Throughout the year:

Word Wednesday to focus on vocabulary, context, and word affixes and roots.
(L.8.4.a) (L.8.4.b) (L.8.6)
Journals - Tuesday and Thursday (W.8.10)
IR: annotations (Q1/3), book talks (Q2), book club (Q4) (RL.8.1) (IA.1) (IA.2) (RL.8.10)
I. The Outsiders (Themes: Stereotypes, Loyalty) (W.8.10) (RL.8.10)
I can identify the theme in what I am reading.
I can compare/contrast two different versions of a story (film or text).
I can use the 6+1 traits of writing to develop and strengthen my own writing.
I can understand another persons perspective.
I can use proper research techniques and paraphrasing to inform about a
historical decade.
Writing
Six Traits packets - Introduce students to each of the six traits and practice with
short writing samples. (Spread throughout writing standards)
Decade Paper
Ideas and content
Organization
Sentence fluency
Narrative
Voice
Word choice
Decade Paper - Research a decade and write an informative paper about it.
(Option: Argue that this is the best decade. (W.8.1) (W.8.7) (W.8.8)
(W.8.5)(RL.8.1)(IA.1.)
Narrative writing - Show pivotal moment from The Outsiders from another
characters perspective. Chapter 10? (W.8.3)(RL.8.3)(RL.8.6)
The Optimist Speech - Students will formulate and deliver a speech centering
around the idea, How my best brings out the best in others. (W.8.6)
Tie in the book text dependant
Reading
Thematic Word and write up-students choose a word that connects to a theme
from the text (RL.8.2)
Nothing Gold Can Stay Poem (RL.8.4)
iMovie project-After comparing/contrasting film and book versions of the story,
students are assigned a clip from the film to analyze and provide commentary for
(RL.8.3) (RL.8.7)
II. The Landlady
Writing
Suspense Writing - Write a short narrative that uses dialogue to build suspense
and develops a clear character.(W.8.3)(RL.8.6)(RL.8.3)

Use a STEAL chart to develop character, model first with Landlady

(W.8.3.b)

Reading

Read and discuss T

he Landlady (RL.8.3) (RL.8.6) (RL.8.7)

III. The Crucible (Themes: Hysteria, Life Vs. Legacy, Fear, Accusations/Proof)
Writing
Research - Research McCarthyism and how the themes from The Crucible relate
to The McCarthy Trials. (W.8.7) (W.8.2) (W.8.5) (W.8.8) (W.8.9.a)
(L.8.4.c)(RL.8.1)
Possible research paper - Explain how The Crucible is an allegory.
Argument
Write a letter from Elizabeth Proctors point of view convincing John to
choose either life or legacy. (W.8.1) (W.8.4)
Students will write a letter to their parents convincing them to buy a
present. (W.8.1) (W.8.4)
Tie in Language Standards listed below.
Reading
Discuss theme as it relates to the development of characters/action (RL.8.2)
(RL.8.3)
Scene in the woods-Students create the script for the scene in the woods and
perform in front of the class (RL.8.1) (RL.8.3)
Storyboard for character-Students choose a character from the play to track
throughout the story, noting changes to their character including traits, reputation,
accuser/accused (RL.8.1) (RL.8.3)
IV. Irony
Reading
Read The Gift of the Magi and analyze the use of irony (RL.8.6)
V. Tom Sawyer (Themes: Satire, Growing Up, Superstition, Death)
Writing
Write a satire. (L.8.5) (W.8.3.a) (W.8.3.d)
Creative Writing - short scenes, short story, collected poetry (L.8.5)
Publish an anthology of creative writing-Google Site for each class?
(W.8.6)
Reading
Identify satire and recognize humor. (RL.8.6) (RL.8.1)
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue reveal aspects of character. (RL.8.3)
Informational reading on dialect, Mark Twain, etc. (RL.8.5)
Chapters 1,2 (play), 4 OR 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15,17,18, (20?),21, 23, 24,
skip to 28, 29 - 33

VI. The Giver (Themes: Utopia/Dystopia, Choice)

Writing
Argue - When is it ok to rebel? Students will use text evidence and support to
justify their argument. (W.8.1) (RL.8.1) (W.8.4)
Identify symbols and explain their meanings in the text. (RL.8.1) (RL.8.4)
Students will write the last chapter of the book, determining what happened to
Jonas using inferences drawn from the text. (RL.8.1) (W.8.3)
Analyze similarities and differences between text and live version of The Giver.
(RL.8.7)
Reading
Use text evidence from book to support an argument (RL.8.1)
Analyze similarities and differences between text and live version of The Giver.
(RL.8.7)
Non-fiction connections to the novel-Students will identify pros/cons related to the
issue and connect back to themes/plot of the book (RI.8.1) (RI.8.6) (RI.8.8)
(RI.8.9)
VII. Touch the Top (Themes: Overcoming barriers/obstacles/limitations, systems, perceptions
of others, ethical issues-guide dogs, sherpas, etc.)
Writing
Research and Argument: Choose an ethical issue that ties into Touch the Top of the
World, establish a thesis, and argue a position and acknowledge opposing claims.
(W.8.1) (W.8.4) (RL.8.1) (W.8.9.b)
Quick writes tying into themes. (W.8.10)
Compare and contrast Eriks support systems. Do you think the mother or father
was a better support system? (RL.8.1) (W.8.1)
Track and discuss the changes in Eriks character. (RL.8.1) (RL.8.3) (W.8.2.a)
(W.8.2.b)
Describe Eriks epiphany. (RL.8.1) (RL.8.3) (W.8.3)
Describe a support system you have used to become better at an academic,
athletic, or technical skill. (W.8.3)
Describe a barrier you have faced and the systems you used to manage it.
(W.8.3)
Speech: Combining some of the ideas from the text-What is Your summit? What
barriers/systems do you need to use in order to reach success? Connect to the
text and Erik.
Reading
Research and gather information, argue a position acknowledge opposing claims.
(RI.8.1)(RI.8.6)(RI.8.8)(RI.8.9)
Read and use comprehensions strategies, make connections, and determine importance
for several related non-fiction articles relating to Touch the Top (IA.1)

VIII. Language Standards: Need to be included throughout the year as necessary and when
they come up within text/writing-for reading/writing, speaking, listening

Verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) (L.8.1.a)

Active/passive verbs (L.8.1.b)
Form and use verbs in: indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive
(L.8.1.c)
Recognize and correct shifts in mood/voice (L.8.1.d)
Punctuation (comma, ellipsis, dash) (L.8.2.a)
Context clues for unfamiliar words (L.8.4.a)
Greek/Latin affixes and roots (L.8.4.b)
Figures of speech (verbal irony, puns) (L.8.5.a)
Connotations/denotations (L.8.5.c)
Grade-appropriate vocabulary (L.8.6)

January-Mid February: Tom Sawyer

Mid February (13th)-End March: Touch the Top
April: The Giver (play on the 28th)
May: Lit. Circles