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

Length of Time: Varies depending on grade level and depth of project

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

Length of Time: Several Class Periods

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

Length of Time: Several Class Periods

This visual arts lesson will allow students to share some personal interests in the form of a diorama. Sample rubric included.

Musical Masterpiece

Length of Time: 45-60 Minutes

In this visual arts lesson, learners will express emotion through painting, as elicited by music.

Painter's Tape Art

Length of Time: 40 minutes to 2 hours depending on grade level

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

Length of Time: Varies depending on grade level and depth of project

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

Length of Time: Several Class Periods

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

Length of Time: 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on grade level

This lesson will allow students to practice creating art from a unique perspective while learning about Michelangelo.

Video Diary

Length of Time: 30 Minutes a Day for Several Weeks

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

Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods

Students will create analogies using randomly chosen grade-appropriate words.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: About 45 - 60 Minutes

Students work collaboratively to create the denotations and connotations of words.

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

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

Length of Time: 40 - 50 Minutes

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

Length of Time: Multiple Class Periods

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

Length of Time: Two to Three Class Periods

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?

Length of Time: About 2 - 3 Class Periods

Students will practice rewriting and summarizing paragraphs, paraphrasing the information, facts, and other details in a writing sample.

8th Grade Environmental Lesson Plans

Biosphere

Length of Time: 30 - 45 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to create a self sustaining biosphere.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

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

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

The students will identify products that need water to be manufactured, and the amount needed for each product.

Words of the Environment

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: 40-50 minutes

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

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

Students will work in pairs to practice finding the volume of cones, cylinders, and spheres using everyday objects.

Interest-ing Math

Length of Time: 40 - 50 minutes

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

Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods

Using a current list of prices for food and clothing, the students will practice math skills related to percentages.

Silent Geometry

Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

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

Length of Time: 1 class period

The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.

PE Immigration

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.

Trust Me

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

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

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

Using the Periodic Table of Elements the students will research ingredients listed on food product labels.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

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

Length of Time: Multiple Class Periods

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

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

The student will connect science to everyday, unusual, or rare actions carried out by people.

Water, Water, Everywhere

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

The students will identify products that need water to be manufactured, and the amount needed for each product.

Words of the Environment

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Students will research and create a brief power point program about a landmark of Ancient Rome.

Changing History

Length of Time: About 2 - 4 Class Periods

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

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

Students will learn about the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World compiled by the ancient Greeks.

Music and History

Length of Time: About 45 - 90 Minutes

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

Length of Time: About 3-5 class periods

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

Length of Time: 2 to 3 class periods

The students will research the “first rules” of the United States, the Articles of Confederation.

What Year Did That Happen?

Length of Time: About 45 - 90 Minutes

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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