8th grade worksheets & activities
Scientific notation, multi-step equations, slope and systems of equations, the Pythagorean theorem and volume, all solved as detective cases. Plus science and social studies cases below.
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Three ways in, depending on what you need this week.
Every 8th grade math skill
Grouped the way the Common Core standards are, so you can find the pack for the unit you're teaching right now.
Queen QuillThe number system
8.NS.A.1Rational & irrational numbersCase open8.NS.A.2Estimate irrational numbersCase open
Coach CrunchExpressions & equations
8.EE.A.1Laws of exponentsCase open8.EE.A.2Square & cube rootsCase open8.EE.A.3Scientific notation estimatesCase open8.EE.A.4Scientific notation operationsCase open8.EE.B.5Graph proportional relationshipsCase open8.EE.B.6SlopeCase open8.EE.C.7Linear equationsCase open8.EE.C.8Systems of equationsCase open
Solving Multi-Step Equations: Variables on Both Sides8.EE.C.7 · Linear equationsSee the case file →
Systems of Linear Equations8.EE.C.8 · Systems of equationsSee the case file →
Scientific Notation8.EE.A.3 · Scientific notation estimatesSee the case file →
Laws of Exponents8.EE.A.1 · Laws of exponentsSee the case file →
Slope From Two Points8.EE.B.6 · SlopeSee the case file →
Multi-Step Equations Both Sides8.EE.C.7 · Linear equationsSee the case file →
Multi-Step Equations with Variables on Both Sides Digital Escape Room8.EE.C.7 · Linear equationsSee the case file →
Multi-Step Equations With Brackets8.EE.C.7 · Linear equationsSee the case file →
Beatrix BooksFunctions
8.F.A.1What a function isCase open8.F.A.2Compare functionsCase open8.F.A.3Linear & nonlinearCase open8.F.B.4Model linear functionsCase open8.F.B.5Describe graphsCase open
Sunny SproutGeometry
8.G.A.1Properties of transformationsCase open8.G.A.2CongruenceCase open8.G.A.3Transformations on coordinatesCase open8.G.A.4SimilarityCase open8.G.A.5Angles & transversalsCase open8.G.B.6Pythagorean theorem proofCase open8.G.B.7Pythagorean theoremCase open8.G.B.8Distance between pointsCase open8.G.C.9Cylinders, cones & spheresCase open
Angle Relationships8.G.A.5 · Angles & transversalsSee the case file →
Rigid Transformations8.G.A.1 · Properties of transformationsSee the case file →
Pythagorean Theorem8.G.B.7 · Pythagorean theoremSee the case file →
Volume of Cylinders Cones and Spheres8.G.C.9 · Cylinders, cones & spheresSee the case file →
Parallel Lines and Transversals8.G.A.5 · Angles & transversalsSee the case file →
Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal Digital Escape Room8.G.A.5 · Angles & transversalsSee the case file →
Pixel PeteStatistics & probability
8.SP.A.1Scatter plotsCase open8.SP.A.2Lines of best fitCase open8.SP.A.3Linear modelsCase open8.SP.A.4Two-way tablesCase open
Sub plans, review & escape rooms
ReviewBack-to-school & end-of-yearDigitalEscape rooms for a 1:1 dayAlgebra 1Bridge to high school
Most usefulMiddle School Review: Drone HeistGrades 6–8 · CSI caseSee the case file →
Multi-Step Equations Escape Room8.EE.C.7b · digital escape roomSee the case file →
Parallel Lines Escape Room8.G.A.5 · digital escape roomSee the case file →
Like Terms & Distributive Escape RoomGrades 7–9 · digital escape roomSee the case file →
Polynomials Escape RoomHSA-APR.A.1 · beyond grade 8See the case file →Reading, science & more
The same detective format: every right answer clears a suspect. Pick a subject below or from the bar at the top.
Cell Theory Reading MysteryReading mystery · Grades 5–8See the case file →
Ionic & Covalent Bonds Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 7–9See the case file →
Conservation of Mass Reading MysteryReading mystery · Grades 6–8See the case file →
Electricity & Circuits Reading MysteryReading mystery · Grades 6–8See the case file →
Kinetic & Potential Energy Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →
DNA Mutations Reading MysteryReading mystery · Grades 5–8See the case file →
Endocrine System Reading MysteryReading mystery · Grades 5–8See the case file →
Human Impact on Environment Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 5–8See the case file →
Lab Safety Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–9See the case file →
Magnetism & ElectromagnetsReading mystery · Grades 6–8See the case file →
Escape rooms & games
One-step equationsOrder of operationsScientific methodHuman impact on the environmentIntegers
Complementary & Supplementary AnglesDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →Ionic & Covalent Bonds Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 7–9See the case file →
Circumference & Area of a CircleDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →
Combining Like Terms Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →
Distributive Property Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →Kinetic & Potential Energy Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →Human Impact on Environment Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 5–8See the case file →
Valentine's Day Add & Subtract IntegersDigital escape room · Grades 6–9See the case file →Lab Safety Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–9See the case file →
Financial Literacy Escape RoomDigital escape room · Grades 6–8See the case file →The year planner
One math suggestion a month that matches where most classes are in the curriculum.
Reading for 8th grade teachers
Classroom ideas, sub-day plans and seasonal activities.
Summer Activities That Stop the Slide: For Summer School, Home and the Last Week
For the teacher finishing in June, the summer school teacher and the parent asking what to do in July: small, regular, self-checking work on...
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End of Year Activities After Testing: A Plan for the Last Four Weeks
Fifteen to twenty teaching days after the test, planned as a last pass through the year's skills the class will actually finish. Grades 2–9.
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Spring Activities for Testing Season: Easter, Earth Day and the Weeks Between
Built for the days around state testing: short, quiet, self-checking and still on standard. Spring, Easter and Earth Day, K–8.
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St. Patrick's Day Activities, and the March Review Before Testing
March is the last clear run before state testing. A St. Patrick's week plan, plus the review days around it, for Grades 1–8.
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February Activities That Still Teach: Groundhog Day, the 100th Day, Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day
Four holidays in the shortest month. A date-by-date plan with self-checking math cases, reading mysteries and digital escape rooms for K–9.
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Winter Activities for the First Week Back: A January Reset Plan
The first week of January is a review week, not a fresh start. A first-week-back plan for winter math and reading that puts December...
Read the post →Grade 8 FAQ
What math do 8th graders learn?
In Common Core states, 8th grade math covers the number system, expressions and equations, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Students work with integer exponents and scientific notation, solve multi-step linear equations and systems of equations, and learn slope and linear functions. They also study transformations, prove and use the Pythagorean theorem, find the volume of cylinders, cones and spheres, and look for patterns in scatter plots.
What are the most important 8th grade math standards?
The Common Core names three critical areas for grade 8: linear equations and systems of linear equations, the idea of a function and using functions to describe relationships, and two- and three-dimensional geometry including the Pythagorean theorem. Standards 8.EE.C.7, 8.EE.C.8 and 8.F.B.4 lead directly into Algebra 1.
How do you find slope in 8th grade math?
Slope is the rate of change of a line: the change in y divided by the change in x, often called rise over run. Students find it from a graph by counting rise and run, from a table by comparing changes in y and x, and from two points with the formula m = (y2 − y1) ÷ (x2 − x1). Standard 8.EE.B.6 uses similar triangles to show why the slope is the same between any two points on a line.
When do students learn the Pythagorean theorem?
The Pythagorean theorem is an 8th grade standard in the Common Core (8.G.B.6 to 8.G.B.8). Students explain a proof, use a² + b² = c² to find missing side lengths in right triangles, and use it to find the distance between two points on the coordinate plane.
Do these 8th grade activities include answer keys?
Yes. Every printable pack includes answer keys, and the detective format is self-checking because each correct answer rules out a suspect until only one is left. The digital escape rooms check answers automatically as students enter each lock code.
What subjects do you have for 8th grade?
Math is the biggest set, with cases for every grade-level standard listed above. There are also science, social studies activities in the same detective format: students solve each question, match the answer to a suspect and cross suspects off until one is left.