Teaching Middle School: Grades 6-8
Find lesson plans for grades 6-8 covering material in core curricula such as English, math, science, social studies, and art. Many plans offer a series of lessons in a unit that you can teach during a several day or week time period, while others offer thematic tie-ins across several subjects, reinforcing the relevancy of the subject matter from different angles. Learn from fellow teachers, parents and experienced caregivers about the development that happens during the middle school years so you can approach potential problems and challenges with wisdom and a sense of humor.
Walking Sticks and Other Camouflaged Insects
It’s a jungle out there. Entomology professor Julie Peterson says there’s an estimated 10 quintillion insects on earth’s globe. If you have not heard of that number before, let’s just say that insects have the largest biomass of earth-bound animals, and probably represent 80 percent of the classes on the planet. And there are still more species that have not yet been described. An article in The New York Times predicted 300 pounds of insect for every pound of human!
The Octopus and Soft Robotics
Octopuses are cool. Part of the Cephalopoda class (pronounced sef-uh-luh-pod), which is any member of the phylum Mollusca, a small group of highly advanced and organized marine animals including eight-armed octopuses, ten-armed squids, cuttlefishes, and the shelled chambered nautiluses. Octopus size is so varied it can be as gigantic as a school bus or as small as your finger.
Think you know a chameleon? The octopus can beat a chameleon by using more colors to camouflage itself, and it can also change the texture of its skin to mimic a rock or a shelf of coral.
Top Tips for Raising a Motivated Reader
Reading is one of the most important academic fundamentals that schools teach. Though the technology of how we read has changed around us, the basic elements of Reading have not. Neither has the importance of the act of reading and how it follows us throughout our entire lives.
Helping Your Middle Schooler Find the Best Extracurricular Activities
With the new school year upon us, it’s time to start thinking about the types of activities that you want your kids to get involved with. Every child is different. How do you choose the best activities for your child to get them interested in extracurricular activities?
How Parents Can Ease the Back-to-School Transition for Middle School Kids
It can be challenging to know what to do to get your middle school child ready for all of the activities, requirements and events that will go on during the school year. Here are a few tips that you can follow that may come in handy as you ready your youngster for yet another academic year.
Is Online School Right for My Middle Schooler?
An increasing number of schools are going online. This method may have its advantages, but is it the best choice for kids in middle school grades?
President Millard Fillmore Webquest: America's 13th President
This President’s Day encourage your students to learn about some of our nations presidents through a series of webquests! This series covers our nation’s 13th through 16th presidents.
President James Buchanan Webquest: America's 15th President
Learn about America’s 15th president, James Buchanan, with this webquest.
President Franklin Pierce Webquest: America's 14th President
Learn about our nation’s 14th president, Franklin Pierce, with this webquest.
President Abraham Lincoln Webquest: America's 16th President
President Abraham Lincoln is well known as the president who was in office during the American Civil War. But what else do your students know about the 16th president of the United States? Have them complete this fun webquest to learn more!
