Mrs. Mary Ann White Fundamental Math 8

Syllabus 2003-2004 Mathscape – Seeing and Thinking Mathematically

First Semester - First Quarter

Unit I: Looking Behind the Numbers – Correlations, Rankings, and Permutations

· Tools for collecting, displaying, analyzing, and applying data

· Statistical measures including mean, median and mode Grading Scale

· Scatter plots and correlations 100% 12pt. A+

· Probability, combinations and permutations 99-93 11pt. A

92-90 10pt. A-

Unit II: Mathematics of Motion – Distance, Speed and Time 89-88 9pt. B+

· Use mathematics to understand the fundamentals of motion 87-83 8pt. B

· Measuring, Estimating, and Representing Motion 82-80 7pt. B-

· Distance-Time Graphs 79-78 6pt. C+

· Use and interpret three types of distance-time graphs 77-73 5pt. C

· Use graphs to solve problems 72-70 4pt. C-

69-68 3pt. D+

Second Quarter 67-63 2pt. D

Unit III: Shapes and Space – Thinking Three Dimensionally 62-60 1pt. D-

· Analyze shapes and space like interior designers, architects and builders 59¯ 0pt. F

· Nets (two dimensional “skins”) are used to find surface areas

· Cubes – explore ways to estimate the surface area and volume

· Prisms – find surface and volumes of prisms and discover a volume formula

· Cylinders – explore surface area using formulas of a circle and rectangle

· Cylinders – explore volume

· Pyramids and Cones – explore the relationships that link these solids to other solids

· Create nets of pyramids and use them to explore surface areas

Unit IV: What Comes Next – Modeling and Predicting

· Study and contrast the two simplest mathematical models of growth

· Examine the differences in growth sequences based on addition and multiplication

· Representing Growth Sequences - use Algebra to calculate growth and chart and graph their sequences

· Evaluate how well their models fit the actual data

· Modeling with Growth Sequences – apply what they have learned to real-world situations; analyze and justify their predictions in a report

Mrs. Mary Ann White Fundamental Math 8 Page 2

Syllabus 2003-2004 Mathscape – Seeing and Thinking Mathematically

Second Semester – Third Quarter

Unit V: Exploring the Unknown

· Use labs to understand algebra concepts.

· Working with Expressions - represent expressions, combine like terms and evaluate expressions.

· Minuses and Parentheses - negatives, opposites and expressions with and without parentheses

· Solving Equations – polynomial arithmetic; develop rules for solving equations

Unit VI: Roads and Ramps – Slopes, Angles and Ratios

· Slope as an Angle – investigate slope angles, scale drawings, and indirect measurement

· Right Triangle Relationships – explore right triangle relationships including the Pythagorean Theorem

· Slope as a Ratio – use the idea of percent grade to study real-world slopes

· Road Design – investigate tangent ratio

· Application – design a road and build a three-dimensional model of it

Fourth Quarter

Unit VII: Family Portraits – Comparing Function Families

· Gather data and translate among tables, graphs, words and equations to gain a deep understanding of different ways functions behave.

· Direct and Inverse Variation – compare graphs of functions and nonfunctions; explore specific function families

· Linear Functions – abstract look at functions; compare steepness to develop a formal definition of slope

· Quadratic Functions – graph area on a slide projector’s image versus the projector’s distance to the screen; write equations to describe data; see the effects of an x2 term; explore graphs of parabolas

· Exponential Functions – develop laws of exponents; explore scientific notation

Teacher’s Note: I am very excited about this new textbook series. The research conducted to develop and test the series is extensive. The students will use technology as a tool to aid in their comprehension. Labs, hands on activities, and real world applications give meaning to the concepts and make learning an enjoyable experience.