LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

English Language Arts — Grade 8

Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.

Objective 5.01. Increase fluency, comprehension, and insight through a meaningful and comprehensive literacy program by:

  • using effective reading strategies to match type of text.
  • reading self-selected literature and other materials of interest to the individual.
  • reading literature and other materials selected by the teacher.
  • assuming a leadership role in student-teacher reading conferences.
  • leading small group discussions.
  • taking an active role in whole class seminars.
  • analyzing the effects of elements such as plot, theme, charaterization, style, mood, and tone.
  • discussing the effects of such literary devices as figurative language, dialogue, flashback, allusion, irony, and symbolism.
  • analyzing and evaluating themes and central ideas in literature and other texts in relation to personal and societal issues.
  • extending understanding by creating products for different purposes, different audiences, and within various contexts.
  • analyzing and evaluating the relationships between and among characters, ideas, concepts, and/or experiences.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

A renaissance of jazz and poetry
The Harlem Renaissance was the birth of a creative plethora in all fields of art for African Americans. The poetry and jazz composed during or inspired by this era naturally complemented each other. Furthermore, many of the themes from the musical and literary worlds are universal and provide a great lesson on how two different works can have a parallel theme.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts and Music Education)
By Janet Fore.
Poetry from prose: A different kind of "book report"
Students use a word-processing program to write a poem that summarizes important themes or events central to the plot of a novel. Once the poem is proofread, students type the poem according to specific directions. They then print their work and illustrate over or around the writing for an illustrated "book report." Students incorporate details from the novel in their writing and in their illustrations of their poems. In this way, students focus on the themes or events in the novel that appeal to them most -- the ones they feel are most important to the novel's meaning.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Sally Watts.
N.C.- The Rip Van Winkle State
This lesson introduces students to Washington Irving's short story "Rip Van Winkle" and correlates it with the history of North Carolina. In the 1800s North Carolina was nicknamed "The Rip Van Winkle State."
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Kay D. Lopossay.
The mythology connection
Mythology is fascinating and students enjoy the research and learning more about different characters. By allowing them to choose some of the activities for the booklet, they take more ownership in learning. They also enjoy dressing up and pretending to become a mythological character. This unit incorporates many goals in a fun and stimulating way.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Cindy Bowman.
Maya Angelou: Study and response to "Still I Rise"
Students read biographical information on Maya Angelou and her poem, "Still I Rise." Students identify support and elaboration in poem, then respond by either writing a letter to the author or his/her own poem in response.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 English Language Arts)
By Barbara Groome and Jo Peterson Gibbs.
The life and works of Edgar Allan Poe
Students will evaluate a sampling of literary selections by Edgar Allan Poe and assess the influence of Poe's life on his works.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Peggy Stanley.
Jim Crow and segregation
This is an integrated lesson plan that incorporates both eighth grade language arts and history. Using Internet research, literary analysis, and persuasive technique, students will practice reading and writing skills while analyzing the impact of Jim Crow Segregation on African Americans living in North Carolina and elsewhere.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Burnetta Barton.
Interpreting a short story
Students will study the literary genre of the short story and examine how, through writing, an author can comment directly/indirectly on our society as a whole. Hopefully, the students will develop an awareness of the problems/concerns facing our society and an appreciation of how a skilled writer can mirror society's ills and sometimes offer solutions for the problems that plague us.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Regina Johnson.
Dialect Awareness in Literature and Life
Dovey Coe, a young adolescent novel by Frances O'Roark Dowell of Boone, North Carolina, takes place in the 1930s in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The use of mountain dialect continues to remind the reader of the importance of setting in this novel. The study of a selection from this novel will help students realize the impact of dialect in literature as well as their own speaking and writing.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Barbara Groome and Jo Peterson Gibbs.
Creating found poetry from picture books
Students select and read a picture book and afterwards create “found poetry” based on the picture book.
Format: lesson plan (grade 7 English Language Arts)
By Barbara Groome and Jo Peterson Gibbs.
Cherokee lore and traditions
In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 3.3
Length 9 Weeks Class Length: 45 minutes - Meets daily Learning outcomes Promotes life-long learning: appreciation of different cultures. Provides hands-on activities: making masks. Integrates with EOG testing: reading....
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Patricia Lancaster.
A Christmas Carol chronology
Christmas Carol Chronology, based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, provides students with an opportunity to develop comprehension by listing plot developments and arranging them sequentially. This lesson begins with cooperative learning groups and ends with an individual manipulative activity of cutting and pasting strips of events in chronological order.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Judy Gibbs.

Resources on the web

You know the movie is coming—Now what?
In this lesson, students study cinematic terms and determine how the film version of the book would be created. This lesson uses Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl as an example; however, the activities can be... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Writing free verse in the "voice" of Cesar Chavez
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students familiarize themselves with the characteristics of free verse and write a free verse poem using written material about labor activist Cesar Chavez. Students take notes about experiences that helped shape the life... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Writing alternative plots for Robert C. O'Brien's “Z for Zachariah”
In this lesson that concludes a class reading of Robert C. O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, students pick a part of the story where Ann makes a critical decision, and they rewrite the remaining portion of the plot. After reading... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Writing a flashback and flash-forward story using movies and texts as models
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to examples of flashbacks and flash-forwards through the film The Sandlot and/or illustrated books. Students learn to incorporate details, description, characterization,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
The world of Haiku
In this lesson, students explore the traditions and conventions of haiku, comparing this classic form of Japanese poetry to a related genre of Japanese visual art and composing haiku of their own. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
Why do we remember Revere? Paul Revere's ride in history and literature
This EDSITEment lesson contains four activities for students to examine how the historical Paul Revere's ride differs from the account in Longfellow's poem, then reflect on why this event is so significant in American cultural history. The activities involve... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provided by: EDSITEment
What am I? Teaching poetry through riddles
Riddles are an excellent vehicle for introducing students to poetry and poetry writing. In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students explore, analyze, and discuss how metaphor, simile, and metonymy are used in riddle poems. They will use metaphor, simile, and... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Weaving the threads: Integrating poetry annotation and web technology
This lesson from ReadWriteThink engages students in meaningful research using poetry as a focal point. Students identify words and phrases in a poem by a Native American and in the process, learn about Native American culture and history. Students create... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink