LEARN NC

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

English Language Arts — Grade 8

Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.

Objective 6.01. Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:

  • using a variety of sentence types, punctuating properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
  • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
  • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
  • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and case.
  • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g. prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses.)
  • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
  • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
  • evaluating the use and power of dialects in standard/nonstandard English usage.
  • applying correct language conventions and usage during formal oral presentations.

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

Which word is it?
Students will determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using Context Clues, a dictionary, and structural analysis within a game format.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
By Donna Harkey.
The Lumbee: Who are they?
In Teaching about North Carolina American Indians, page 2.6
Introduction This activity for middle school grades allows students to survey the various theories concerning the ancestry of the Lumbee. Students will read and analyze four threads that seek to chronicle the ancestry of North Carolina’s largest...
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Gazelia Carter.
Learn new words using context
With guided practice students will use context clues to determine meaning of unfamiliar words in short passages. When students have completed the practice activities, they will read a newspaper or magazine article, picking out unfamiliar words and using context clues to decide what the word means. As a group activity they will share the article, the words, and their meanings with the class.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–8 English Language Arts)
By Betty DeLuca.
Grammar Scramblers, spreadsheets, and parts of speech
Students use and create Grammar Scramblers with a spreadsheet in order to practice identifying and using parts of speech in a fun way.
Format: lesson plan (grade 3–9 English Language Arts)
By Tom Munk.
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.
Defining career vocabulary
In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 1.6
In this lesson, students learn vocabulary terms associated with careers.
Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts)
By Andrea Fedon, Gail Frank, and Cindy Neininger.
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.
The ABCs of the Three Little Pigs
This lesson uses a familiar fairy tale to teach writing. It is designed to emphasize using varied sentence patterns in writing.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 English Language Arts)
By Penny Canipe.

Resources on the web

You can't spell the word "prefix" without a prefix
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students learn in a cooperative setting to identify, define, and construct words with prefixes. First, students guess at initial meanings and spellings of words. They then correct misspellings using spelling strategies developed... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using word webs to teach synonyms for commonly used words
This ReadWriteThink lesson uses word webs as a tool to expose students to synonyms for common words, to help students choose synonyms that are appropriate for a given context, and to encourage students to use more descriptive words in written and oral language.... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Using a word journal to create a personal dictionary
Students create word journals as a strategy for examining unfamiliar vocabulary in literature. After engaging students in a class discussion about how they typically learn new words, the teacher introduces them to a new way of learning vocabulary by organizing... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
She did what? Revising for connotation
Students examine the simple sentence, “She walked into the room,” in an activity that helps to increase use of specific words and connotation in writing. After students act out ways that a person in the sentence might enter the room, the teacher... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Reading and writing workshop: "Freak The Mighty"
This lesson plan from ReadWriteThink is a novel study of Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. The lesson includes the modeling and practicing of specific reading comprehension strategies, vocabulary and word study, a figurative language activity,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Internalization of vocabulary through the use of a word map
This ReadWriteThink lesson provides students with a concrete way to learn vocabulary. The instruction is interactive, provides practice with words, and develops both definitional and contextual knowledge through two agents—purposeful sequencing of... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Flip-a-chip: Examining affixes and roots to build vocabulary
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students are introduced to the Flip-a-Chip activity and have an opportunity to build their own packets. Each packet contains word parts that are printed on poker chips. Students write paragraphs leaving blanks for the four... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Finding figurative language in “The Phantom Tollbooth”
After reading the first two chapters of The Phantom Tollbooth, students are introduced to figurative language through a brief PowerPoint presentation. Once they understand how authors use figurative language in novels, students... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Every punctuation mark matters: A mini-lesson on semicolons
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “Letter from Birmingham Jail"” demonstrates that even the smallest punctuation mark signals a stylistic decision, distinguishing one writer from another and enabling an author to move an audience. In this mini-lesson,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Entering history: Nikki Giovanni and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students study the social impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by reading Nikki Giovanni’s poem “The Funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr.”. Students complete a close reading of the text of King's speech and... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Choosing, chatting, and collecting: Vocabulary self-collection strategy
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to the vocabulary self-collection strategy, using an online Shakespeare text as an example. This strategy involves having students choose the words they want to learn, chat about their rationale... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Character clash: A mini-lesson on paragraphing and dialogue
When writing dialogue in their stories, student writers often forget to indent paragraphs to indicate a change of speaker, which can create problems in understanding. This ReadWriteThink mini-lesson asks students to look closely at their writing, marking... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink