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Math Mammoth Grade 8 complete curriculum

Math Mammoth Grade 8-A is a complete math curriculum for the first half of 8th grade, following the Common Core Standards (CCS). It contains some typical algebra 1 topics, but not all (again, based on the CCS). You could classify it as an in-between course between traditional pre-algebra and algebra 1.

cover for Math Mammoth Grade 8-A Worktext
233 pages
214 lesson pages

8-A contents and samples
User Guide, grade 8
CCS Alignment
Light Blue Series FAQ


Prices & ordering


Digital version

Part 8-A only:
USD $21.25 (download)

(Everything for the first half of 8th grade math)

Add to cart

You will be purchasing the download from my authorized reseller Comecero, LLC.



Printed copies

Lulu sells spiral (coil) bound versions of the student books and of the tests & reviews book.

8-A worktext


Supportive materials

This product is meant to go with the printed 8-A student book, and includes digital versions of the answer key, tests, cumulative reviews and the worksheet maker (USD $4.80).

Add to cart

Do NOT purchase if you're getting the digital version.

At the heart of the curriculum is the student worktext A. The worktext contains all the instruction and the exercises in the same book — which makes lesson preparation a breeze. The worktext is written directly to the student, and thus allows many students to teach themselves and to learn directly from the book.

You will also get a separate answer key, chapter tests, additional cumulative reviews (I do recommend you use at least some of them), and a versatile worksheet maker (Internet access required) for those times when your student needs just a bit more practice.


Features

  • Math Mammoth focuses on conceptual understanding. It explains the "WHY", so students can understand the math, not just learn "HOW" to do it.
  • The curriculum is mastery-oriented. This means it concentrates fairly long on a topic, delving into its various aspects. This promotes conceptual understanding, as opposed to spiral curricula that often tend to jump from topic to topic too much.
  • It requires very little teacher preparation. :)
  • The curriculum has no separate teacher's manual nor is it scripted. The introduction to each chapter has some notes for the teacher concerning the material in the chapter. All the instruction is written directly to the student in the worktext.
  • After each chapter introduction, you will find a list of Internet links and resources (games, quizzes, animations, etc.) that can be used for fun, illustrations, and further practice.

Note: Currently there are no videos to accompany the curriculum, like there are for other grades of Math Mammoth. I hope to eventually produce some! Meanwhile, I suggest using Khan Academy's 8th grade math videos. Some other source can work well, also.


Additional feature for the digital version

The PDF files can be filled in on a computer, phone, or tablet, using the annotation tools found in many PDF apps. Learn more.


Overview of topics

Math Mammoth Grade 8 covers various traditional pre-algebra and algebra 1 topics, plus some geometry and statistics. The main areas of study are:

  • exponents and scientific notation
  • geometry: geometric transformations, angle relationships, and volume
  • solving linear equations
  • introduction to functions
  • graphing linear equations
  • irrational numbers, square and cube roots, and the Pythagorean Theorem
  • solving systems of linear equations (in two variables)
  • statistics: scatterplots/bivariate data

Please also see the table of contents for 8-A which will let you see the topics covered in more detail.


What follows MM8?

Since MM8 follows the CCS, the perfect follow-up is any high school math curriculum that follows the Common Core Standards. Those courses would not be repeating the algebra topics already covered in 8th grade.

If, however, your student will be following a traditional high school math curriculum (traditional Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2), you have several options:

  • A student could do geometry after MM8.
  • A student could catch the rest of the topics from an algebra 1 curriculum (polynomials, quadratic equations, rational (fractional) algebraic expressions, radical algebraic expressions, and inequalities). Then they could go onward to either geometry or algebra 2, as usual.
  • Most traditional algebra 2 curricula REVIEW algebra 1 topics for about 1/3 of the course, but at a faster pace than in algebra 1. So, some students will be able to simply skip algebra 1 and go on into an algebra 2 curriculum (either after geometry or after MM8, depending on when they plan on studying geometry).

We could picture these possible paths like this:

MM8 → high school currciculum following the CCS

MM8 → rest of algebra 1 → geometry → algebra 2

MM8 → geometry → algebra 2

MM8 → geometry → rest of algebra 1 + algebra 2


Manipulatives / materials

Here is a list of materials and tools that are needed for grade 8 (geometry chapter).

  1. Patty paper/tracing paper (for 8-A).
  2. A ruler that measures in inches (for 8-A).
  3. A ruler that measures in centimeters (for 8-A).
  4. A compass (for 8-A).
  5. A protractor (for 8-A).


Introduction

In 8th grade, students spend the majority of the time with algebraic topics, such as linear equations, functions, and systems of equations. The other major topics are geometry and statistics.

We start with a study of exponent laws, using both numerical and algebraic expressions. The first chapter also covers scientific notation (both with large and small numbers), significant digits, and calculations with numbers given in scientific notations.

In chapter 2, students learn about geometric transformations (translations, reflections, rotations, dilations), common angle relationships, and volume of prisms, cylinders, spheres, and cones.

Next, in chapter 3, our focus is on linear equations. Students both review and learn more about solving linear equations, including equations whose solutions require the usage of the distributive property and equations where the variable is on both sides.

Chapter 4 presents an introduction to functions. Students construct functions to model linear relationships, learn to use the rate of change and initial value of the function, and they describe functions qualitatively based on their graphs.

In part 8-B, students graph linear equations, learn about irrational numbers and the Pythagorean Theorem, solve systems of linear equations, and investigate patterns of association in bivariate data (scatter plots).



How and where to order

You can buy Math Mammoth books at:

  • Here at MathMammoth.com website — simply use the "Add to cart" buttons you see on the product pages.
  • Rainbow Resource carries printed copies for the Light Blue series books, plus several CDs (Light Blue and Blue series).
  • Homeschool Buyers Club offers download versions of the Light Blue series, plus the Blue series bundle.
  • Homeschool Planet sells the digital versions of the main curriculum and lesson plans to go with them.
  • K5 Learning offers download versions of the Blue series.
  • TPT sells the Light Blue Series downloads, plus topical units.
  • Lulu sells printed copies for most of the Math Mammoth materials (various series).

By purchasing any of the books, permission IS granted for the teacher (or parent) to reproduce this material to be used with his/her students in a teaching situation; not for commercial resale. However, you are not permitted to share the material with another teacher.

In other words, you are permitted to make copies for the students/children you are teaching, but not for other teachers' usage.


Math Mammoth books are PDF files. I recommend you use Adobe Reader to view them, including if you use a Mac. You can try other PDF viewers, but they may at times either omit or mess up some of the images.
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