8th Grade Lessons
Great teachers are always looking for a way to improve their lessons. Below you will find 8th grade lessons plans, spanning various subjects and skill levels. These lesson plans are the work of the dedicated teachers in our Teacher.org community - real teachers with actual teaching experience. As more teachers share their lessons plans, the section will continue to grow. Please contact us if you have lessons that you are proud of and would like to share! You have the power to inspire our future.
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8th Grade Arts Lesson Plans
Fairy Tale Fun
In this performing arts lesson, students will rewrite a well-known fairy tale to include a great deal of dialogue and then act out that fairy tale (creation of props is optional as is taping the performance).
Flash Mob Fun
In this performing arts lesson, students will work together with a purpose to create and choreograph a dance for a flash mob to make an announcement for the school.
Mini Diorama
This visual arts lesson will allow students to share some personal interests in the form of a diorama. Sample rubric included.
Musical Masterpiece
In this visual arts lesson, learners will express emotion through painting, as elicited by music.
Painter's Tape Art
This lesson will allow students to practice creating art by marking off what will not be painted. This requires planning prior to mixing the first color.
Paper Mache Zoo
In this visual arts lesson, students will create zoo animals (or any animals) using paper mache. The ‘zoo’ can be displayed in the classroom or in a localized area of the school.
Perspectives
This visual arts lesson will allow students to get creative while practicing with either photography or videography. Students will also have to consider perspective from things outside themselves. Rubric included.
Upside Down Art
This lesson will allow students to practice creating art from a unique perspective while learning about Michelangelo.
Video Diary
In this performing arts lesson, students will work to create a short video diary to showcase the import parts of their life and edit the video into a 5 minute or less montage using EZVid or similar program.
8th Grade English/Language Arts Lesson Plans
Analogy Creation
Students will create analogies using randomly chosen grade-appropriate words.
Controversial Environmental Issues
Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.
De and Con Notations
Students work collaboratively to create the denotations and connotations of words.
Debate an Environmental Issue
Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.
Present Perfect Tense
Students will be able to explain clearly the rules on the present perfect tense of verbs as differentiated from the simple present and past tenses.
Reducing Every Day Plastic Use
Students will research and write a persuasive essay about the effects of plastic in every day use. They will be encouraged to send these letters to officials who could make a difference.
Speed Persuading
The students will use the art of communication to quickly persuade or convince their peers to change their minds on a variety of popular or unpopular opinions.
What Year Did That Happen?
Students will practice rewriting and summarizing paragraphs, paraphrasing the information, facts, and other details in a writing sample.
8th Grade Environmental Lesson Plans
Biosphere
This lesson will allow students to create a self sustaining biosphere.
Controversial Environmental Issues
Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.
Debate an Environmental Issue
Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.
Water, Water, Everywhere
The students will identify products that need water to be manufactured, and the amount needed for each product.
Words of the Environment
On day one, the students will list as many words as possible related to environmental science and on day two connect the meanings of each to real life situations based on research.
8th Grade Math Lesson Plans
Box Geometry
Students will learn about using the formulas for the area of squares, rectangles, and triangles to determine how much paint and carpet to purchase for a room. In addition, they will learn about scale measurements.
Ice Cream Cones, Baseballs, and Cans
Students will work in pairs to practice finding the volume of cones, cylinders, and spheres using everyday objects.
Interest-ing Math
Students will learn about simple interest and how to calculate the real cost of a loan, credit card, and other types of borrowing.
Prices and Percentages
Using a current list of prices for food and clothing, the students will practice math skills related to percentages.
Silent Geometry
The students will practice using geometry formulas measuring items in the classroom to find area and volume, radius and circumference, and identify the types of angles.
Take a Vacation
The students will plan a vacation for themselves, group of friends, or family, considering the costs involved.
8th Grade P.E. Lesson Plans
Music Movement
The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.
PE Immigration
The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.
Trust Me
This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork and trust building, as well as working on directionality for younger students.
8th Grade Science Lesson Plans
Chemical Eating
Using the Periodic Table of Elements the students will research ingredients listed on food product labels.
Controversial Environmental Issues
Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.
Debate an Environmental Issue
Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.
Reducing Every Day Plastic Use
Students will research and write a persuasive essay about the effects of plastic in every day use. They will be encouraged to send these letters to officials who could make a difference.
The Science of Verbs
The student will connect science to everyday, unusual, or rare actions carried out by people.
Water, Water, Everywhere
The students will identify products that need water to be manufactured, and the amount needed for each product.
Words of the Environment
On day one, the students will list as many words as possible related to environmental science and on day two connect the meanings of each to real life situations based on research.
8th Grade Social Studies Lesson Plans
A Return to Ancient Rome
Students will research and create a brief power point program about a landmark of Ancient Rome.
Changing History
Students will research a historical event, “change history” by asking a “What if…” question. The students will rewrite new information based on their research using the same era and people involved to realistically alter the outcome of the event(s).
It’s a Wonder – Filled World
Students will learn about the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World compiled by the ancient Greeks.
Music and History
Students will cooperatively research music from the past 5 or 10 decades and compare and contrast the lyrics with historical events/culture of the decade, answering the question: How does/did history affect music and lyrics?
President vs. President
Each student will research a past deceased president, review their life, speeches, quotes, term in office, etc., and use it to run for President versus another past President.
The Articles of Confederation
The students will research the “first rules” of the United States, the Articles of Confederation.
What Year Did That Happen?
Students will research several historic events in history concentrating on the years they occurred and attempt to create pneumonic devices to help match the correct year to the event.
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