8th Grade

8

An On-Line Textbook of Natural History

— Wayne’s Word

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This on-line textbook contains an amazing amount of information regarding biology and botany. The in-depth detail is a bit overwhelming but the "diamonds in rough" and bits of interesting information are worth it, as is the factual data contained within the website. The site also includes on-line curricula for biology and botany 101.

In the Classroom

This site would be very handy for a research project or upper-level web quest. Include it on your teacher web page as you assign independent projects for both in and out of class. The pages are text-intensive, so an weak readers will need and alernate source or reader-partner.

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Tag(s): cells, plants,

Television Production

— Ron Whittaker, Ph.D.

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp_ind.htm Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

A Free, Interactive Course in Studio and Field Production-- This is a free course aimed at students interested in going into television production. It is exhaustive in its entirety and covers all aspects of the production from scripts to news reporting, editing, legal and ethical issues, etc. While it is geared to college students, upper level high school students would do well with some of this as well, especially those motivated by this subject matter. It also offers the entire course in Spanish and Portuguese.<br> <br>rnClicking on the "Readings and Information" menu will give you a "classroom related" menu that includes lesson plans and ideas. Scrolling down the main page, you can check on interactive test, crosswords, quizzes, video projects, and notes for both students and teachers.

In the Classroom

Wow, what a source for those teaching video or scriptwriting! This would be a valuable reference site for students interested in independent projects using video or for gifted enrichment projects, as well. If nothing else, assign lessons on composition and other "basics" to any student choosing to use video as a medium for a major project.

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Tag(s): writing, vision, gifted,

VolcanoWorld

— Oregon State University

-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

If you are looking for an explosion of volcanic activity, you have come to the right place. This website offers a massive amount of information on volcanoes such as satellite images, current eruptions, a volcanic history calendar, earth volcanoes, other world volcanoes, eruption videos, observatory links, expedition journals and photos, and a large amount of factual information. The volcano games still require Java, but there is plenty of images and information to learn from here.

In the Classroom

Share the videos, photos, and more on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Provide this link on your class website for student to use both in and out of the classroom. Challenge students to watch for current volcanic activity and chart (or record) the activity using graphs or maps to find trends and other statistical data. Use an online graphing tool such as ChartGizmo, <a href="/single.cfm?id=16199">reviewed here</a>. Have cooperative learning groups investigate various parts of this site and create a Thinglink, <a href="/single.cfm?id=13216">reviewed here</a>, to share with the class. This site allows users to narrate a picture.

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Tag(s): volcanoes,

First Days of Middle School

— Middleweb

4-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://teachingtechie.typepad.com/learning/2012/08/first-week-of-school-anything-but-boring.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

Middleweb provides an outstanding list of ideas and links to help the new middle school teacher, many of which apply for teachers at all levels. Ideas include classroom management, communicating with parents, advice from administrators, and first day ideas. This is a must for student teachers, new teachers, and substitutes!

In the Classroom
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Tag(s): professional development,

Middle School Do’s and Don’ts

— TeachersFirst

4-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.teachersfirst.com/do-dont.cfm Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

These pointers are taken from the notebook of a 7th and 8th grade teacher, and are reprinted here with her permission.

In the Classroom

If you are a new middle school teacher or mentor to one, these tips can maintain your sanity and improve your success. Mark this in favorites and looks for examples in your experience!

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Tag(s): substitutes, newbies,

What in the World? Genetic Engineering - webquest

— William E. Peace

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=117728 Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This webquest provides activities for groups of four students each to learn background, new developments, and legislative impact of genetic engineering. It addresses the controversial topic of whether people should eat genetically engineered crops. Each of the students has a separate assignment within the overall webquest. Students learn how to research both sides of a question and provide a balanced, thoughtful examination of a hot topic by using a scientific approach to gain background information, develop critical thinking skills, examine legislative efforts related to the topic, and present findings in an original way. The site includes a grading rubric.

In the Classroom

Divide students carefully into well balanced groups so that they learn not only the topic of genetic engineering, but also the process of researching, analyzing, and presenting findings. rn<br><br> This site would make an excellent "hands-on" activity in a biology class where students can experience both scientific research and policy-making on a first hand basis. If your students are also studying government, they should have an even better sense of the processes involved.

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Tag(s): engineering,

Ask Dr. Math - Middle School Archive

— Drexel School of Education

4-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/drmath.middle.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This website is a question and answer math forum for middle school students. Math topics include algebra, arithmetic, definitions, geometry, logic, measurement, negative numbers, pi, statistics and more. The website provides detailed descriptions and is written at a level easy for middle school students to decipher.

In the Classroom

Use this website to help your students better understand the complex world of mathematics. This source would be great for "at-home" use for those complicated homework challenges. Include it on your teacher web page!

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Tag(s): negative numbers, numbers, probability, statistics, negative numbers, numbers, probability, statistics,

Journey North Mystery Class

— Journey North

1-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://journeynorth.org/mclass/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

Teach about the earth and seasonal change as you solve a real mystery. This unique international "hide and seek" activity is interactive, easy to use, and free! The challenge begins the last week of January and continues throughout May. Each week, students are given a clue to try to locate a "Mystery Class" from somewhere around the world. All clues are seasonal and some include sunrise and sunset times. The site includes standards in science, math and geography. The site provides lesson plans, interactive activities, video clips and more. Registration is free for this 11-week adventure or you can use the resources at the website with no registration necessary. Flash is required for a very few of the activities, there is a lot of information to learn.

In the Classroom

Make this "hide and seek" adventure a weekly highlight in your social studies or science class. It is ideal if you are studying geography or seasons. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to make this a class activity, but be sure to include the link on your teacher web page for students to share at home. Be sure to check out the Teacher info and "Resources and Activities" page to find lesson plans, interactive games, standards and more.

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Tag(s): data, time, seasons, sun, time zones,

Dramatizing History in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

— National Endowment for the Humanities

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/dramatizing-history-arthur-millers-crucible Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This is a another wonderful site for the NEH that encompasses both history and literature in a study of the Salem witchcraft trials with Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. It has a complete lesson plan for 10-12 days with included activities and final projects as well as lesson extensions, all in a printable format. This one is a real bonus for either English or history teachers!

In the Classroom

While this site includes lesson plans for 10-12 days, it is easy to dip in and out of the activities, molding them to whatever it is you want to teach and the approach you want to take. It deals culturally with why Miller’s plan "outdoes the historians" when making this history come alive as well as show the lessons in history as well as literature.

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Tag(s): salem,

Culminating Project for a Unit on the Novel The Giver

— Lori Farnsworth

4-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.middleschool.net/lesspln/englisF/Eng99/eLFj/eLFjk.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This is a lesson plan encompassing three 90-minute lessons as a culmination for the Lowry novel, The Giver. While it was written with 8th graders in mind, it is easily adaptable to any age group that reads this novel. The site includes a lesson outline, objectives, standards addressed, and complete despcription of the lesson which includes groups of students creating powerpoint presentations about the novel to share with other groups.

In the Classroom

This one is handy if you are looking for a complete lesson that will end this unit in a different and interactive way.

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Tag(s): authors, literature, novels, authors, literature, novels,