Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

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Grade 8 Math Units

Unit Plan 6 (Grade 8 Math): Operating with Scientific Notation

8th graders learn to multiply, divide, add, and subtract numbers in scientific notation, normalize results, and interpret outcomes with correct units and scale. This weeklong math unit builds precision, fluency, and real-world understanding of large and small quantities.

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Grade 8 Math Units

Unit Plan 5 (Grade 8 Math): Scientific Notation in the Real World

8th graders learn to write, convert, and compare numbers in scientific notation to model extremely large or small quantities. Through real-world contexts, they use powers of 10 to express magnitude, estimate, and explain “how many times as much” with precision and clarity.

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Grade 8 Math Units

Unit Plan 4 (Grade 8 Math): Exponent Essentials—Integer Powers

8th graders master the laws of integer exponents by rewriting and comparing expressions with positive, zero, and negative powers. This weeklong math unit builds structural reasoning, precision in notation, and confidence applying exponent properties to simplify expressions.

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Grade 8 Math Units

Unit Plan 3 (Grade 8 Math): Approximating Irrationals & Roots

8th graders build fluency with square and cube roots by estimating irrational values, comparing magnitudes, and solving equations like x² = p and x³ = p. Students connect roots to area and volume, using bounds and precision to reason about real-world measurements.

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Grade 8 Math Units

Unit Plan 2 (Grade 8 Math): Rational vs. Irrational—What’s Real?

8th graders explore rational and irrational numbers, convert repeating decimals to fractions, and approximate irrationals like √2 and π with bounds on the number line. This weeklong math unit builds precision, reasoning, and fluency within the real number system.

Parent Tips

Parent Tips: Turning Blurting Into Better Participation

If your child blurts out answers or interrupts in class, this parent–teacher plan helps build self-control through shared cues, simple routines, and positive reinforcement. Learn how to coach “pause, think, and wait” behaviors that improve participation and confidence.

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9-12 Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan (Grades 9–12): Smart Materials and Soft Robotics – Building Electroactive Grippers

High school students explore smart materials through hands-on engineering by building electroactive or shape-memory alloy soft grippers. They test, analyze, and present data on how voltage or heat drives motion, linking materials science to real-world robotics innovation.

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Grade 8 Math Units

Unit Plan 1 (Grade 8 Math): Building Our Math Community & Problem-Solving Norms

8th graders establish math discourse and notebook routines while learning to self-check and analyze errors. Through rich tasks, they preview key Grade 8 concepts—slope as rate, functions, exponents, and transformations—building habits of precision, reasoning, and reflection.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 36 (Grade 8 ELA): Publishing Celebration & Reflection

8th graders curate and publish polished writing portfolios, revising for language precision, rhythm, and tone. The unit culminates in formal author talks where students present excerpts, explain craft choices, and reflect on their growth as writers and speakers.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 35 (Grade 8 ELA): Author Study – Intertextuality & Craft

8th graders analyze how modern stories transform classic myths and archetypes, then craft their own reimagined scenes using deliberate stylistic choices. The unit ends with formal author talks where students present and explain their creative adaptations.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 34 (Grade 8 ELA): Revising & Editing for Precision & Effect

8th graders refine writing precision by mastering verbals, voice, and mood, while using commas, ellipses, and dashes for clarity and effect. Through structured revision, students strengthen grammar, punctuation, style, and overall cohesion.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 33 (Grade 8 ELA): Summarizing & Synthesizing Information

Grade 8 ELA unit: master objective summaries, cross-text synthesis, and concise evidence lines using informational texts—build stronger analysis, reasoning, and citations.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 32 (Grade 8 ELA): Writing Informational Reports with Visuals

Grade 8 ELA unit: write a multi-section informative report with clear headings, formal style, and precise vocabulary—integrating graphics and captions that clarify ideas.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 31 (Grade 8 ELA): Extended Research Project

8th graders plan and launch a focused research project by crafting inquiry questions, gathering and evaluating multiple credible sources, and practicing ethical note-taking. Students use technology to draft, cite, and collaborate, producing a research dossier and first polished body section.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 30 (Grade 8 ELA): Reading Science/History Texts with Visuals

8th graders learn to interpret charts, diagrams, and maps within science and history texts, integrating visuals with prose to extract accurate claims. Students analyze domain-specific vocabulary in context and evaluate how different media formats clarify, distort, or emphasize information.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 29 (Grade 8 ELA): Process/How-To Explanatory Writing

8th graders write clear, step-by-step how-to pieces with precise language, logical transitions, and user-friendly formatting. Students apply grammar for clarity—using imperatives, active voice, and verbals—and revise through usability testing to ensure flawless, easy-to-follow directions.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 28 (Grade 8 ELA): Cause & Effect and Evaluating Claims

8th graders analyze how events and ideas connect through cause and effect, then trace and evaluate claims in texts and speeches. Students learn to test reasoning, judge evidence quality, distinguish correlation from causation, and write concise, evidence-based evaluations.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 27 (Grade 8 ELA): Synthesizing & Reconciling Conflicting Sources

8th graders synthesize multiple informational sources to identify, explain, and reconcile conflicting evidence. Students evaluate differences in scope, method, or bias, integrate cross-source evidence in concise written responses, and analyze how visuals or media influence understanding.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 26 (Grade 8 ELA): Author’s Purpose, POV & Rhetoric (Informational)

8th graders analyze authors’ purposes and points of view in paired informational texts, identifying how writers acknowledge and respond to conflicting evidence. Students evaluate concession, qualification, and rebuttal strategies and craft analytical writing supported by precise textual evidence.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 25 (Grade 8 ELA): Reading Biographies, Memoir & Timelines

8th graders analyze biographies and memoirs to find central ideas and trace connections among people, events, and ideas. Students compare texts to visuals like timelines and photos, evaluating how each format clarifies or limits understanding.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 24 (Grade 8 ELA): Narrative Pacing, Flashback & Parallel Plots

8th graders learn to craft well-paced narratives with clear sequencing, purposeful flashbacks, and converging parallel plots. Students refine pacing for tension, write reflective endings that reveal meaning, and build fluency through daily routine writing exercises.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 23 (Grade 8 ELA): Writing Dialogue, Subtext & Scene Craft

8th graders craft realistic narrative scenes by mastering dialogue punctuation, action beats, and subtext. Students use verbals, active or passive voice, and verb mood purposefully to shape tone, deepen characterization, and create a polished, emotionally resonant scene.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 22 (Grade 8 ELA): Poetry, Drama, and Prose Structures (with Film)

8th graders analyze how structure shapes meaning across poetry, drama, and prose, then compare texts to their film or stage adaptations. Students evaluate faithful vs. altered choices, media motives, and how sound, visuals, and pacing transform tone and interpretation.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 21 (Grade 8 ELA): Tone, Connotation, and Precise Language

8th graders explore how word choice shapes tone and meaning by analyzing diction, connotation, analogies, and allusions. Students compare shades of meaning, refine vocabulary for precision, and revise writing to maintain clear, consistent tone and style.

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Grade 8 ELA Units

Unit Plan 20 (Grade 8 ELA): Comparing Texts by the Same Author

8th graders compare two works by the same author to analyze recurring themes, tone, and style. Students trace archetypes reimagined in modern contexts, write comparative essays with clear evidence, and discuss how authors “render old ideas new.”