English Language Arts — Grade 8

Antebellum North Carolina

In this lesson students will examine pictures & documents relating to the Hayes Plantation (Edenton, NC). Students will also use various maps of North Carolina to help them analyze how James Cathcart Johnston (owner of Hayes Plantation) used, modified and adapted to the physical environment of Edenton.

Students will decipher original manuscripts from the Southern Historical Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill Campus and draw conclusions about antebellum society in North Carolina with regard to reform movements and the history and status of blacks.

From a list of volumes found in the Hayes Plantation Library exhibit at the North Carolina Collection Gallery, students will determine what catagories of books were most prevalent in the library and hypothesize as to why those types of books would be so important to an antebellum plantation owner.

Click Here to access Photographs & documents relating to this lesson plan.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Mathematics)

By cissy o'neal.

Differences Across the Curriculum: Part 2

This set of lessons can be used with "Differences Across the Curriculum: Parts 1, 3, and 4" as an integrated approach to exploring diversity with eighth graders. The unit will revolve around the use of the drama version of "The Diary of Anne Frank." Students will learn how diversity creates bias, which leads to conflict, where students confront their bias and practice tolerance. These parts reflect the four core curricula in an interwoven approach to teaching students to confront their biases, learn tolerance, and infer the impact of these on today's society. This activity, Part 2, is meant to augment the pre-reading activities completed in Part 1 in a Social Studies class.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)

By Lynn Carter.

Good medicine

Students will examine changes in technology, medicine, and health that took place in North Carolina between 1870 and 1930 and construct products and ideas which demonstrate understanding of how these changes impacted people living in North Carolina at that time. To achieve these goals, students will employ the eight intelligences of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science)

By Leslie Ramsey.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I Have A Dream” speech

Students will display their understanding of the symbolism and references that Dr. King used to enrich his famous speech on August 28, 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial by constructing a “jackdaw,” a collection of documents and objects.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Charlotte Lammers.

Paving the Road to the Constitution

Students will be able to assess the strengths and weaknessess of the Articles of Confederation as related to the United States and North Carolina. Students will be able to demonstrate an argument for or against ratification of the United States Constitution.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Computer Technology Skills)

By Kim Bennett.

Plan for a panel discussion regarding the validity of the Lincoln Administration

Many of the events surrounding the American Civil War era have become national myths rather than accurate historical facts. This paradigm can be rationalized as a need for national healing. This lesson encourages students to investigate all sides of the issues within the context of the Civil War era. This will contribute to an understanding of the actual events that were catalysts for Lincoln's executive decisions. Students will become “experts” on the Lincoln administration and accept the responsibility of sharing their expertise with their classmates through oral communication in a panel discussion. They will also be responsible for turning in the written work produced as a result of their research, as well as developing a handout and perhaps a visual aid, as they see fit.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Jamie Hulse.

"We the People"

Students will gain a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution by exploring the language of the Constitution.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts, Social Studies, Computer Technology Skills, and Mathematics)

By Teachers Connect.

Lesson plans on the web

Campaigning for fair use: Public service announcements on copyright awareness

In this lesson that introduces issues of fair usage and copyright laws, students create audio public service announcements that can be broadcast over the school's public address system or published as podcasts on the Internet. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Dynamic duo text talks: Examining the content of Internet sites

Students read a variety of online texts about Anne Frank and the Holocaust prior to more extensive study of these topics. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Computer Technology Skills and English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Freedom of speech and automatic language: Examining the Pledge of Allegiance

Students explore rote learning and their own right to freedom of speech by examining the Pledge of Allegiance from a historical and personal perspective (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

From forest to farm to urban forest

Students examine what happens when the post-war urban development boom crowds out the forest. Students will also reflect on how science and technology have changed people’s perception of the natural world. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science, Social Studies, and English Language Arts)

Provider: Forest History Society

Investigating the Holocaust: A collaborative inquiry project

Students explore a variety of resources—texts, images, movies, artwork“to learn more about the Holocaust. Beginning with journal writings and a picture book to introduce the issues, the lesson plan focuses on student-centered inquiry. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Power of Nonviolence

This lesson introduces students to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence and the teachings of Mohandas K. Gandhi that influenced King's views. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities

Orphan trains

In this lesson students will develop their ideas about social trade-offs by examining the history of the Orphan Trains and the New York Children's Aid Society, created in 1853. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

The penny problem

Students explore possibilities for “phasing out” the penny from the United States money supply. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provider: National Council on Economic Education

Points of view in the news

Students will read articles from National Geographic News and answer questions describing each article's source, purpose, and viewpoint. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 English Language Arts)

Provider: National Geographic