8th Grade Close Reading Projects

Ready to bring some mystery and creativity to your classroom? This 3-day, interdisciplinary resource will have your students crafting their very own urban legends, exploring local landmarks, developing spine-tingling characters, and writing them up as breaking news! Perfect for grades 6-8, this resource integrates creative writing, social studies, and critical thinking. Your students will love diving into the unknown while meeting CCSS standards.

This Urban Legend Resource Includes:
Guided Notes on Urban Legends – Introduce students to the eerie world of urban legends, from famous creatures like Bigfoot to local mysteries.
Haunted Local Landmark Activity – Students will brainstorm and research a spooky local landmark and use it as the setting for their urban legend.
Character or Creature Development Worksheet – Students create mysterious, frightening characters that are sure to haunt their classmates’ imaginations!
Urban Legend Newspaper Template – Students write their urban legend as a two-page newspaper article, including eyewitness accounts, historical background, and more!
Peer Editing and Sharing – Encourage collaboration and feedback as students swap stories and offer critiques.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Interdisciplinary & Engaging: This resource blends creative writing and social studies, letting students explore local history while crafting an urban legend.
• Standards Aligned: Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1, RI.6.2, W.6.2, and SL.6.1, focusing on reading, writing, and critical thinking.
• Student-Led & Collaborative: Students get to create their own urban legend from scratch, share their ideas, and receive feedback from peers.
• Perfect for All Learners: Flexible for independent work, small group collaboration, or whole-class discussions.
• 3-Day Lesson Plan Included: Ready-to-use, structured lesson plan that walks students through the entire creative process—brainstorming, writing, and sharing!

3-Day Lesson Plan Breakdown:

1. Day 1: The Haunted Local Landmark – Students choose a local landmark, research its history, and brainstorm how it will serve as the eerie setting for their urban legend.
2. Day 2: Developing the Story Elements – Students create a character or creature that haunts their legend and develop a plot full of suspense.
3. Day 3: Writing a Newspaper Article – Students bring their legend to life by writing it as a newspaper article, complete with eyewitness accounts, historical facts, and a chilling warning to readers!

Checklist of Benefits: ✅ Fun, spooky, and high-engagement content
✅ 3-day interdisciplinary lesson plan
✅ Perfect for creative writing and local history
✅ CCSS-aligned
✅ Collaborative and student-centered activities
✅ Ready-to-use worksheets and templates
✅ Ideal for grades 6-8

Don’t let this resource disappear into the shadows! Grab your urban legend writing kit today and bring a mysterious and fun writing experience to your classroom!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with this versatile informational reading passage, research report, and collaborative art project on Lionel Messi, an Argentine soccer superstar and influential Latino. Perfect for a research project or as an engaging classroom activity.

***Reading Passages***

DIFFERENTIATED LEVELS FOR ALL LEARNERS

• Early elementary (1-3)
• Upper elementary (4-6)
• Complex Readers (7-12)

Each newsletter is 2 pages.
Information on...
➡️ Early Life
➡️ Career
➡️ Interesting Facts
➡️ Influence

***Reading Comprehension Questions***

These questions are differentiated and can be used with any reading passage about an influential Latino leader, making it ideal for close reading activities.
Features:

• Colored and Black-Line Versions: Available in both vibrant color and easy-to-print black-line formats.
• Reading Comprehension Questions: Tailored for early elementary (grades 1-3) and a separate worksheet for upper elementary (grades 4-6).

***Trifold***

How It Works:

1. Choose a Subject: Students select an individual to research. This could be anyone from historical figures, scientists, artists, to contemporary leaders or influencers. Lionel Messi is pre-filled in one version of this template.
2. Fill in the Blanks: The template guides students through the research process. They'll fill in key sections, providing biographical information, accomplishments, and the impact of the chosen individual.
3. Present to the Class: The completed reports become the basis for engaging class presentations, encouraging students to express themselves confidently and articulately.

***Collaborative Mural Poster***

Have students contribute to a larger masterpiece that honors the talent and resilience of Lionel Messi. This unique product transforms any space into a vibrant tapestry of collective expression, capturing the spirit of Messi's impactful life and words.
⭐️ Pro-Tip: To make a smaller puzzle, use your printer or copier's "combine" feature and print 2 pages on one sheet!

Two Sizes Available:

• 25 pieces or 36 pieces! (Includes both Color-Guide & BW versions)

Perfect for classrooms celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, this Lionel Messi Reading Passage + Research Report Template + Collaborative Mural will inspire students to learn about and appreciate the incredible contributions of this Latino changemaker.

Cette ressource propose 11 projets (chacun avec sa propre rubrique) pour une évaluation formative après la lecture d'un roman. Je les utilise avec mes élèves après un club de lecture ou après une lecture indépendante de leur choix.

Vous pouvez choisir de faire travailler tous les élèves sur le même projet, ou leur donner un élément de choix et leur faire choisir leur propre activité, en fonction de leurs intérêts, de leurs forces et de leurs objectifs.

Ces projets offrent aux élèves des occasions de faire preuve de créativité, d'ingéniosité et d'explorer leurs romans sous un angle différent.

Les options de projet dans cette ressource incluent :

• « Full textos ! » (Un projet créatif qui amène les élèves à réfléchir profondément sur les personnages, la personnalité et les événements de leur roman en créant des conversations texto entre les personnages du roman.)
• « Une BD brillante » (Projet créatif où les élèves créent une bande dessinée à partir des événements de leur roman, dans l'ordre chronologique.)
• « L'actualité du roman » (Un projet créatif dans lequel des étudiants se font passer pour un journaliste et créent un journal basé sur des événements et des personnages de leur roman.)
• « Cartographie-le ! » (Un projet créatif dans lequel les élèves cartographient le cadre de leur roman et présentent des événements clés.)
• « L'histoire ne s'arrête pas là ! » (Un projet d'écriture créative qui donnera aux élèves la possibilité d'écrire une suite ou un dernier chapitre manquant à leur roman.)
• « Affiche de film » (Un projet créatif qui amènera vos élèves à penser cinématographiquement à leur roman. Ils choisiront des acteurs et créeront une affiche de film basée sur leur roman.)
• « La playlist de mon roman » (Un projet musical créatif qui amènera les élèves à créer une bande originale de leur roman en choisissant et en analysant avec soin des chansons qui correspondent au thème et aux événements de leur roman.)
• « Chronologie captivante » (Un projet créatif qui amènera les élèves à construire une chronologie de leur roman - du début à la fin - présentant les événements clés, les problèmes et les résolutions.)
• « Cher Journal ... »(Un projet d'écriture créative qui amènera les élèves à écrire une série d'entrées de journal du point de vue d'un personnage principal de leur roman.)
• « Art nouveau »(Un projet artistique qui permet la créativité artistique et la liberté de mettre en valeur des thèmes, des personnages et des événements par le biais de l'art.)
• « L'habit ne fait pas le moine ! » (Un projet créatif qui permettra aux élèves de recréer la couverture et la quatrième de la couverture de leur roman. Les élèves compareront l'original avec le leur et analyseront leurs choix et modifications personnels.)

Are you stumped about what to do with your students for Valentine's Day? Don't worry about it! Let them analyze LOVE songs!

The LOVE Song Analysis& Projects RESOURCE for middle and high schoolers can be used for one day, one week, or up to a month or unit of love and adds excitement for them, even if they don't have a "boo" or "bae."

This EDITABLE resource has 9 PROJECTS and assignments, a whopping 25 popular love songs with videos, lyrics provided to display on your Promethean OR for annotations, and a general set of questions for you to tailor to your situation. Check this out!

THIS RESOURCE INCLUDES:

1. 25 POPULAR MULTI-GENRE LOVE SONGS for analysis!

2. Over 100+ Discussion Questions,

3. 9 Projects/Assignments

4. Variety of Genres

5. Multi-Love-Related Themes (Endless, break up, reserved types of themes)

6. LYRICS links for each song provided and more

Some SONGS INCLUDED:

1. Beyonce's "Love on Top"

2. The Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

3. Selena Gomez's "Lose You to Love Me"

4. No Doubt's "Don't Speak"

5. Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me"

6. Tevin Campbell's "Can We Talk?"

7. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross' "Endless Love"

8. Usher's "Burn"

9. Brandy & Monica's "The Boy is Mine"

10. Ed Sheeran's "Perfect"

and 15 other Popular LOVE songs

You may also appreciate:

"4 LOVE SONNETS" [POEMS & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS]

4 LOVE SONNETS [MEGA-PACK]

THE LOVE BUNDLE [POEMS ON LOVE, LOSS, & LIFE]

SECONDARY GET-TO-KNOW-YOU YEAR-ROUND BINGO AND GAMES

T.P. - C.A.S.T.T. [MNEMONIC GRAPHIC ORGANIZER]

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I'm Richard Williams, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 20+ Years , and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other EDUCATIONAL materials and resources in my store.

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Dive into the rich heritage and traditions of California Native American peoples with our comprehensive Growing Bundle of reading research resources. This expanding collection offers in-depth insights into various aspects of California Native American life, perfect for research or close reading activities. Ideal for Indigenous People's Day and beyond!

California Native American Peoples Covered:

• Miwok
• Chumash
• Cahuilla
• Mojave
• Hupa
• ...and more to come...

Key Features for Each Group:

• Land: Explore the locations and landscapes where each California Native American people lived.
• Homes: Learn about the unique shelters built by each tribe, showcasing their ingenuity and community living.
• Clothing: Discover the distinct clothing styles and materials used by each California Native American people.
• Children: Gain insights into the lives of children within each tribe, including their roles and daily activities.
• Influential Figures: Delve into the lives and achievements of notable leaders and figures from each tribe.

Two Differentiated Levels for Each Resource:

• Elementary Level: Simplified language and engaging visuals to captivate young learners and foster a deeper understanding of each culture.
• Middle/High School Level: More detailed and complex information tailored for older students, encouraging critical thinking and deeper analysis.

BONUS FILE: Booklet Template aligned to the reading passages.

Why Choose This Growing Bundle?

• Versatile Use: Ideal for classroom instruction, homework assignments, or independent study.
• Educational Value: Provides a thorough and respectful portrayal of California Native American heritage, promoting cultural awareness and appreciation.

Enhance your students' knowledge and appreciation of California Native American history and culture with our expertly crafted and continuously expanding bundle of research resources.