Activities for 8th Grade

Note Taking and Choosing Information
Submitted by: Amy
May 7th, 2010

Categories: 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Art | Classroom Management | History | Language Arts | Math | Music | Reading & Writing | Science
Estimated Time: 10-20 minutes
Description: One of the hardest things to teach is how to take notes! Kids always want to put way too much information - especially when they're listening in teacher-led discussions. My trick? For a short activity, I provide the information in a 10 minute lecture - but the kids can only write on one side of a 4x4 Post-it®! We then post the post-its up on a giant post-it and discuss what information was important, what wasn't, and what they should be writing in a lecture!

Symmetry with Post-its
Submitted by: LeeAnn
May 7th, 2010

Categories: 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Art | Math
Estimated Time: 10-20 minutes
Description: I teach Geometry (high school) and every year I do a hands on activity with 3" Post-it® Notes. My students take a post-it note and fold it a minimum of 2 times to maintain a square. Using scissors they randomly cut the post-it to make symmetrical snowflakes. We use all different colors of post-it notes and then hang the snowflakes from the ceiling using dental floss so there is a blizzard in our classroom. The great thing about using post-it notes is that each snowflake is guaranteed to be symmetrical because they are "pre-cut" i.e. the students do not have to cut 3" squares. Any "square" post-its could be used but it is advised to use at least the 3x3

Ask the Expert
Submitted by: Anne-Marie
May 3rd, 2010

Categories: 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Art | Classroom Management | ESL | History | Language Arts | Math | Music | Reading & Writing | Science | Special Education
Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
Description: When we are begining a new unit I write key terms, people, locations etc. for the upcoming unit on Post-it® Notes (one per note). These post it notes are placed on our classroom word wall. Each student is assigned to become the expert on one of each of the key terms, places etc. that are listed, using post-it on our word wall. They sign the corner of the post-it, do their research (in class/homework) and during the course of the unit, as we come across these key terms, etc. each student, I mean expert, teaches the class about his or her term, person, place etc. The post-it stays up and kids use them as a reference for who to ask when seeking clarification or additional information about one of the word wall terms. The kids are empowered to "be the expert" on a particular piece of the curriculum and it encourages cooperative learning and positive social skills among my students. This can be used at almost any grade level and in any subject area. This project also allows the teacher to easily differentiate instruction by allowing the student to present their knowledge of the key term in a variety of ways while maintaining the consistency of using the post-it note system to make a word wall.

Sticky Participation
Submitted by: Marietta
April 16th, 2010

Categories: 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Language Arts
Estimated Time: 0-10 minutes
Description: When a student participates in class they receive a Post-it® Note. Students answer questions and can receive up to 3 stickies a day.

Quien soy yo…. Who am I
Submitted by: AnnMarie
April 16th, 2010

Categories: 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Language Arts
Estimated Time: 10-20 minutes
Description: I call this activity: "I got your back" A Post-it® Note is placed on each students back, The post -it note says what or who they are. Ex. El bombero. The students walk around the room and give each other clues in Spanish, they need to correctly guess who they are. I do this with many units, sometimes we use a famous person, sometimes an animal. I teach Spanish and it is so vital to get the students to speak as much as possible. The students love trying to figure out what is on their back. Post it notes make this so easy to do!




