Mathematics — Grade 8

Antebellum North Carolina

In this lesson students will examine pictures & documents relating to the Hayes Plantation (Edenton, NC). Students will also use various maps of North Carolina to help them analyze how James Cathcart Johnston (owner of Hayes Plantation) used, modified and adapted to the physical environment of Edenton.

Students will decipher original manuscripts from the Southern Historical Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill Campus and draw conclusions about antebellum society in North Carolina with regard to reform movements and the history and status of blacks.

From a list of volumes found in the Hayes Plantation Library exhibit at the North Carolina Collection Gallery, students will determine what catagories of books were most prevalent in the library and hypothesize as to why those types of books would be so important to an antebellum plantation owner.

Click Here to access Photographs & documents relating to this lesson plan.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Mathematics)

By cissy o'neal.

Area of Solids.

Finding area of rectangular solids and cylinders by cutting them into flat pieces and adding the areas.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–12 Mathematics)

By Dorothy Carawan.

Building a paper bridge: An introduction to problem solving

This activity allows the student to explore problem solving strategies while working with a partner. This activity (building a paper bridge), requires students to question word definition and the application of those definitions. Through problem solving strategies, students discover the need for applying math skills.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Mathematics)

By Steve Walston.

Dear Tootsie Roll company

The students will measure the surface area and wrapper area of five pieces of candy. Using appropriate formulas and measuring techniques, they will complete information needed for a spreadsheet and database. Students wrap up the lesson by writing a letter to the company with the most wasted paper to explain how the waste affects them as consumers and a suggestion for correcting the problem.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Computer Technology Skills, and Mathematics)

By Tonya Thompson.

An "Eggs"traordinary Sculpture

This lesson uses a sculpture located at the North Carolina Zoological Park as the springboard for an inquiry involving eggs and egg-layers. Several measurements and calculations are incorporated. A visit to the NC Zoological Park is preferred.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, Computer Technology Skills, and Mathematics)

By Eddie Hamblin.

Fire In Pythagorville: Problem-Centered Lessons

Students will work on problem-centered lessons which use the application of the Pythagorean theorem to put out a fire in the fictional town of Pythagorville.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

By Kelly Crisp.

Giving Meaning to Volume and Surface Area

This lesson is designed to help students give meaning to volume and surface area by solving problems using a meaningful situation rather than formulas.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

By Grayson Wheatley.

Interior design: Designing my dream room

Students will study interior design as a profession. They will integrate their study with math, writing, vocational education, and computer skills by designing their own dream bedroom.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, Computer Technology Skills, and Mathematics)

By Paula Hightower.

Language families

Students will identify and locate the three language families of contact period North Carolina and calculate the physical area covered by each language family.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 and 8 Social Studies and Mathematics)

Measuring pots

Students will use an activity sheet or modern pottery rim sherds to compute circumference from a section of a circle and construct analogies based on their own experience about possible functions of ancient or historic ceramics.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies and Mathematics)

Mirror, mirror on the ground!

In this lesson, students will use their knowledge of similar triangles and indirect measurement to measure the heights of various objects.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

By Denise Corbett.

Problem Centered Lesson on the Pythagorean Theorem

This lesson is designed to help students give meaning to solving problems using the Pythagorean Theorem in a useful and meaningful situation.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

By Brent Bustle.

Translations, Reflections, Rotations

This lesson will allow students to explore translations, reflections, and rotations using a resource of Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop Interactivate Your Math Students. Students explore the world of translations, reflections, and rotations in the Cartesian coordinate system by transforming squares, triangles and parallelograms. Parameters: Shape, x or y translation, x or y reflection, angle of rotation. (Italics are a direct quote from Shodor.org.)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

By Deborah Bourne.

Walk Two Moons: An Integrated Unit

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech is a bittersweet story of a teenager who desperately wants to be reunited with her mother. This unit is an integrated study combining setting, theme, point of view, character, and plot with geography and geometry.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Mathematics)

By Janet Fore.

Zoo integrated unit

The unit uses the North Carolina Zoological Park as a teaching tool rather than as a nice place to visit. It can be used by a single teacher or multiple teachers of different subjects, and it is aimed at 7th and 8th graders.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Information Skills, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Computer Technology Skills, Mathematics, and Science)

By Craig Smith.

Lesson plans on the web

Another view

Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Are they possible?

In this lesson, students examine the method used by Dutch artist M.C. Escher to create isometric drawings that seem to be impossible. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Building a shape

Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Building from the front-right-top views

Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Building using the front-right-top view

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students explore drawing the front-right-top view when given a three dimensional figure built from cubes. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics