8th Grade Math Worksheets (Grade 8 - For Ages 13 to 14)

Beginning of the School Year

These worksheets are building off of last year's skills. They are part of the 8th grade curriculum, but they are usual learned in one shot. In our experience it is because they are very concrete skills that don't need much explanation.

1. Compare Exponents - Have students compare the end value of these exponents.
2. Function Tables - Input the variables into the equations and see what comes out.
3. Math Operations and Reasoning - Every problem is missing three to four operators. Make each equation true.
4. Surface Area - You are given 2 to 3 dimensions or measures of a rectangular prism and asked to find all the others. Sometime math has a cool power about it!
5. Circle the Irrational Numbers - If you can write a number as a fraction or simple ratio, it's rational. Take a quick glance at these specimens and determine if they are rational.
6. Operations with Exponents - We take exponents out for a walk and throw them into 2 and 3 step problems.
7. Scientific Notation - Meeting up with our friend times ten to the exponent. Write each number using scientific notation then move on to standard format. Pay attention to number 3. What's up with that one?
8. Venn Diagrams - We always knew that Venn Diagrams had a huge place in the Language Arts classroom, but they do the same thing when organizing data. Venn Diagrams should be used in the math classroom just as much.

Midyear Problems

These problems actually take more time to understand and may take two or three passes to really catch on.

1. Evaluate Expressions - This is a quick plug and chug activity to test student skills.
2. Writing Expressions - Convert number sentences to expressions. A really good skill to have.
3. Rewriting Fraction Equations - Solve for the variable in each case. Please note there are two- three step problems in the batch.
4. Order of Operations - Remember good ole' PEMDAS for this one. There are three steps max for each one.
5. Surface Area - You will also be asked to find other measurements of length.
6. Determine the Slope of a Line - You will work off of points and actual lines on cooridinate graphs.

Advanced Skills

These are the skills that not everyone can grasp in just a few times going over it. These also happen to be the skills that many students have trouble with on standard tests.

1. The Truth of Inequalities - Determine the truth value for ever inequality you come across. A simple T or F will do.
2. Probability as a Fraction - Determine the probability of every event in the form of a fraction.
3. Solve Simultaneous Linear Equations - This is always the point in algebra where kids say "What the heck is that?" Make sure they master this skill before moving on, it's critical.
4. Monomial, Binomial, and Polynomial Operations - We take these sets and throw them through various operations. We concentrate mostly on products and quotients here.
5. Graphing Linear Inequalities - These are the baby steps to full on graphing inequalities. At this point we are just looking for a directional line and point.
6. Logarithms - We focus on the conversion and calculations with logs and log form.
7. Using Pythagorean Theorem - We really give the Pythagorean Theorem a work out. First, determine if you have a 90 degree angle in the triangle. Second, find the length of a side and measurement all using the Theorem.
8. Midpoints and Equations of Straight Lines - We give you two points on the path of a line. We then ask to find the midpoint of those two points on the line and the equation of said line. Who knew lines had such a personality?

What Do Students Learn in the 8th Grade Math?

You can make math a treat for everyone who chooses to engage in it. Many children don't enjoy Math as it gets more complex through the years. 8th Grade is particularly challenging as it remains the difference between middle and high school. Thus, it's necessary that as a teacher, you're on par with all that you need to teach your student in 8th Grade. This way, their transition into high school is much easier.

What Math Should a Student in 8th Grade Already Know?

A student in 8th Grade should already have some idea about operation, algebra, and geometry. They should also have spatial and number senses. The 8th Grade students you teach should already know something about the representation of numbers in Standard Form. They should also know about numerical representation in the expanded and scientific notification. One of the important topics that they should be aware of is surrounding ratios and rates. 8th Grade is meant to expound on these concepts, but general awareness and concepts are necessary for these students.

Identification of ratios and rates is also necessary. The students should know how they will multiply and divide with positive and negative rational numbers. Topics of finding the perimeter and area of 2D figures are also essential. They must be aware of the process of plotting graphs and isolating quadrants within these graphs.

Finally, they should also know about the concept of probability and how to calculate the probability of dependent and independent events.

Topics Covered

8th Grade Math is all about the combination of new and old topics. You may have to conduct a fair amount of revision before delving into the newer topics. When students return from the summer break, they will have quite the brain fog. Thus, it's better to start with topics they are vaguely aware of, such as ratio and proportion. It's wise to start with something they can use daily as it helps them define the concept's applicability.

The next topic would involve number systems which involve the scientific notation of the numbers. There is also the distinction between rational and irrational numbers that students must know. Negative and positive numbers also help decide a certain number's absolute value.

Next, the topic involves the comparison of scientific notations to further cement what a scientific notation is. Standard arithmetic is also helpful with these scientific notations. Thus, it's necessary to know the concepts in these topics and how to carry them out.

8th Graders are also terribly focused on real numbers. 8th grade is the last time you can inform them about math fundamentals before they head off to high school. Thus, it would be best if you taught them to convert fractions to decimals and vice versa. Determining the roots of these numbers is also essential. They would also have to know the properties of these real numbers to identify them, so there's a fair bit of theoretical knowledge involved.

8th Grade is a step up from Seventh Grade; therefore, it comes with more complicated expressions and equations. Calculating the subject of the formula and other more complicated expressions is an integral portion of the syllabus. You need to inform your students about further elaboration on inequalities and substitution.

Many seventh-grade topics, like the Pythagorean theorems, transformations, and geometry, are much more advanced. These topics are cycled back, and new concepts are introduced alongside them. The students learn how to analyze equations and identify their solutions.

Students will also learn a fair bit about geometry and polygons, along with the proportional relationships and transformations that help establish regular shapes. Students will also identify congruency and similarity in triangles to calculate sides and angles within a pair of similar and congruent triangles.

Geometry is not only confined to that of two-dimensional shapes, and students have to learn the geometry used for three-dimensional shapes, which involves concepts of surface area and volume. The syllabus also includes learning about regular and irregular polygons and prisms.

Graphing is a significant topic in 8th Grade. The students must learn about inequalities, equations, and other expressions and how to present them on a graph. They must also learn how to calculate the slope or gradient of a set of values to determine a line's equation. They also have to learn about the applications of linear inequalities.

Graphing also involves finding linear relationships, such as finding x and y-intercepts and calculating functions. One of the central concepts that the students must know about is the y = mx + b concept, which is necessary for calculating equations.

Functions, Probability, and Statistics are three of the most outstanding and complex concepts in 8th Grade. However, they are also the ones that are likely to be the most practically used. Functions involve graphical representation, and probability trees are a simple way to explain probability to students. Statistics involve breaking down data in terms of the mean, median, and mode. Most students find statistics quite a fun chapter, but it narrows down to how you teach it.

Is It a Challenging Year?

8th Grade Math can be pretty challenging for those students who don't practice or pay attention. For such students, you must afford some extra care. There are many new concepts that most 8th graders have to grapple with, such as geometry and algebraic manipulation. 8th-grade math is also particularly challenging because it introduces many real-life problems for the students.

Students will learn about money and interest, which will serve them quite well in the coming years. 8th Grade also focuses on word problems and disguised math problems. Applying these word problems can also help students in their practical life. The rules are increasingly tricky in 8th-grade math. The percentages are now greater than 100, and the pressure to compete is all present.

Final Thoughts

8th Grade Math need not be complicated if teachers engage with the students. Math involves connection to the brain as any other subject does. However, there are different ways to pique an 8th grader's interest, and once one finds a way to do that, 8th grade Math can be quite straightforward.