8th Grade Critical Thinking Handouts

Need to help your students learn to take notes and a way for you as the instruction to understand what they understood and what they need help with?

This is a great organizer that students can use to evaluate what they understand and what they need help with.

Unlock the power of assertive communication with our comprehensive Assertiveness Training program, specially designed for teens and adults. This engaging and interactive resource includes a detailed PowerPoint presentation and a complementary handout, offering practical exercises and strategies to help learners develop and practice assertiveness in various situations.

What's Included:

1. PowerPoint Presentation: An informative and visually appealing PowerPoint that covers the fundamentals of assertiveness. Each slide is designed to educate and engage learners, featuring key concepts, real-life examples, and interactive exercises.
2. Interactive Exercises: Embedded within the PowerPoint are exercises that encourage active participation and practical application of assertiveness techniques. These exercises are designed to build confidence and reinforce learning through practice.
3. Handout: A comprehensive handout that summarizes key points from the presentation. This handout serves as a valuable reference tool for learners to review and practice assertiveness techniques on their own.

Empower teens and adults to communicate with confidence and clarity through our Assertiveness Training program. Download today to foster a culture of respect, self-assurance, and effective communication!

Students create avatars with this 22 page handout is based on character traits and character flaws. Students debate for a seat on a lifeboat to survive a luxury cruise shipwreck. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:

Directions

Character Trait List with Definition

Character Flaw List with Definition

12 Male Avatars

12 Female Avatars

Lifeboat Scenario

Group Chart with Note Taking section

Character Reflection Sheet

Extra Resources

Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments

Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.

One Story, Two Perspectives: Exploring Subjectivity and Empathy through Dual-Perspective Narratives 5-8

Description:

Dive into the world of subjectivity and empathy with "1 Story, 2 Perspectives," a unique collection of eight short stories, each told from two contrasting viewpoints. Designed for students in grades 5-8, this resource encourages readers to examine familiar scenarios through different lenses, fostering understanding, compassion, and critical thinking skills.

Each story features two distinct characters, such as the shy new kid and the boisterous class clown, or the driven athlete and the passionate artist. By presenting both perspectives side by side, these narratives invite students to step into the shoes of each character, exploring their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. As students engage with the stories, they'll develop a deeper appreciation for the role that personality, priorities, and life experiences play in shaping one's perception of the world.

But the learning doesn't stop with the stories themselves! This comprehensive resource also includes 20 thought-provoking activities and discussion questions, providing educators with a wealth of tools for extending the lessons of empathy and perspective-taking. From comparative analysis and writing prompts to role-playing exercises and real-world connections, these activities are designed to help students internalize the stories' messages and apply them to their own lives.

Key features of "1 Story, 2 Perspectives":

• 8 engaging short stories, each told from two contrasting viewpoints
• Suitable for students in grades 5-8
• Encourages empathy, critical thinking, and appreciation for diverse perspectives
• Includes 20 activities and discussion questions for deeper exploration
• Adaptable for various classroom settings and learning styles
• Aligns with Common Core Standards for English Language Arts

By exploring these dual-perspective narratives and engaging in the accompanying activities, students will:

• Develop a deeper understanding of empathy and subjectivity
• Recognize the importance of considering multiple viewpoints
• Strengthen critical thinking and analysis skills
• Improve written and verbal communication abilities
• Foster a more compassionate and inclusive classroom community

"One Story, Two Perspectives" is a must-have resource for any educator looking to promote social-emotional learning, character education, and the development of 21st-century skills. Download now and watch as your students grow into more understanding, empathetic, and open-minded individuals!

Creating a Student Success Guidebook (brochure project) gives students an opportunity to share their knowledge and tips for success in middle school with the following year’s new incoming class of students. This is perfect for a technology or leadership class, or for a club that focuses on assisting students, such as Student Council. Students work in small teams to research an assigned topic about expectations in middle school, specific to their school. Next, they create one page of a brochure with their information which will finally be combined with the other teams’ pages to create a full brochure that can be published and distributed to incoming students. The project was created for 8th graders but could easily be adapted to use with 5th or 6th graders leaving elementary school and providing tips for success to new elementary students, or could be used by sophomores (or above) in high school to create a success guide for incoming high school freshmen.

Great end of year project!!

Files Included with this Lesson

• Teacher & Student Notes and Resources

• Brochure Project Instructions, Expectations & Grading Rubric

• Sample Brochure (non-editable .pdf)

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Unlocking Logic: 20 Engaging Puzzles for Grades 5–8 is a fun and challenging collection of brain teasers designed to boost critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in middle school students. This ebook features 20 diverse puzzles, including number patterns, riddles, code-breaking, magic squares, logic grids, spatial reasoning, and more. Each puzzle is crafted to spark curiosity and encourage creative thinking, making it perfect for classroom use, homework, enrichment, or early finishers.

The puzzles vary in difficulty and style to engage a wide range of learners and support flexible use across grades 5–8. Students are encouraged to work individually or in pairs, explore multiple strategies, and build resilience through thoughtful problem-solving. A full answer key is provided to support self-checking and guided discussion.

Whether you're a teacher looking to inspire your class or a parent wanting to support logical thinking at home, this ebook is the perfect companion for building sharp minds—one puzzle at a time!

How does media effect one's self esteem?

This package contains 6 lessons and a culminating task that will address this topic.

The package is meant to be taught over at least five lessons. With discussion, each page should easily fill a 45- to 60-minute lesson block.

Lessons include:

- definitions and discussion

- Influence of the Media

- self esteem and music videos

- what happens when a "beauty" company helps people see their beauty?

- evolution of an advertisement (print media/photoshopping)

- overcoming stereotypes and negative comments

- Think about how awesome you are

- Hand of friendship (culminating task)

There is currently no final assessment piece included in this package.

Each lesson, except the last, should be started with a gratitude journal page. The idea behind this it to help students see that they have a lot to be grateful for, regardless of what the media may portray to them. The journal pages shouldn’t take anymore than 5 minutes, max. For photo copying purposes, the journal page is placed before the worksheet, for any given lesson.

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Trapped in a snowstorm in a dangerous mountain pass, students use character traits to debate and give rationals to win the only two seats in the wagon. Students create avatars with this 22 page handout based on character traits and character flaws. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:

Directions

Character Trait List with Definition

Character Flaw List with Definition

12 Western themed Male Avatars

12 Western themed Female Avatars

Wagon, Ho! Scenario

Group Chart with Note Taking section

Character Reflection Sheet

Extra Resources

Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments

Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.

This resource is aimed at 7th to 10th grade.

The political landscape in the United States is deeply polarized, with Republicans and Democrats often having starkly different positions on many issues. 

Here are ten hot contentious topics that hav been prominent in the political discourse. These topics are highly dynamic, and the positions associated with each party can evolve over time, influenced by current events, leadership changes, and public opinion. Always consult the most recent sources for the latest information on these and other political issues.

Each issue has further been divided into two short stories, or rather scenarios, one from the perspective of a democrat, and one from the perspective of a republican.

Finally, there are sets of questions that probe each scenario and dig deeper into the issues and perspectives.

The topics covered are:

Gun control

Abortion

Healthcare reform

Climate change & environmental policy

Tax policy

Immigration

Economic inequality & social welfare

Education

LGBTQ+ Rights

Voting rights and electoral integrity

Une histoire, deux regards : Explorer la subjectivité et l'empathie à travers des récits à double perspective

Description :

Plongez dans l'univers de la subjectivité et de l'empathie avec "Une histoire, deux regards", un recueil unique de huit nouvelles, chacune racontée selon deux points de vue opposés. Conçu pour les élèves de 5e à 4e, cet outil invite les lecteurs à examiner des situations familières sous différents angles, favorisant ainsi la compréhension, la compassion et l'esprit critique.

Chaque histoire met en scène deux personnages distincts, comme le nouvel élève timide et le pitre turbulent de la classe, ou encore l'athlète déterminé et l'artiste passionné. En présentant les deux perspectives côte à côte, ces récits invitent les élèves à se mettre à la place de chaque personnage, à explorer ses pensées, ses sentiments et ses motivations. Au fil des histoires, ils développeront une meilleure compréhension du rôle que la personnalité, les priorités et les expériences de vie jouent dans la perception du monde.

Mais l'apprentissage ne s'arrête pas aux histoires elles-mêmes ! Cette ressource complète comprend également 20 activités et questions de discussion stimulantes, offrant aux enseignants une multitude d'outils pour approfondir les leçons d'empathie et de prise de perspective. De l'analyse comparative aux exercices d'écriture, en passant par les jeux de rôle et les liens avec le monde réel, ces activités sont conçues pour aider les élèves à intérioriser les messages des histoires et à les appliquer à leur propre vie.

Points forts de "Une histoire, deux regards" :

• 8 nouvelles captivantes, chacune racontée selon deux points de vue opposés
• Encourage l'empathie, l'esprit critique et l'appréciation de la diversité des points de vue
• Inclut 20 activités et questions de discussion pour une exploration plus approfondie
• Adaptable à différents contextes de classe et styles d'apprentissage

En explorant ces récits à double perspective et en participant aux activités qui les accompagnent, les élèves :

• Développeront une compréhension plus profonde de l'empathie et de la subjectivité
• Reconnaîtront l'importance de prendre en compte des points de vue multiples
• Renforceront leur esprit critique et leurs capacités d'analyse
• Amélioreront leurs compétences de communication écrite et orale
• Favoriseront une communauté scolaire plus bienveillante et inclusive

"Une histoire, deux regards" est un outil indispensable pour tout enseignant souhaitant promouvoir l'apprentissage socio-émotionnel, l'éducation au caractère et le développement des compétences du XXIe siècle. Téléchargez-le dès maintenant et observez vos élèves devenir des individus plus compréhensifs, empathiques et ouverts d'esprit !