Less than $5 8th Grade Other (ELA) Activities (by date, oldest first)

Need to teach tone? Do it in a way your students will immediately understand through greeting cards! This is such a great way to also introduce non-fiction elements such as audience, message, and purpose.

The cards are simple to understand but require a little inferencing too. Using greeting cards means it's a lesson where students can learn and practice quickly.

The lesson has increased complexity, gradual release through group and independent work, and is adapted with a word bank.

What's Included:

• Detailed lesson on what tone is and isn't
• How to identify tone.
• Notes template for students to fill in during the lesson.
• Group practice with explanation.
• Individual practice.
• A two question formative assessment.

Students will gain basic knowledge about the Holocaust by completing a worksheet. Afterwards students are asked to find basic knowledge about some of the victims of the Holocaust as they are taken to a website with victim profiles. Lastly students are asked to construct an Acrostic poem dedicated to one of the victims of the Holocaust. A great activity which places a human face on the Holocaust. Comes with an answer key and rubric.

An interactive flip book/ study guide for William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It". Includes questions for each Act and an answer key.

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You may also like: Shakespeare Comedies

As You Like It Characterization Flip Book

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This is a worksheet for evaluating a film adaptation of any novel. It requires students to compare and contrast different elements of both the film and the novel for an in depth learning experience. Don't just show the film, have students analyze it and realize how a director's choices may influence the way an audience interprets the film vs the text. A great inclusion to any novel study.

Archetype Web Quest! Started Web Quests this year and my students love them and so do I. Students must define and find examples for different archetypes. Great release of accountability. Requires students have access to a computer and internet. Includes resources and answer key.

This is an excellent worksheet to give prior to having students read Shakespeare's play "As You Like It". It has historical information about the play and 7 short answer questions. *** You may also like my study guide for As You Like It *** As You Like It Interactive Flipbook

This ELA reading comprehension activity is the perfect tool to use in your classroom all year long. These 15 cover-up boards work for any book or story and have questions that encourage metacognition and increase reading comprehension skills! Perfect for early finishers, reading centers, test-prep, tutorials, small group work and more!

✨ELA Bundle!✨

What's Included

• 15 different Cover-Up boards with 4 questions on each

Directions

• With Cover Ups, the comprehension questions can be answered using any book or story.

• When students are done with their reading, they can grab a Cover Up board (consider having them laminated and printed on colored paper) and use the book that they are reading to answer the questions.

• Then students will use sticky notes to write out their answers and place them directly on top of the question on the Cover Up board.

Other resources you may like...

Roll a Story Bundle

Pathos, Ethos, and Logos Stand Up Sit Down

Word Work

Retro Coloring Pages

This AVID Costa's Levels of Thinking Early Finisher Packet includes a variety of critical thinking activities for middle and high school students. It features a passage with leveled questions, a creative "Finish the Story" activity using Costa’s levels, and an exercise where students categorize questions by thinking level. Perfect for classroom use or independent practice, this packet helps deepen understanding and encourages higher-level thinking!

Find this in...

✨AVID Bundle

✨Costa Bundle

✨Early Finisher Packets

What's Included

1. Passage with Leveled Questions

• Overview: This activity provides students with a short, engaging passage followed by questions categorized by Costa's Levels of Thinking.

2. Costa’s "Finish the Story" Activity

• Overview: This creative writing activity allows students to apply Costa’s Levels of Thinking as they finish a partially written story. Each stage of the activity corresponds to a different level of thinking.

3. Categorizing Costa's Questions Activity

• Overview: In this activity, students are given a set of questions related to a topic and must categorize them into Costa’s Levels of Thinking. This helps students learn how to identify different types of thinking questions.

Bonus Features

• Answer Key: An answer key is provided for teachers to quickly check the categorization activity and leveled questions.
• No-Prep, Print-and-Go Format: Just print and distribute!

Perfect For:

• Early finishers
• Enrichment activities
• Critical thinking lessons
• Independent or small group work
• Sub plans

These 8 protocol/guideline slides are perfect for any essay in any subject! Students will follow the guidelines in order to present their essays to their peers and recieve direct and specific feedback through 3 column note taking.

Before the Lesson:

• Students should have completed a rough draft of their writing.
• Pre decide small revision groups.
• Make copies of each students essay for each of their group members.

Directions:

• Go through each of these 8 protocol slides with students as they recieve feedback from their peers in order to make revisions on their essay:

1. Distribute
2. Explain
3. Read
4. Read again
5. Share
6. Receive
7. Clarify
8. Repeat

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources. We also have several great AVID bundle options available down below!

AVID Mega Growing Bundle

AVID Teambuilding Bundle

AVID Writing Bundle

*Note this product may be used in brick an mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool.

Nutcracker Ballet Mini Introduction Lesson

Characterization (STEAL), character traits, and character analysis made simple! Designed for any unit or novel study, this product offers a comprehensive mini lesson on characterization using the STEAL method.

The resource comprises the following components:

• Mini Lesson (Google Slides): An engaging presentation that introduces the concept of characterization and the STEAL method.
• Interactive Notebook Foldable: A hands-on activity to reinforce the STEAL method.
• Common Character Traits List: A reference sheet with 96 traits for students to use in identifying and describing characters.
• Graphic Organizers (3 Choices): Templates for students to apply the STEAL method in analyzing characters.
• Characterization Note Page: A worksheet for students to record their observations about characters as they read.

Ideal for any unit or novel study, this resource supports a deeper understanding of character development!

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Enhance your students' vocabulary with morphology and unlock the power of words with these engaging Prefix Puzzles! Designed to make learning prefixes enjoyable and effective, this prefix activity is perfect for students mastering the art of morphology.

What's Included:

• 16 low level prefix puzzles
• Recording sheet
• Frayer Model graphic organizer

Uses:

• Cut puzzle apart and use for centers, small groups, or morning work
• Leave puzzle together and add to morphology wall display

Prefixes included in this product:

un-, in-, ex-, con-, sub-, dis-, mid-, mis-, per-, trans-, inter-, non-, re-, pre-, pro-, de-

Enhance your students' vocabulary with morphology and unlock the power of words with these engaging Root Puzzles! Designed to make learning roots enjoyable and effective, this root activity is perfect for students mastering the art of morphology.

What's Included:

• 16 low level root puzzles
• Recording sheet
• Frayer Model graphic organizer

Uses:

• Cut puzzle apart and use for centers, small groups, or morning work
• Leave puzzle together and add to morphology wall display

Roots included in this product:

cur, form, flect/flex, tract, act, port, sect, struct, tort, pel/pulse, duct/duc(e), spir(e), ject, rupt, mit/miss, scrib/script, fer, vent/ven(e)

Enhance your students' vocabulary with morphology and unlock the power of words with these engaging Prefix Puzzles! Designed to make learning prefixes enjoyable and effective, this prefix activity is perfect for students mastering the art of morphology.

What's Included:

• 20 middle level prefix puzzles
• Recording sheet
• Frayer Model graphic organizer

Uses:

• Cut puzzle apart and use for centers, small groups, or morning work
• Leave puzzle together and add to morphology wall display

Prefixes Included: ab-, ad-, ambi-, ante-, anti-, contra-, em-, en-, fore-, infra-, with-, ob-, omni-, out-, over-, post-, retro-, ultra-, super-, syn-

Enhance your students' vocabulary with morphology and unlock the power of words with these engaging Suffix Puzzles! Designed to make learning suffixes enjoyable and effective, this suffix activity is perfect for students mastering the art of morphology.

What's Included:

• 30 middle level suffix puzzles
• Recording sheet
• Frayer Model graphic organizer

Uses:

• Cut puzzle apart and use for centers, small groups, or morning work
• Leave puzzle together and add to morphology wall display

Suffixes included in this product:

-age, -al, -eer, -ee, -ess, -hood, -ship, -ish, -ive, -ize, -ling, -ward, -ism, -let, -ous, -tion, -sion, -mony, -most, -ic, -or, -ade, -dom, -th, -tude, -ation, -some, -ture, -ate, -fy

This is a digital product designed to be used with Google Classroom or another assignment sharing platform. Students will need to have a gmail account to access this.

Students will come up with a word to represent each letter of the alphabet (each letter has its own slide). The word should have a specific meaning for that year. For example, students will avoid putting general words like “book”, and instead write the specific name of a book read in that grade. That way, they have this to look back on and remember the year! They will write a short description of why the chose the word, and insert an image to go along with the word!

Students can work independently or in groups. Although this is an ABC book, it is appropriate and fun for any grade level! Students will need to get creative to think of words specific to that year.

Turn classroom review into an interactive throwdown!

Throwdown Cards are a dynamic and fun way to assess student understanding and promote active participation in your small group sessions. This set of playing cards replaces traditional answer sheets with an engaging twist!

Here's How It Works:

1. Review Previously Taught Skills
2. Pose a Multiple Choice Question
3. Throwdown Time! Students Throw Down Their Card
4. Defend Your Choice
5. Question Review

Benefits of Throwdown Cards:

• Multiple Formats: Choose to use Throwdown Cards in Small Group at Teacher Table, in Workshop Stations, or make a class set for whole-class review!
• Engaging and Interactive: Move away from passive note-taking and transform review into a game-like activity.
• Immediate Feedback: See student understanding at a glance with the "throw down" motion.
• Promotes Discussion: Encourage healthy debate and peer-to-peer learning as students defend their answers.
• Boosts Confidence: Students are more likely to participate when answers are hidden initially.
• Versatile Use: Adaptable to various subjects, grade levels, and question formats (multiple choice, true/false, etc.).

Make learning an active adventure! Add Throwdown Cards to your classroom toolkit today!

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Follow along with Mandy in the Middle for more resources!

Gamify learning and foster critical thinking with this fun and engaging game to review claim, counterargument, and rebuttal. This Balderdash-style game, including 60 game cards, requires students to think on their feet and stretch their thinking by creating claim statements or counterarguments (with rebuttals) to be voted on by the player "hosting" the round, depending on the type of card drawn ("Topic" or "Claim").

Resource Includes:

• Game instructions
• Printable Point Tally Card & Blank Answer Cards
• 30 Topic Cards
• 30 Claim Cards

Educational Benefits:

• Low prep, high engagement
• Supports argumentative constructed response writing
• Targeted skill practice
• Encourages students to think beyond their own point of view
• Differentiated playing cards
  -Cards vary and include simple, humorous, and more challenging topics/claims to respond to

Be sure to get credit towards future TeachShare purchases by leaving a review of your purchase! Follow the steps below to earn credit towards future purchases.

1. Go to your My Purchases page.

2. Look for a Provide Feedback button next to each purchase.

3. Click "Provide Feedback," and you will be taken to a page to leave a review.

4. Every time you leave a review, TeachShare gives you credits that you can use to lower the cost of future purchases.

Thank you so much for your feedback!

Follow along with Mandy in the Middle for more resources!

This mix-and-match reading log is designed to empower students to become mindful and engaged readers. It offers a variety of engaging components that can be used as stand-alone pages or combined in a mix and match fashion to create personalized reading journals.

Google Drive Folder includes a PDF and a digital Google Slides version.

Here's what you get in:

• "Books to Read" List: Spark excitement with a dedicated space for students to track books they're eager to dive into.

• "Book Hall of Fame": Celebrate literary discoveries with a page to record and cherish favorite books.

• "Favorite Authors": Encourage a love for specific authors by providing a space for students to keep a log of their favorite authors.

• "Reading Reflections": Deepen comprehension with a dedicated space for students to rate and review each book they finish.

• "Recommendations": Foster a sense of community by allowing students to share their thoughts and recommend books to peers. These can be kept private or can be shared with the class to grow a class of readers!

• Reading Trackers: Choose between two engaging options:

• Monthly Tracking Sheets: Students color in pictures of books as they complete them, creating a visual record of their reading journey.

• Grid-Style Tracker: This flexible tracker allows for color-coding genres and marking each finished book, offering a long-term overview of reading progress.

Benefits:

• Supports mindful reading: Encourages students to reflect on their reading experiences and develop a deeper appreciation for literature.
• Promotes accountability: Helps students stay on track with their personal reading goals.
• Print or Digital format: Adaptable to individual preferences and classroom needs.
• Interactive and engaging: Makes reading a fun and rewarding experience for students.

This reading log is the perfect tool for teachers and parents to cultivate a lifelong love of reading in young minds!

This engaging resource features an exciting revising & editing passage about the island of Bora Bora, the jewel of the South Pacific. My students have enjoyed this resource, and while it is sometimes a struggle to get them engaged in revise/edit activities, I heard tons of collaborative conversation as I monitored while they worked.

Aligned to Texas TEKS & Common Core

What's Included:

• Revise/Edit Passage: "Bora Bora! The Jewel of the South Pacific." This passage about the small island of Bora Bora is interesting and engaging, filled with opportunities for students to practice revising and editing.

• Targeted skills practice:

  • Revising:
    • Revising for Clarity
    • Combining Sentences
    • Unnecessary Details
    • Adding Details
  • Editing:
    • Homophones/Commonly Confused Words
    • Spelling
    • Commas/Complex Sentences

• Flexible Assessment (3 formats): (All assessment types feature the same questions.)

  • 10 Multiple Choice Questions: A traditional assessment format to gauge understanding
  • Task Cards: Interactive and student-driven practice
  • Google Form (Link Included): Easy online assessment with automatic grading (requires a Google account).

• Answer Key: Makes grading a breeze, saving you valuable time.

This resource is perfect for:

• Grammar and mechanics practice
• Building editing and revising confidence
• Low-prep test prep activity
• Engaging students with an engaging topic
• Providing differentiated assessment options

Turn editing and revising from mundane to captivating with this exciting resource! I hope you find it as useful in your class as I have in mine!