English Language Arts — Grade 8

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.

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.

Learning literary elements through African and African American folktales

In this eighth grade lesson, students will apply their knowledge of literary elements (plot structure and archetypal characters) to the analysis and creation of African and African American folktales. Students will work in groups to read several picture book versions of African and African American folktales. Each group then creates a plot map for a story and highlights other literary elements identified within the text. Students then compare the folktales with fairy tales from other cultures and explain what they learned about African and African American culture from reading the folktales. Finally, students work independently to write their own modern-day folktale.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–9 English Language Arts)

By Hardin Engelhardt.

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.

Is no man an island?

This unit is designed to encourage thinking about our connectedness to and responsibilities toward others. Materials in this unit are used to demonstrate humankind's need to refute an impersonal natural order.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

By Jewell Kendrick.

Feel in the blanks

The following lesson is designed to function as a review of beginning, middle, and end and an introduction to individualized imagination, creativity, and perspective as it relates to the development of dialogue (i.e. improvisation).

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 English Language Arts)

By Lei Knight.

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.

Resources on the web

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

A world of myths

In this lesson from ARTSEDGE, students explore how myths help to explain nature and science. Students read, discuss, and respond in writing to a variety of myths. They then create a graphic representation of one of those myths. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Traveling the road to freedom through research and historical fiction

Students learn about and discuss slavery and the Underground Railroad in this lesson that explores historical fiction and webquests. Once students have brainstormed characteristics of historical fiction, the teacher reviews characterization and explains... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Slipping, sliding, tumbling: Reinforcing cause and effect through diamante poems

This lesson introduces the concept of cause and effect through an activity where students construct their own diamante poems. After introducing the concept of cause and effect, the teacher engages students in a brainstorming activity to compile a list of... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Set a poem to music

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students choose a favorite poem, set it to a rhythmic meter, and assign an original melody to the rhythm. Students will: apply prior knowledge of note values and assign meter to each syllable of their poem and... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 English Language Arts and Music Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Reading and analyzing multigenre texts

Teachers use Black and White by David Macaulay or another similar text to introduce multigenre literature. Afer reading the text, students work in small groups to consider all the connections Macaulay makes in the book and... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Press conference for "Bud, Not Buddy"

This ReadWriteThink lesson can be used after the reading of Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis. The lesson encourages students to use higher-level thinking skills, and asks them to examine different character perspectives. Students... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Postmodern picture books in the middle school

Students learn to analyze plot and critique the author's intent in this lesson that focuses on Black and White by David Macaulay, a picture book that presents four story lines. Students will also explore multi-literacies and... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Memories matter: "The Giver" and descriptive writing memoirs

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will combine reading with descriptive writing. Students read The Giver by Lois Lowry, as well as short biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs in order to understand the differences between them.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Imagine that! Playing with genre through newspapers and short stories

This ReadWriteThink lesson uses narrative structures to introduce students to one form of expository writing-news briefs and articles. By condensing a short story into a newspaper article and expanding an article into a short story, students will explore... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Found poems/Parallel poems

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will write found poems using a descriptive passage from a piece of literature they are reading. Then they will underline key words, and using these key words, and following the format in their found poems, they... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink