Math Overview - Grade 8

Unit 1: Rigid Transformations and Congruence

Instructional Snapshot

• Identify and describe sequences of transformations that take one figure to another in the context of several Transformation Golf challenges
• Use technology to describe figures and their images under transformations in the coordinate plane
• Use tracing paper to experiment with two-dimensional figures and decide what it means for them to be congruent
• Work with ideas of congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software
• Discover congruent angle relationships on two parallel lines cut by a transversal and then determine missing angle measurements 

Unit 2: Dilations, Similarity and Introducing Slope

Instructional Snapshot

• Work towards using precise mathematical language to describe dilations and relationships between similar figures
• Use the structure of the grid and coordinate plane to accurately perform dilations with various scale factors on an interactive tool
• Create dilations and match another student's dilation
• Show that two figures are similar using patterns they notice about the results of different transformations

Instructional Snapshot

• Explore proportional and non-proportional relationships through the context of racing turtles
• Write several different linear equations to represent the cost of any size burger at In and Out Burger
• Use technology to practice calculating slopes in the context of landing planes 
• Solve real-world problems using different representations including graphs, tables and equations
• Learn how to write and use various forms of a linear equation, including slope-intercept, standard and point-slope forms

Unit 4: Linear Equations and Linear Systems

Instructional Snapshot

• Create and solve number puzzles that can be represented by linear equations in one variable
• Use hanger diagrams to calculate unknown weights of objects by adding and removing equal items from each side
• Consider the strengths and weaknesses of different representations for solving equations
• Encounter equations that have no solutions and equations for which every number is a solution
• Use elimination, substitution and graphing to solve systems of equations

Unit 5: Functions and Volume

Instructional Snapshot

• Use a Turtle Crossing simulator to make connections between scenarios and graphs that represent them
• Learn about function notation through the interactive lesson Toy Factory 
• Draw the graph of a function that represents a real-world situation
• Use data points to model a linear function and decide when it is reasonable to model the relationship with a linear function
• Use piecewise functions to model real-world data sets presented as graphs

Unit 6: Associations in Data

Instructional Snapshot

• Participate in a "clicking" challenge to generate data; organize and use the data to recognize patterns and make predictions
• Analyze data to determine if the data is linear or non-linear in nature
• Identify outliers, clustering in scatter plots, and interpret the slope of a line of fit in context
• Draw and use technology to fit a line to a scatter plot in order to predict values
• Work with Federal budget data to use two-way tables, bar graphs, and segmented bar graphs to decide whether there is evidence of an association in categorical data

Unit 7: Exponents and Scientific Notation

Instructional Snapshot

• Use repeated reasoning to develop an understanding of the meaning of zero and negative exponents
• Use the solar system and test tubes as contexts for investigating large and small numbers
• Multiply, divide, and estimate with numbers in scientific notation to answer questions in context of balance scales
• Use scientific notation as a tool for comparing, combining, and operating on the net worth of different celebrities

Unit 8: The Pythagorean Theorem and Irrational Numbers

Instructional Snapshot

• Explore the relationship between the edge length and the volume of a cube, and develop an efficient method for determining an unknown edge length from a known volume
• Use interactive tools to identify patterns in the relationship between the squares of side lengths of triangles; discover the relationship between the side lengths of a right triangle is the Pythagorean theorem
• Use the Pythagorean theorem as a tool to solve problems involving diagonal distances, such as determining the fastest way to a beach taco truck
• Apply the Pythagorean theorem to find distances between points in the coordinate plane in the interactive lesson Frog Hopper