Ask students to explain to others navigate their new high school.
Eighth-grade students are preparing for high school, and often this includes an increase in writing assignments in all classes. In eighth-grade social studies, teachers can use social studies concepts to help improve students' writing skills. Varying the types of writing assignments required can help keep students engaged and interested in the content.
Map the New School
Eighth-grade students often worry about making the transition to high school. Help ease this transition and increase students' map-making and geography skills by having them draw a map of the high school they will attend in ninth grade. Take a trip to the high school and encourage students to take notes of the geography of the building. When they return to the classroom, have them write a step-by-step paper that would tell someone go from the front door to various parts of the school, such as the gym, restrooms and the media center. Have them switch their directions with another student to proof for understanding and readability. If time allows, students can go back to the high school and use each other's directions. To add a visual geography component, have students make an actual map as well.
Identifying Local Government
Using your state's government website, help students find their local representatives and senators. Once they know who they are, have them write letters to their politicians, giving them their opinion on an issue being debated in your state. For instance, maybe your state is determining whether it should have strict guidelines for dog breeders. Students can discuss the issue, form an opinion and share this with their congressman. Students should follow correct letter-writing procedures. They should start with a salutation, keep the body on target and end properly.
RAFT Writing Assignment
Giving children a basic writing prompt often yields less than desirable results. As eighth-grade students expand on their essay-writing skills, have them complete a RAFT writing assignment based on the current unit of study. RAFT stands for role, audience, format and topic. While students are writing, they can use this acronym to help keep them focused on their writing. To start, give students a role as a writer. Perhaps they can act as a poor farmer during the Great Depression. Tell them who their audience is. Are they writing to their friends about their circumstances, or perhaps legislators to help them with their current situation? Next, give them a format, such as a letter or diary entry. Finally, give students a specific topic so they know exactly what to write about. For example, a RAFT assignment for the Great Depression could include a farmer (role) who writes a letter (audience) in the form of a diary entry (format) that tells about how he is struggling to keep his farm intact with his diminishing income (topic).
Points of View
Help children look past their own opinions by having them create a point-of-view paragraph. Ask students to share their opinion about a controversial topic, such as the death penalty or gay marriage. Then, have them write a paragraph that tries to convince the readers to believe the opposite of what they believe. For instance, if a student opposes the death penalty, he can try to convince readers why the death penalty is a good thing.
Tags: high school, have them, death penalty, have them write, them write, your state, convince readers