Robert Rathbun Mathematics

Grade 8 Exemplar 1
Unit/Theme

Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation

Essential Question/s

How can I represent extremely large and small quantities numerically? How does scientific
notation allow me to represent very large and small quantities?

Standards

Work with radicals and integer exponents.

8.EE.1 Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical
expressions. For example, 32x 3-5= 3-3= 1/33= 1/27.

8.EE.3 Use numbers expressed in the form of a single digit times an integer power of 10 to
estimate very large or very small quantities, and to express how many times as much one is than
the other. For example, estimate the population of the United States as 3 x 10 8 and the
population of the world as 7 x 109, and determine that the world population is more than 20
times larger.

8.EE.4 Perform operations with numbers expressed in scientific notation, including problems
where both decimal and scientific notation are used. Use scientific notation and choose units of
appropriate size for measurements of very large or very small quantities (e.g., use millimeters
per year for seafloor spreading). Interpret scientific notation that has been generated by
technology.

Prior Knowledge

Performing operations on rational numbers (especially dividing/multiplying decimals) without a

Adding/Subtracting integers without a calculator

Understanding place value (millions, billions, trillions, tenths, hundredths, thousandths)

Student Objectives
Students will be able to understand what an integer exponent is and how to evaluate numbers
with these exponents

Students will be able to understand the laws of exponents in order to multiply and divide
numbers with exponents.

Students will be able to use exponential powers of 10 in order to express very small and very
large quantities.

Students will be able to use all four operations in order to solve problems involving scientific
notation.

Instructional Strategies day by day

Day 1-2 What is an exponent?

0 power, expanded form, discovery activity: Are these the same? (-2) 2vs -22, formulas with
exponents

Day 3 Negative Exponents

3(-3), fractions, discovery activity: Are these the same? (-3)4vs 3(-4)

Day 4Multiplying Exponents

Exploratory challenge / Discovering the rule on their own

Drill of adding/subtracting integers (1 minute drill review)

Day 5Dividing Exponents

Exploratory challenge/ Discovering the rule on their own

Drill of adding/subtracting integers (1 minute drill review)

Exploratory challenge/ Discovering the rule on their own

Day 7-8Multi Step of Multiplying/Dividing Exponents

Drill of adding/subtracting integers (1 minute drill review)

Day 10 Review of operations on decimals (specifically multiplying and dividing decimals)

Partner work: Review Sheet of operations on decimals necessary for scientific notation

Day 11 Introduction to Scientific Notation / Expanded vs. standard form

Day 12-13 Operations using scientific notation (adding and subtracting)

Warm up: review of multiplying/dividing decimals

Day 14-15 Operations using scientific notation (multiplying and dividing)

Warm up: review of multiplying/dividing decimals

Day 17 Comparing numbers using scientific notation

Day 18 Review (Finish Line pgs 17-23)

Day 19 Unit Exam

Suggested Resources and Materials

Student worksheets

Finishline workbook

Progress in mathematics textbook

Calculators

Whiteboards

Smartboard

Academic Vocabulary

New Terms

Scientific Notation (The scientific notation for a finite decimal is the representation of that
decimal as the product of a decimal s and a power of 10, where 𝑠 satisfies the property that it is
at least 1,but smaller than 10, or in symbolic notation, 1 ≤ 𝑠< 10. For example, the scientific
notation for 192.7is 1.927× 102.)

Order of Magnitude (The order of magnitude of a finite decimal is the exponent in the power of
10 when that decimal is expressed in scientific notation. For example, the order of magnitude
of 192.7 is 2, because when 192.7 is expressed in scientific notation as 1.927× 102, 2 is the
exponent of 102. Sometimes we also include the number 10 in the definition of order of
magnitude and say that the order of magnitude of 192.7 is 102.)

Previously Used Vocabulary

Exponential Notation

Base, Exponent, Power

Integer
Whole Number

Expanded Form (of decimal numbers)

Square and Cube (of a number)

Student Assessment/s

Formative

Exit Slips / white board / homework collected

Summative

Quiz mid-way, 1 exam at the end of the unit

Catholic Identity

Interdisciplinary Connections

Scientific notation is used in the science classroom as well as the math classroom. Example:
The size of atomic particles (x10-27)