Unsurpassed in my view is "For All Practical Purposes", the book that accompanies the PBS series of the same title. "the most effective and engaging textbook available for showing mathematics at work in areas with a direct impact on our lives (consumer products and advertising, politics, the economy, the Internet). It was the first, and remains the best, textbook for liberal arts students". About the 8 graders in a moment.
Google for the title, or click http://books.google.com/books?id=LqYeAgAACAAJ&dq=f or+all+practical+purposes
Two chapters from the book are on-line http://www.whfreeman.com/comap/con_index.htm?99oed
This is not for 8-graders, but it may give you an idea about the approach. Perhaps you can find a way to acquire some of the videos.
Chapters I can recommend: Social choice. For example, 8 graders know that if you want to share a piece of cake fairly with a friend: let one make the cut and the other one choose. So how to work this out with three people? Ten? In the same chapter, is there a fair voting system? Another chapter: How high can a mountain be? After a few simplifying assumptions that an 8 grader can understand they compute a maximum hight, and yes, it is approximately the hight of Mount Everest.
Good luck,
Eduard.
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Unsurpassed in my view is "For All Practical Purposes", the book that accompanies the PBS series of the same title. "the most effective and engaging textbook available for showing mathematics at work in areas with a direct impact on our lives (consumer products and advertising, politics, the economy, the Internet). It was the first, and remains the best, textbook for liberal arts students". About the 8 graders in a moment. Google for the title, or click http://books.google.com/books?id=LqYeAgAACAAJ&dq=f or+all+practical+purposes
Two chapters from the book are on-line http://www.whfreeman.com/comap/con_index.htm?99oed
This is not for 8-graders, but it may give you an idea about the approach. Perhaps you can find a way to acquire some of the videos.
Chapters I can recommend: Social choice. For example, 8 graders know that if you want to share a piece of cake fairly with a friend: let one make the cut and the other one choose. So how to work this out with three people? Ten? In the same chapter, is there a fair voting system? Another chapter: How high can a mountain be? After a few simplifying assumptions that an 8 grader can understand they compute a maximum hight, and yes, it is approximately the hight of Mount Everest.
Good luck,
Eduard.