Mathematics — Grade 8

Homerun Hoopla

This lesson is designed for students to gather and analyze data about baseball figures. The student will use the Internet or other resources to collect statistical data on the top five home run hitters for the current season as well as their career home run totals. The students will graph the data and determine if it is linear or non-linear.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Mathematics)

By Anne Walters.

To be or not to be...Linear

The student will determine the correlation between two variables. They will graph ordered pairs on a coordinate plane, determine a best fit line, find slope and intercepts, and write the equation of a line. This lesson plan is geared for both 8th grade math and algebra.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Mathematics)

By Kyle Gorton.

Walk the Line

This lesson demonstrates the effects of changing the slope and y-intercept on the graph and equation of a line.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Mathematics)

By Carol Huss.

You Sank My Battleship

Students will learn how to plot ordered pairs using the coordinate plane and determine in which quadrant these ordered pairs lie. Students will show mastery of plotting ordered pairs by playing Battleship. Modifications have been added for Intermediate Low English Language Learners.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 and 7–12 English Language Development and Mathematics)

By Theadore Taylor and Justine Busto.

Lesson plans on the web

Algebra in balance

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students use an interactive pan balance tool to explore algebraic expressions. They determine if algebraic expressions are equal and balance pans to solve a system of equations. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Barbie bungee

In this Illuminations lesson, students model a bungee jump using a Barbie doll and rubber bands. The distance to which the doll will fall is directly proportional to the number of rubber bands, so this context is used to examine linear functions. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Finding our top speed

This Illuminations lesson sets the stage for a discussion of travel in the solar system. By considering a real-world, hands-on activity, students develop their understanding of time and distance. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Investigating fire environments

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students consider the meaning of the term variable, both in a mathematical and an everyday sense, by considering a text-based “equation.” (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Learning about rate of change in linear functions using interactive graphs: Constant cost per minute

Students drag a slider on an interactive graph to modify a rate of change (cost per minute for phone use) and learn how modifications in that rate affect the linear graph displaying accumulation (the total cost of calls). (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Printing Books

Students explore the relationships among lines, slopes, and y-intercepts using the real-world situation of the printing of their textbook (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Supreme Court handshake

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students explore the handshake problem, a classic problem in mathematics that asks, “How many handshakes occur when n people shake hands with each other?” (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics