Year 8 Mathematics Curriculum Plan

Overview
Throughout Key Stage 3, the National Curriculum splits broadly into 4 major strands:

  • Number.
  • Algebra.
  • Shape, Space & Measures.
  • Handling Data.

We follow the National Curriculum in Year 7, using a variety of textbooks, depending on student ability. Year 7 are put into sets approximately 4 weeks after the year starts. There is some movement of sets throughout the year.

There is great emphasis on 'Using and Applying Mathematics to solve problems'. Students undertake numerous problem solving exercises, investigations, puzzles and games. They learn to work in a systematic and logical way, appreciating the power and beauty of Mathematics along the way.

Students have homework three times a week, and are tested regularly. Extra help is always available and we work closely with the Learning Support Department.

In any one strand, many topics are covered. Though there is much assumed knowledge from Year 7 and earlier years, this material is under constant review and development. The following table outlines the key objectives for Year 8.

STRAND TOPIC
Number

Comparing proportions.
Percentage increase or decrease
Direct proportion
Multiplying and dividing by decimals

Algebra
Simplifying linear expressions
Use of brackets
Substitution
Plotting linear functions
The straight line graph y=mx+c
Shape, Space & Measures

Angle facts
Enlargement, positive integer scale factors
Constructions of midpoints, perpendicular bisectors, angle bisectors
Areas of triangles, parallelograms, trapezium
Volume and surface area of cubes and cuboids
Handling Data

Using ICT to process and represent data
Construction of pie charts, frequency diagrams, line graphs for time series, scatter graphs; identify which are most useful
Probabilities for one and two events

 

There is a huge variety of maths based websites available for teachers, students and parents. As a department, we tend to use the internet for research and for illustrating the richness and usefulness of mathematics. A very good place to start is here, a site which gives hundreds of links.

Here are a few of my favourites on this site or to go directly, just click on the description: