Title: A Snapshot into the 8th grade life of ___________________________
1. ___________ is My Name
Read “When Joe Louis Won the Title by Belinda Rochelle Illustrated by Larry Johnson
Assignment: Students will research their name by interviewing their parents for information of how their
name was chosen, any stories that accompany it and the denotation meaning. Students will then write a short
informational story of how they got their name and what their name means in two or more paragraphs. The
first paragraph should explain the denotation of their name or if there is not a specified meaning, they may
ask their parents to define what their name means to them and the second paragraph should tell the story of
how their parents selected their name.
2. I Believe…
Watch Martin Luther King speech from YouTube
Assignment: I believe…………. Two paragraphs of a vision they believe is possible in America that would
make the world a better place. The first paragraph should describe what the dream is and the second
paragraph should explain how the dream could come to fruition.
3. My Success Story
Watch the success video of the hip-hop preacher
Assignment: Each student will write what success is to him/her, a personal life goal he has for him/her to
reach in the area of occupation, and the steps he/she will need to accomplish to reach that goal. This will be
his/her “Success Story”.
4. The Giving Tree
Watch The Giving Tree video.
Assignment: Each student will write about someone in his/her life that he/she knows is a “Giving Tree”;
the person that gives to others, putting others before themselves. This response should be a minimum of two
paragraphs. The first paragraph should describe the giving tree person and the second paragraph should
explain the actions that they demonstrate that makes them a ‘giving tree’.
5. Carpe Diem – Seize the Day
View the Carpe Diem power point.
Assignment: Using the meaning of Carpe Diem, “Seize the Day”, each student will describe what he/she
would do if money was not an option and he/she had one day “to seize the day”. This response should explain
and describe the different activities they would do, where those actions would take place, and with whom
they would do them.
6. Best 8th Grade Seconds
Listen to the Broadway song from Rent
Assignment: 31,556.000 seconds in a year – each student will highlight the best seconds of 8th grade.
Choose a minimum of two events that are a memory, that will always be remembered as a “best seconds”
memory. Describe the five W’s: who, what, where, when, and why of the event in two or three paragraphs.
7. My Bucket List
Watch Bucket List Video Trailer
Assignment: Each student will write a “Bucket List” of ten items that he/she wants to see, accomplish, or
experience during their before graduating high school. This list must be presented in number order. The list
does not have to be explained.
8. Making the World “More Awesome”
Watch the Mr. President Video
Assignment: Each student will answer the prompt: “What are you doing to make the world more
awesome?” This response must be a minimum of one well written paragraph explaining the
action/contribution that you are making to make the world more awesome. This can be focused on making an
impact on someone else or an impact on the student’s world, whether their own personal realm or the global
world.
9. What Lives Under My Bed
Watch “The Monster Under my Bed “video
Assignment: Each student will describe what lives under his/her bed. This description can be fictional or
realistic. This response should be a minimum of one well written paragraph that focuses on sensory details
and descriptions with emphasis on word choice. One metaphor and one simile should be used to paint a vivid
description in the reader’s mind.
10. 100 things I love
Assignment: Each student will list one hundred things they love. The items can be objects, novels, stories,
poems, songs, people, food, restaurants, etc…… This list may be presented creatively however the student
wants to present it as long as it is readable. A few format ideas are in a graffiti format, an artistic
interpretation, or a list.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Final Description: The ten prompts listed above can be typed or handwritten. Each writing must be on 8 ½ by 11 blank
paper (not lined paper). I will provide copies of papers that can be used for each page. The final pages will be bound
together for the student to take home on the last day of class. If the student would like to insert their own essays that
were written this year or personal writing (poems, stories) that they have written, they may do that also. Each page
must be neatly written or typed. Graphics and art work to support the content of the pages is required. This can be
accomplished with computer graphics, cut and paste pictures, or personal art work of pictures or design. The
presentation is a part of the finished final grade.
On the designated final day in class, students will present one of their writings from the following four choices for their
final:
1.
2.
3.
4.
#2 Writing - I Believe………….
#4 Writing – The Giving Tree
#6 Writing – Best 8th Grade Seconds
#8 Writing – More Awesome
An oral presentation grade will be scored for the final presentation using a rubric.
Dear Parents,
Short you tube videos will be used in class to introduce the different writing assignments. The Bucket List movie
trailer is rated PG-13. It does have a cuss word. Please feel free to contact me if this viewing will be unacceptable for
your student at juligatlin@mooreschools.com and I will make other arrangements.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gatlin
English Teacher