13 Fun Slope Games and Activities For 8th Graders - Number Dyslexia (2024)

Slope is an essential concept in mathematics that measures the steepness of a line. It’s a bit like snowboarding or skiing down a slope: you need to adjust your movements to navigate the terrain. In 8th grade math, it’s a foundational concept that they will use throughout their math studies and in many other fields, including engineering, physics, and more.

But let’s be honest, sometimes math can be a bit dry and boring. So, we’ve put together engaging and exciting slope activities, and games, much like some math games, to help 8th-grade students learn and master this important concept. So grab your pencil, calculator, and paper, and get ready to hit the slopes of mathematical mastery with these fun activities.

Exciting and educational slope activities for 8th graders

1. Slope Drawings

Imagine you’re an architect designing a roller coaster for a new amusem*nt park. You’ll need to design the steepest and most thrilling slopes for the riders to experience. In this activity, you’ll use graph paper and colored pencils to draw your designs and calculate the slope of each line. The steeper the slope, the more thrilling the ride will be. Let’s see who can come up with the most exciting design!

After introducing the activity, provide the students with graph paper and colored pencils. Show them how to plot points on the coordinate plane, connect them with a line, and then calculate the slope. After all, art also helps learners get good at subjects like Math.

Encourage them to experiment with different slopes and try to make their designs as steep as possible. After everyone has completed their drawing, have them share their designs with the class and explain the slope of each line. You can also have them vote on the design with the steepest slope.

2. Slope Stepping

Much like coordinate plane activities, in this activity, we’re going to use our bodies to explore the concept of slope. Imagine you’re on a hike and you need to climb a steep hill. You’ll need to know how to move in a straight line, without losing your balance. We’ll use a large coordinate plane on the ground and practice moving up and down at different slopes. Who’s ready for a fun challenge?”

Just like we play the many online coordinate plane games, after introducing the activity, set up a large coordinate plane on the ground using masking tape or chalk. Divide the class into pairs and assign each pair a starting point and a destination point. Provide them with a slope value, and have them step in a straight line from the starting point to the destination point, using the slope value to guide them.

Encourage them to take small steps and focus on staying balanced. After everyone has completed their steps, have them share their experiences with the class and explain how the slope affected their movements. You can also make the activity more challenging by adding obstacles or changing the slope values.

3. Slope Match-Up

In this activity, we’re going to play a matching game with equations and their slopes. It’s like a puzzle where you need to find the missing piece. You’ll need to use your knowledge of slope-intercept form (y = mx + b) to match each equation with its slope. The faster you can match them up, the better you’ll do. Let’s see who can be the slope-matching champion!

After introducing the activity, provide the students with a deck of cards with equations and slopes. You can also have cards with x-intercepts or y-intercepts for added challenge. Demonstrate how to match up the cards and how to calculate the slope. Encourage them to work quickly and accurately, and to help each other if they get stuck. After everyone has completed the game, have them share their results with the class and discuss any strategies they used to match up the cards.

4. Slope Building Challenge

Today, we’re going to put our knowledge of slopes to the test by building our own structures with specific slopes. You will be provided with a set of materials, such as blocks or Legos, and tasked with building a structure that meets the given slope requirements. As we work, we will explore different types of real-life structures that use slope, such as staircases and roofs, and see how slope is used in everyday design.

Begin by introducing the concept of slope and reviewing how to calculate it. You can use examples from everyday life, such as the slope of a ramp or the pitch of a roof, to illustrate the concept. Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a set of building materials, such as blocks or Legos. Give them a specific slope requirement, such as a staircase with a slope of 45 degrees or a roof with a slope of 30 degrees.

Encourage the students to experiment with different designs and slopes as they build their structures. Remind them to measure the slope of their structure as they go to ensure they meet the requirement. Once the students have completed their structures, have them explain their thought processes to the class. Ask them to share why they chose their specific design and how they calculated the slope of their structure.

As an extension activity, you can challenge the students to build structures with more complex slopes, such as curved or negative slopes. You can also have them research famous architects and their use of slope in their designs.

5. Slope Shopping

Who doesn’t love a good sale? In this activity, we’ll be using our slope skills to find the best deals in town! Get ready to dig through store ads and catalogs to find the steepest discounts.

Start by providing each student with a set of store ads or catalogs that show the price of different products. You can give them a formula sheet or guide to help them with the calculations. Once they have found the slope of each item on sale, they can compare them to see which one has the steepest discount. You can turn this into a class discussion or a competition to see who found the best deal.

Example: Let’s say we have a store ad that shows a pair of shoes that were originally priced at $100 but are now on sale for $80. To calculate the slope of the discount, we can use the slope formula:

slope = change in y / change in x

In this case, our “y” values are the prices of the shoes, and our “x” values are the time periods (before and after the sale). So, we can plug in our values:

slope = (80 – 100) / (1 – 0)

slope = -20 / 1

slope = -20

This tells us that the discount has a slope of -20. We can compare this to other items on sale to see which one has the steepest discount.

6. Slope Battle

Are you ready to battle it out with your classmates? In this activity, we’ll be using our slope skills to compete in a fun game. Get ready to test your knowledge and see who comes out on top!

Divide the class into pairs and provide each pair with a set of flashcards with linear equations on them. The first student will draw a card and calculate the slope of the equation, while the second student will do the same for their card.

The student with the higher slope wins the round, and the pair with the most wins at the end of the game wins. You can add a timer or make the game more challenging by adding in negative slopes or fractions. This is a great way to get students excited about learning slope and to reinforce their knowledge in a fun way.

Example: Let’s say we have a flashcard with the equation y = 2x + 5. To calculate the slope of this equation, we can look at the coefficient of x, which is 2. So, the slope of this equation is 2. We can compare this to our opponent’s equation to see who has the higher slope. For example, if our opponent has the equation y = 3x + 1, their slope would be 3. In this case, they would win the round because their slope is higher.

In this activity, it’s important to reinforce the concept of slope as a measure of the rate of change between two variables. This helps students understand how to calculate slopes and how to compare slopes to determine which one is steeper.

Engaging online games to learn and master slopes

1. Find the Slope of a Graph

Find the Slope” is an interactive online game designed to help 8th graders practice calculating the slope of a line graph. The game challenges students to select the correct slope value for a given line graph by using the slope formula. The game also provides helpful feedback and hints to guide students through the process of finding the slope.

In this game, students can test their knowledge of slopes and improve their skills through engaging and interactive gameplay. With each correct answer, students can progress to higher levels and increase the difficulty of the questions. The game provides a fun and engaging way for 8th graders to master the fundamental concept of slope and prepare for more advanced mathematics in the future.

2. Slope Racer

Get ready to hit the slopes with “Slope Racer” – the game that will test your math skills and challenge you to master the art of slope! In this fast-paced and exciting game, you’ll guide a snowboarder to climb a steep slope, avoiding obstacles and collecting points along the way.

But to make it to the finish line, you’ll need to use your knowledge of slope to adjust your speed and trajectory, making sure you don’t lose your balance or crash. As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter more difficult terrain and face new challenges, including steep inclines and difficult equations.

But with quick reflexes and a sharp mind, you’ll be able to navigate the slopes with ease and become a true slope pal pro. So strap on your snowboard and get ready to hit the slopes with “Slope Pal” – the ultimate math and snowboarding adventure!

3. Slope Man

In “Slope Man: Using Slope to Climb Tall Peaks,” you’ll help Slope Man navigate treacherous mountain terrain using math skills and a keen sense of slope. As you guide Slope Man up the mountain, you’ll encounter steep inclines, rocky ledges, and other obstacles.

To make it to the top, you’ll need to use your knowledge of slope to calculate the angle of the mountain and adjust Slope Man’s path accordingly. To play, you’ll use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move Slope Man up the mountain. As you progress, you’ll encounter math problems related to slope that you’ll need to solve to advance.

The game gets progressively more difficult, with steeper inclines and trickier math problems to solve. But don’t worry – Slope Man is up to the challenge! With your help, he’ll conquer the mountain and reach new heights of mathematical mastery. So, put on your climbing gear and get ready to tackle the mountain with Slope Man – the game that makes math exciting and adventurous!

4. Slope Intercept Surround

Get ready to set sail and track down a sneaky enemy submarine in “Slope Intercept Surround”! Use your math skills to outmaneuver the sub and trap it in your path. As you navigate your ship across the game board, you’ll need to be strategic in your movements, leaving a trail that the sub can’t cross.

You’ll also need to use your knowledge of slope and intercepts to calculate the sub’s potential path and block it off before it can escape. But the sub won’t go down without a fight – it will try to outsmart you by changing direction and trying to avoid your traps. You’ll need to stay one step ahead of it and use your math skills to outmaneuver it at every turn.

With each successful capture, the game gets more challenging, with faster speeds and more complex intercepts to calculate. But with your sharp mind and quick reflexes, you’ll be able to track down the sub and claim victory. So set a course for adventure and put your math skills to the test with “Slope Intercept Surround”!

5. Numbers and Cannons Slope

Ahoy, matey! Set sail on an adventure with “Numbers and Cannons: Slope,” where you’ll use your math skills to hit targets on a distant island. As the cannon operator, you’ll need to use your knowledge of slope to aim the cannon and calculate the perfect angle and power to hit the target. But be careful – the wind and waves will affect the trajectory of the projectile, so you’ll need to be precise in your calculations.

With each successful hit, the game gets more challenging, with new targets to hit and obstacles to overcome. But don’t worry – you’ll have access to a variety of tools and strategies to help you hit your mark, including adjusting the angle and power of the cannon, changing the type of projectile, and more. So, hoist the anchor and prepare to set sail with “Numbers and Cannons: Slope” – the game that makes math exciting and adventurous!

6. Graphs of the Galaxy

Graphs of the Galaxy is an online math game for middle and high school students that teaches graphing linear equations. Players complete missions by solving graphing challenges in different galaxies. The game includes a brief tutorial before each mission and challenges players to graph linear equations in slope-intercept, point-slope, or standard form.

Players earn points and progress to higher levels as they complete challenges correctly. The game features a space-themed interface, which makes it visually engaging for students. This game is a fun and interactive way to reinforce math skills and teach graphing concepts to middle and high school students.

7. Slope Game

The “Slope Game” on TinyTap is a fun and interactive way for students to learn about calculating the slope of a line. In this game, students must help a character navigate a maze by calculating the slope of different lines and determining which way to turn.

The game includes helpful visual aids and tips to reinforce learning. As students progress through different levels, the challenges become more difficult, encouraging them to think critically and apply what they have learned. The game is designed with colorful graphics and engaging sound effects to keep students motivated and make learning math more enjoyable. Overall, the “Slope Game” is a creative and effective way to teach slope and graphing concepts to students.

Conclusion

In conclusion, incorporating slope activities and games in 8th-grade math classrooms is a great way to make learning more engaging and effective. These activities not only help students understand the concept of slope but also encourage them to think critically and apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.

By using interactive tools and games, students can have fun while learning and build their confidence in math. Teachers can use a variety of resources to introduce slope, such as online games, classroom activities, and real-life examples. Overall, by making slope learning more fun and interactive, 8th-grade math students can be motivated to explore and master this fundamental concept.