Grade 8 Numeracy

Learning at Home ISSUE 2

Keep the learning going!
The following activities support learning at home and connect to the
mathematics that you have been learning. Choose activities that are
interesting and challenging. Have fun!

Patterns and Relations: Mathematics is about recognizing,

describing, and working with numerical and non-numerical
patterns.
What do you notice about the tiling pattern below?
Math Mindset
What might pictures 1 and 2 look like? Mistakes are valuable.
How would you extend this pattern? Draw the next three pictures. Our brains learn through our
mistakes and make adjustments
What is staying the same? What is changing? How is it through trial and error. Try another
changing? strategy or examine your work
How can you calculate the number of square tiles needed for closely to exercise your brain!
each picture?
Mathematics help us think
logically and visualize
connections.
Do you notice anything that looks
familiar?
How is this similar to other math
activities you have tried? How is it
different?
Picture 3 Picture 4
How does this connect to other
activities or events in the world
Estimate how many square tiles there will be in the 20th picture. around you?
Complete the table and graph below. How do these mathematical
tools help? You may want to change the scale of the graph.
Laugh of the
Picture Number of Calculations
50
day
Tiles 40

1
Q. Why doesn’t
White Tiles

30
2
anyone talk to the
Tiles

3
circles?
20

4
A . Because they can’t see the
10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 point.
Picture

Do you think this pattern of tiles will ever use exactly 100 tiles?
Support your thinking using a table, a graph, or calculations.
www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/math/numeracy_at_home/index.html
Building
Number Sense
Number sense is an awareness and understanding of numbers.
8
Number sense involves knowing different ways of representing
numbers, understanding the relationships among numbers,
and using numbers flexibly to reason, estimate, and compute.

Determine the integer value each shape 8

Balanced Mobile
could represent on the balanced mobile.
=2 =5 = –1 =Remember
0 that integers include zero
and negative numbers. Example:

16 ? ? 6
=2 =5 = –1 =0

16

= =
= =
= =
= = 9

= =
Challenge Yourself = = 9
• What if the numbers changed? • What do you notice about the numbers that
• Try each puzzle with a different value for the make this puzzle more difficult?
given shape or a different value for the total at
• What is the smallest number you can choose
the top. and get this to work? (Hint: You can use
• What numbers can you choose that make each fractions.)
puzzle easier?
 Splat is a thinking game. Some ink has spilled onto
Splat!
the picture. Look at the ink splat below and
reason out how many dots are hidden beneath it.
• The total number of dots is unknown. • How many dots are visible? How many dots
• The big splat covers an unknown number of might the total be?
dots.
• 5% of the dots are visible.

CHALLENGE: Try changing the number of dots.

• How does this change your answers? • What numbers will not work?
• What numbers will work? • Describe any patterns you notice?

Use mathematics
WOULD YOU RATHER…
to help explain
why you would rather choose one option over
another.
You and four friends decide to exchange
presents.

Would you rather

pay for 3 gifts and get 1 free
or
use a coupon for 20% off

Does your explanation hold true for both

inexpensive and expensive gifts?
Why or why not?

CHALLENGE: Use mathematics to help explain

why each option could be the best choice.
 Mental math strategies foster flexible thinking about numbers and
Mental Math Strategies operations, and help you see how relationships exist between numbers.
Learning about mental math strategies helps build an awareness of
numbers and makes you question if an answer does not “look” or “sound” right. Developing good mental math
strategies is important because mental math strategies are
5 xa6valuable
= 30 life skill. 10 x 3 = 30
When thinking and communicating our thinking, using models and visuals can help.

Multiplication Strategy: Doubling and Halving, Triple and Thirds, etc.

There are many strategies to make mental calculations easier. Here is one strategy for the product of two numbers
that is sometimes very helpful. A simple example of 5 x 6 is shown using an area model. Examine the pictures below,
what do you notice?
5 x 6 = 30 10 x 3 = 30 5 x 6 = 30 15 x 2 = 30 EXA
2 1 2 2

2 13 4 1 2 2 2

3 12 3 4 1 2 3

4 1 2 3 4 1 4
In multiplication, calculations can be simplified by doubling one factor and halving the other. The result will be the
same.
5x6Another
= 30 multiplication strategy is tripling
15 x 2 = 30 one factor and thirding the other. The
1 result
14 will1 be2the3same.2 1
Use the strategy of doubling 15 x 8 = 30 x Use the strategy of 3 x 27 = x
1 4 3 2
and halving or triple and doubling and halving
thirds to determine what 40 x 27 = EXAMPLE:
x9 or triple and thirds 40 x 15 = x
number goes in each blank. to express each
2 1 2 2 120 x 9 = EXAMPLE:
2 1 2mathematical
2 statement
x3 3 x 36 = x
in2different ways that
2 13 4 2 1 1 22 2
2 2 13 2 4 1 1represent
22 2 the same value. 4 x 16 = x
2 13 4 1 2 2 2 13 4 1 2 2
3 12 3 4 1 2 3 12 3 4 1 2
3 12 3 4 1 2 3 12 3 4 1 2 1 2 2 3
Mathematical
4 1 2 Games
3 4 1 4 1 2 3 4 1
4 1 2 3 4 1 4 EXAMPLE:
1 2 3 4 1
1 14 1 2 3 2 1 14 1 2 3 2 1 13 4 1 2 4
2 1
To play Skyscrapers, you must 2 2 2 1 2 2
1 14 1 2 3 2 1 14 1 2 3 2
1 the
visualize each of 4 grids
3 2as2the
13 4top 1 2 2 1 2 413 34 12 2 2
2 12 3 4 1 2
1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2
view looking down. The number in the
3 12 3 4 1 2 3 12 3 4 1 2 2 1 2 3 4 3
white square represents the height of
4 1 2 3 4 1 4 1 2 3 4 1
that tower. The numbers in the blue 2 14 1 2 3 1
arrows indicate how many1 towers
14 1 you2 3 2 1 14 1 2 3 2

can see from that position. 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 2 2 3 1

You must place a tower in each cell on

1 22 from
1 2ranges
the grid. Their height 32 13to 1 1
the size of the grid1 (i.e., 1 to44 for a 24 x 44
1 13 413 towers
grid). Two same-height 1 21 cannot4 13 13 4 4 1 1 22 2
2 13
13 44 1 1 2 2 2 2
be in the same 2 or12
row 3 41 21 2 2 3 12 1 3 4 1 5 12 3 4 1 2
2 12 3 column.
4 1 2 12 3 4 1 5 12 3 4 1 2
2 1 21 313 4
4 1 32 4 1 132 4 3 1 42 3 2 2 13 14 1 23 24
2 1 2
2
Try these three 1 2 It
puzzles. 3 can4be 3 1 2 3 4 3 212 1 2 32 4 1 2
2 12 3 4 1 2 12 3 4 1 5 3 4 1
easier to see and2even14more
1 fun2 if3you 1 14 1 2 3
use blocks. Have fun! 2 2 3 211 3
2 14 1 2 2 31 4 3 14
2
11 2
2 33 4
3
3 2
2
1
12
2 3
3
4
4
1
1
2
2
2 14 1 2 3 1 14 1 2 3
2 2 3 1 2 3 2 12 3 4 1 2
2 2 3 1 2 3 2 12 3 4 1 21 2