Lessons for 8th Grade:
Native American Folktales (Literacy):
Students use Comic Life to retell a Native American folktale. Students can use any comic program to do so. I assign the students a story (that's why there are numbers next to some of the stories) and only repeat a few for my two sections of classes. They must first take the time to read the story. I answer questions about their story to help them understand the meanings. They, then retell the story using Comic Life. They need to include the events that make up the plot, conflict, rising action(s), climax, falling action and the resolution.
Students use Comic Life to retell a Native American folktale. Students can use any comic program to do so. I assign the students a story (that's why there are numbers next to some of the stories) and only repeat a few for my two sections of classes. They must first take the time to read the story. I answer questions about their story to help them understand the meanings. They, then retell the story using Comic Life. They need to include the events that make up the plot, conflict, rising action(s), climax, falling action and the resolution.
|
|
| ||||||
Shopping Spree Project (Math):
I take my students on a $300 shopping spree in order to teach them Excel/Google Sheets. I share the shopping spree document (one on the right) with the students so they have a reference to look at. We open Sheets/Excel together to set up the document before we start shopping. They must listen and follow directions! After saving their set up, they may start shopping. There are only 5 sites they can go to, listed on the shared document. Each site has a different discount given taken off of the online price. They must buy at least 5 items. This stops students from buying a phone and saying they are finished. The computer must generate the sales tax, total and a running total on the bottom. I show the students how to do the formulas for each column. Any student with exactly $300, with no mistakes gets a prize.
I take my students on a $300 shopping spree in order to teach them Excel/Google Sheets. I share the shopping spree document (one on the right) with the students so they have a reference to look at. We open Sheets/Excel together to set up the document before we start shopping. They must listen and follow directions! After saving their set up, they may start shopping. There are only 5 sites they can go to, listed on the shared document. Each site has a different discount given taken off of the online price. They must buy at least 5 items. This stops students from buying a phone and saying they are finished. The computer must generate the sales tax, total and a running total on the bottom. I show the students how to do the formulas for each column. Any student with exactly $300, with no mistakes gets a prize.
|
| ||||
Periodic Table Project (Science):
I assign each student in the grade an element. They are to use only one slide in PowerPoint/Google Slides to fit everything asked for. I share the document with my students so they can see what is expected and how it will be graded. When they are finished, we print them on colored paper, according to the color of the periodic table. We make a big bulletin board in the hall.
I assign each student in the grade an element. They are to use only one slide in PowerPoint/Google Slides to fit everything asked for. I share the document with my students so they can see what is expected and how it will be graded. When they are finished, we print them on colored paper, according to the color of the periodic table. We make a big bulletin board in the hall.
|
|
.png){kind=small}
| ||||||
Explorer Research (Social Studies):
Students are assigned an explorer from the list given, then the list is shared with the students. I have done the project two different ways. First is to have the students do a slide presentation (Google Slides/PowerPoint) along with a podcast or green screen video. The second is to do a Padlet with a podcast or green screen video. The podcast/video is just the five facts on their explorer as a quick facts video. They will still have to type them onto a slide or onto the Padlet.
Students are assigned an explorer from the list given, then the list is shared with the students. I have done the project two different ways. First is to have the students do a slide presentation (Google Slides/PowerPoint) along with a podcast or green screen video. The second is to do a Padlet with a podcast or green screen video. The podcast/video is just the five facts on their explorer as a quick facts video. They will still have to type them onto a slide or onto the Padlet.
|
|
| ||||||
|
| ||||
Internet Safety Slide Videos (Tech):
The students go to Websafety 101 and choose the "Grades 6-8 Lessons". They will create a video presentation on Powtoon with their information. This is done as a jigsaw activity where student pairs work together to research a piece of the puzzle then share their projects with the class.
The students go to Websafety 101 and choose the "Grades 6-8 Lessons". They will create a video presentation on Powtoon with their information. This is done as a jigsaw activity where student pairs work together to research a piece of the puzzle then share their projects with the class.
Holocaust Webquest (Social Studies):
Towards the end of the year, students are to research the Holocaust. There are times that the classroom teacher doesn't have time to really get into the topic. I found a great webquest that covers much of the topic.
Towards the end of the year, students are to research the Holocaust. There are times that the classroom teacher doesn't have time to really get into the topic. I found a great webquest that covers much of the topic.
