Math Thematics--Book 2 

This book contains 8 units called "modules."  Each module contains 4-6 sections, and each section contains 1-3 lessons called "explorations."  Below is a brief description of each module, and linked to a website which contains tutorials and practice tests.  Once you've linked, find the section you want, then select "eWorkbookPlusOnline."  Maximize the screen, and click "Check Answers" for immediate feedback.  It's that easy!

Module 1:  Making Choices

How much time should you spend on homework?  What are the chances of a certain event occuring?  What are some strategies you can use to solve problems?  In this module, we will learn how to make choices in mathematics.  Topics for discussion include bar and line graphs, sequences, exponents, probability, order of operations, and problem solving.

Module 2:  Search and Rescue

When searching for lost people, search and resuce teams use variety of tools.  These help to obtain cricual information, such as the location of a victim, the outdoor temperature, and which vehicle can reach an accident the site the fastest.  Using geometry and algebra, we will be exploring topics such as angles, coordinate graphing, modeling and graphing functions, adding and subtracting integers, and solving equations.  

Module 3:  A Universal Language

Often called "the universal language," mathematics enables people all over the world to communicate using common terms, numbers, and symbols.  From Colonial America to modern-day Japan, we will explore mathematics in various countries.  Topics will include factors, multiples, mixed numbers, adding and subtracting fractions, decimals, scientific notation, and equations.

Module 4:  The Art of Motion

Through special effects and some mathematical magic, animators bring objects to life in movies and television.  We will be discussing various types of transformations that make this possible--rotations, reflections, translations, and growing and shrinking drawings.  In addition, students will learn how to multpily and divide fractions, decimals, and integers, as well as how to solve more complex equations.

Module 5:  Recreation

An exploration of Fibonacci's famous "Golden Ratio" kicks off this module, which focuses on data and statistics.  Using data collected in class, we will calculate ratios, proportions, percents, mean, median, mode, and range.  Additionally, we will represent data in a variety of ways, including stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots, and histograms.  Who in your class will be the "Golden Student?"

Module 6:  Flights of Fancy

This module centers around geometry.  Specifically, students will learn forumlas for calculating the areas of triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and circles; angles in triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons; surface area of prisms; volume of prisms and cylinders.  In addition, we will explore similar figures and angles formed by parallel lines and transversals. 

Module 7:  Health and Fitness

Module 8:  Heart of the City

Modules 7 and 8 will be taught as time permits at the end of the school year.