It is important to note that students in higher grades should also have a strong understanding of concepts from earlier grades, as science builds upon foundational knowledge. Many advanced topics in Grade 8 rely on principles introduced in Grades 6 and 7, making it essential to review prior material for comprehensive learning.

🔹 Grade 8 Science Topics

Matter and Energy

✅ Law of Conservation of Mass

• Mass is conserved in chemical reactions.
• Photosynthesis​

✅ Chemical Equations

• Reactants → Products
• Balanced Equation: Same number of atoms on both sides.

Force, Motion, and Energy

✅ Newton’s Laws

1. Inertia: An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon.
2. F = ma: Force = Mass × Acceleration.
3. Action-Reaction: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

✅ Waves & Electromagnetic Spectrum

• Higher frequency = More energy (e.g., X-rays).
• Lower frequency = Less energy (e.g., Radio waves).

Earth and Space

✅ Star Life Cycle

• Nebula → Main Sequence → Red Giant → White Dwarf/Black Hole.
• Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram classifies stars.

✅ Weather and Climate

• Sun’s energy drives wind & ocean currents.
• Tropical storms form due to ocean heat and air masses.

Organisms and Environments

✅ Ecosystem Stability & Biodiversity

• More biodiversity = More stable ecosystems.
• Ecological succession: Primary (new land) vs. Secondary (after disaster).

✅ Cells & Genetics

• Organelles: Mitochondria (energy), Ribosomes (protein), Nucleus (DNA).
• Genes determine traits; inheritance follows patterns.

✅ Adaptation & Evolution

• Natural selection leads to species evolution over generations.
• Adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or physiological.

🔹 Grade 7 Science Topics

Matter and Energy

✅ Periodic Table & Chemical Reactions

• Identify elements using the periodic table.
• Physical vs. Chemical Changes:
  • Physical: No new substance (melting, boiling).
  • Chemical: New substance formed (rusting, burning).

Force, Motion, and Energy

✅ Speed, Velocity, and Graphs

• Speed = Distance / Time
• Velocity includes direction (e.g., 10 m/s east).
• Distance-Time Graphs:
  • Flat line = No motion
  • Steeper slope = Faster speed

✅ Thermal Energy Transfer

• Conduction (direct contact, metal spoon in hot water).
• Convection (heat moves in fluids, boiling water).
• Radiation (heat transfer through space, Sun’s energy).

Earth and Space

✅ Solar System Motion

• Gravity controls planetary orbits.
• Kepler’s Laws explain elliptical motion of planets.

✅ Plate Tectonics & Earth’s Changes

• Evidence: Fossils, continents fit like puzzle pieces, earthquakes.
• Effects: Volcanoes, mountain building, ocean basins.

✅ Human Impact on Water Systems

• Pollution, overuse, and conservation efforts impact groundwater and oceans.

Organisms and Environments

✅ Ecosystem Energy Flow

• Trophic Levels: Producers → Primary Consumers → Secondary Consumers → Decomposers.
• Energy Pyramid: 10% rule (energy decreases at each level).

✅ Human Body Systems

• Circulatory (heart), Digestive (stomach), Respiratory (lungs), Nervous (brain).

✅ Reproduction & Evolution

• Sexual reproduction → More genetic variation.
• Asexual reproduction → Identical offspring.
• Natural Selection → Traits that help survival get passed on.

🔹 Grade 6 Science Topics

Matter and Energy

✅ Classification of Elements

• Elements are categorized as metals, nonmetals, metalloids, and rare Earth elements based on their properties.
• Metals: Good conductors, malleable, shiny (e.g., Iron, Copper).
• Nonmetals: Poor conductors, brittle, dull (e.g., Oxygen, Sulfur).
• Metalloids: Properties of both metals and nonmetals (e.g., Silicon).

✅ Density and Chemical Changes

• Density = Mass / Volume (Higher density substances sink in lower-density fluids).
• Signs of a chemical change: Gas production, color change, heat/light emission, precipitate formation.

Force, Motion, and Energy

✅ Forces Acting on Objects

• Types of Forces: Gravity, friction, magnetism, normal force, applied force.
• Balanced Forces: No motion change. Unbalanced Forces: Object accelerates.

✅ Energy Conservation and Transfer

• Energy is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes forms (e.g., electrical → light).
• Wave Types:
  • Transverse: Energy moves perpendicular to wave direction (e.g., light waves).
  • Longitudinal: Energy moves parallel to wave direction (e.g., sound waves).

Earth and Space

✅ Seasons and Tides

• Earth’s Tilt → Causes seasons.
• Gravitational Pull of the Moon → Causes ocean tides (Spring & Neap tides).

✅ Earth’s Layers

• Inner Core (solid iron/nickel), Outer Core (liquid metal), Mantle (semi-solid rock), Crust (thin outer layer).

Organisms and Environments

✅ Ecosystem Interactions

• Biotic factors (living) and Abiotic factors (non-living).
• Competition for food, water, space affects populations.

✅ Cell Theory

• All living things are made of cells, which come from pre-existing cells.

🔹 STAAR Science Test-Taking Tips

✔ Understand Key Vocabulary – Many questions focus on science terms.
✔ Use Process of Elimination – Cross out incorrect answers.
✔ Read Carefully – Pay attention to keywords like “best,” “most likely,” or “except.”
✔ Analyze Graphs & Tables – Many STAAR questions require data interpretation.
✔ Practice Past STAAR Questions – Familiarize yourself with the test format.
✔ Manage Time Wisely – Don’t spend too long on one question.

🌟 Final Thoughts

This guide provides essential concepts for the STAAR Science test. By understanding these key topics, formulas, and test-taking strategies, students can boost their confidence and improve their performance on the exam!