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Math Mammoth Grade 8 complete curriculum

Math Mammoth Grade 8 is a complete math curriculum for 8th grade mathematics studies. It contains some typical algebra 1 topics, but not all (based on the Common Core Standards for 8th grade (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

cover for Math Mammoth Grade 8-B Complete Worktext
214 pages
189 lesson pages

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


Prices & ordering

You can purchase Math Mammoth Grade 8 as a download, or as already printed books.


Digital version

Grade 8 complete:
USD $42.50 (download)

(the two worktexts, answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews, a worksheet maker)

Add to cart

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

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

Add to cart

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

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

Add to cart

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



Printed copies

Rainbow Resource Center sells full-color perfect-bound books:

8-A worktext
8-B worktext
Tests & cum reviews
Answer Keys
Grade 8 set (all four books)

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

8-A worktext
8-B worktext
Tests & Cumulative Reviews
Answer Keys (perfect bound)

We also provide a list of ISBN numbers so you can order at Amazon or other bookstores.


Supportive materials

This product is meant to go with the printed 8 student books, and includes digital versions of the answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews and the worksheet maker (USD $9.60).

Add to cart

Do NOT purchase if you get the printed answer keys and tests & cumulative reviews, or if you get the digital version.

At the heart of the curriculum are two student worktexts (A and B), each covering about half a year of math work. These worktexts contain all the instruction and the exercises in the same book — which makes lesson preparation a breeze. The worktexts are written directly to the student, and thus they allow many students to teach themselves and to learn directly from the books.

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:

  • exponent laws and scientific notation
  • geometry: geometric transformations, angle relationships, and volume
  • solving linear equations
  • introduction to functions
  • graphing linear equations and proportional relationships
  • irrational numbers, square and cube roots, and the Pythagorean Theorem
  • solving systems of linear equations (in two variables)
  • statistics: scatter plots and two-way tables

Please also see the table of contents for 8-A and 8-B (in the sample files), 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.
    (Someone asked what I suggest for this... I feel many different curricula can work, and what materials you choose to use beyond algebra 1 might affect your decision. But one option is Harod Jacobs Algebra, the latter half. Hopefully you can find a used copy so as to not cause much additional cost beyond the cost of MM8. And another one to consider is Understanding Algebra I Workbook.)
  • 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 curriculum 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/millimeters (for 8-A and 8-B).
  4. A compass (for 8-A).
  5. A protractor (for 8-A and one lesson in 8-B).
  6. Graphing paper (for 8-A and 8-B).


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).

Chapter 5 deals with the topic of graphing linear equations. Students study slope, and graph and write linear equations in slope-intercept and standard forms. They also learn about parallel and perpendicular lines.

In chapter 6, we delve into square roots, cube roots, irrational numbers, and equations involving square and cube roots. The rest of the chapter is spent studying the Pythagorean Theorem and its applications.

Next, in chapter 7, we focus on systems of linear equations. Students learn the three basic techniques for solving these and also solve a variety of problems that lead to a pair of linear equations.

The last chapter has to do with an introduction to bivariate data in statistics: scatter plots and two-way tables.



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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