Mathematics — Grade 8

Using percent of change to measure growth in North Carolina

Students will work in small groups to use the internet to gather data on the population growth for each of the 100 counties in North Carolina from 1992 to 1995. From these data, students will find the percent of increase/decrease for the counties they have been assigned. As a follow-up, the students will enter their data into a computer spreadsheet and from that spreadsheet, produce graphs of the information.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Information Skills, Mathematics, and Social Studies)

By Wanda Washburn.

Pilots and flight engineers: Working with slope-intercept form

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 3.1

In this lesson, students compete in relay races to complete a series of problems involving slope-intercept form. Students discuss the importance of mathematical reasoning and teamwork in aviation careers.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

By Valerie Davis, Sonya Rexrode, and Monika Vasili.

Irrational numbers: Application to natural frequency and resonance

In A mathematical model to describe fluid behavior, page 1

After a discussion about the effects of natural phenomena on an object’s natural frequency, students will conduct an experiment to model resonance in plant stems and measure the natural frequency of pine trees. Through these activities, the students will gain an understanding of frequency, natural frequency, resonance, oscillations and square roots.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

By Jenny Rucker.

Couriers and messengers: Real-world problem solving

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 3.4

In this lesson plan, students take on the role of couriers and use indirect measurement to plan a delivery.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

By Valerie Davis, Sonya Rexrode, and Monika Vasili.

Calculating slope of a ramp

In On track learning: Safety through technology and design, page 9

In this lesson, students build a ramp and calculate its slope at different heights. They will also test cars to see how the height of the ramp affects speed.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–10 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)

By Roxanne Moses.

Baseball fun: Percentages, decimals, and fractions

Students will learn the concepts behind fractions, decimals, and percents by using sports statistics found on baseball cards.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

By Adrian Bustle.

Resources on the web

Travel in the Solar System

In this lesson, students think about two aspects of the time required to complete space travel within the Solar System. Students consider the amount of time that space travelers must spend on the journey and what kinds of events might occur on Earth while... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Shops at the Mall

In this lesson, one of a two-part unit from Illuminations titled “Mathematics at the Mall,” students develop number sense in and around the shopping mall. They explore the allotment of space within a mall by generating a class list of stores... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Q T Pi Fashions - Learning About Credit Card Use

Using credit cards is convenient, user friendly, and at times dangerous. In this lesson from EconEdLink, students learn the joys and dangers of using credit as they help Credita, the main character in this activity, solve her credit problems. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: National Council on Economic Education

More or less estimator

This activity allows the user to estimate quantities and sizes including the number of objects in a set, the lengths of a curve, and the area of a shape (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade K–12 Mathematics)

Provided by: Shodor

A Lunch-In Affair

This lesson, the last of a three-part unit from Illuminations titled “Ideas With Food,” focuses on student organization, preparation, and presentation of some simple foods as a way to apply various mathematical concepts, with problem-solving... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The highways or the byways: Mapping routes in North Carolina

In this lesson for seventh through ninth grade social studies and mathematics, students will use mathematical skills to choose the best routes for traveling around North Carolina. Students use internet resources for determining and plotting distance and ratio... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–9 Mathematics and Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Fun with Baseball Stats

The following grades 6-8 activities allow students to explore statistics surrounding baseball. They are exposed to connections between various mathematical concepts and see where this mathematics is used in areas with which they are familiar. Illuminations... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Finding satisfactory solutions

The purpose of this Science NetLinks lesson is to explore the creative aspects of problem solving and practice creative problem solving strategies in the context of a story problem. In this activity, students decide where to locate ice cream stands in a... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Counting embedded figures

In this lesson from Illuminations, students look for patterns within a given figure. After looking at the figure, students count embedded squares, rectangles, or triangles, attempt to form generalizations, and sharpen their algebraic thinking skills. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Comparison estimator

This activity allows the user to compare two quantities (which may be the number of objects in each of two sets, the lengths of two curves, or the area of two shapes) by estimating. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade K–12 Mathematics)

Provided by: Shodor

Airport Numbers

Students participate in activities in which they focus on the role of numbers and language in real-world situations. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics