Daily Lesson Plans: Middle School

How easy can it get?! For the last few weeks, I've been sharing grade-level daily lesson plans I've prepared to keep in my own guest teaching bag. I've created these to use in the event that I'm left with inadequate lesson plans (or none at all!). Feel free to use them in the classroom yourself. You'll note that some activities are repeated or modified for use in different grade levels; I find this saves me planning time and money (fewer supplies to buy), and the repetition it allows me to get comfortable doing each activity. My next column, Daily Lesson Plans: High School will be the last in this series.

Following are my best plans for middle school students. Instead of focusing on a full day (as you might find in a closed-classroom setting), this column features 50-minute lessons in a variety of subjects. These lessons can, of course, be combined if you're working in a setting where you do have the same group of students for several or all classes in a given day.

Language Arts

In small groups (approximately 4 students), students will individually examine a photograph and together write a story explaining the picture.

Supplies

A teacher's copy of the "Chainwriting" lesson plan found at http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LAChainWr... .

Six to eight photos cut out from newspapers or magazines, each taped or glued to an empty sheet of paper (lined or unlined). Photos should be interesting, but non-specific, with no caption.

One pencil per student

A source of music--audiotape and player, radio, etc.

Directions

1. Divide students into groups of 4 or so, trying to keep groups the same size, no need to move chairs. In fact, this often works best if students are kept in typical rows rather than facing one another in the group. They are not to talk during this exercise. Make sure everyone has a pencil, and pass one photo facedown to one member of each group.

2. Explain that when you start the music, the first student in each group is to turn over the paper. They are to look at the picture, and begin writing a description of what is happening in the picture, what might have lead up to the situation shown, etc. When you stop the music, they are to quickly and quietly pass the picture on to the next member of their group, and the second student will do the same. Start the music again; the second student reads what the first student wrote, then expands on the story. Each time you stop the music, the picture is passed to the next group member who will read what was written by other members and will add on to the story.

3. When all students have contributed to a story, the exercise is complete. Have each group nominate a reporter to read their story to the rest of the class.

Math

Students will investigate the concepts of range, mode and mean (as well as probability if time permits) via the game "Rock, Paper, Scissors".

Supplies

Overhead projector

Piece of transparency plastic to record data collected

Transparency pens

Piece of paper and pencil for each student

Directions

1. To prepare for the class, go to http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/m... . In a typical class period, I only get through step 4 under "Activities & Procedures". Note that when it comes to asking students to predict the probability of specific outcomes, the answers to your questions are found in parentheses after each question.

2. Divide students into pairs, having them sit facing their partner.

2. Explain the assignment step by step, doing each task as time permits.

Social Studies

Students will test their US geography knowledge by playing "Who Wants to be a Geography Whiz?", in a forum similar to "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?"

Supplies

A pack of small stickers (foil stars work great) and six to ten pieces of paper or index cards to use for prizes (players receive one star for each correct answer) Index cards on which you've written individual multiple choice questions about geography; choose either local, national, continents, or the world based on student learning levels. If you don't know, I'd stick with state/provincial or national. The best site I've found for US geography trivia is http://www.50states.com/facts/ . I compiled a list of questions that were a combination of things they should know or be learning (such as state capitals) and just oddball facts that were either funny or interesting to me, tossing in some related specifically to sports, arts, etc.

Alternative: If you have a long class or a multi-day assignment, you could have students research and prepare the questions themselves. Collect the index cards they've completed to use later in the hour or the next day.

Directions

1. Draw one question and use it to determine which students will have an opportunity to play the game (think "fastest finger" round. I'd make it moderately easy--you want to be sure that you have 6-10 potential players selected, but not necessarily everyone in the class. Read the question, have students write their answer on their own paper; all students with the correct answer are potential players for the day's game.

2. Choose a number between 1 and 100; have the potential players select a number, and the one closest to the number you've recorded will play first.

3. Have the first player sit facing you, and begin asking them multiple choice questions. Each time they get a correct answer, give them a sticker to place on their prize ticket. When they get one wrong or have won the round, choose another player by selecting another number, etc.

4. Play as long as time and interest permits.

Science

Students will watch a video about rollercoasters, then design their own on paper.

Alternative 1: Instead of showing the video, share information with students found at http://4rollercoasters.4anything.com/net... Read to students, or provide each student with a copy.

Alternative 2: If you are really fortunate and every student has access to a computer, consider the activity at http://4rollercoasters.4anything.com/net... . Here you can build a very cool virtual rollercoaster--with complete explanation as to how every choice affects the coaster.

Supplies

A video about rollercoasters; consider taping a PBS or Discovery Channel program--I see such programs offered at least a few times a month in my area -OR- a photocopy of Amusement Park Physics from the the link above -OR- a computer for each student with capability to reach http://4rollercoasters.4anything.com/net... .

VCR and television (if using a video)

One piece of graph paper per student

One pencil per student

Directions

1. Explain to students that today they will be drawing their own design of a rollercoaster. Pass out graph paper and pencils.

2. Show the video, or 30 minutes of it, encouraging students to pay close attention to the engineering/physics aspects.

3. Have students draw their dream coaster.

4. If there is time, have students share their creations.

Music

This lesson is designed for use by the music sub with no music background. Students will use a recent list of http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot100.a... Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 songs to create puzzles to share with classmates.

Supplies

One photocopy per student (or per two students) of a recent Hot 100 list found at the link above

One piece of graph paper per student

One pencil per student

Directions

1. Distribute Hot 100 lists, paper and pencils to students.

2. Explain to students they are to design a puzzle (wordsearch, crossword, or other type of their own choosing) using the Hot 100 list. If some students work very quickly, you may have them either create another puzzle or decorate their puzzle page.

3. When done, have students pass their puzzle to another student to complete.

Art

Again, this is designed for the non-artistic guest teacher.

Students will create a folkart checkerboard.

Supplies

One piece of construction paper or drawing paper per student (heavy manila graph paper works great)

Assorted markers, colored pencils, or other coloring materials

1 ruler per student

Directions

1. In advance and for your own reference, check out http://www.kinderart.com/folkart/checker... for a Kinderart lesson plan with the same general idea (they use paint and cardboard). My version is cleaner and faster, I'd say.

2. Pass out materials to students.

3. Explain to students that they will be making a folkart checkerboard. Note that checkerboards are 8 squares long x 8 squares wide--they can make those squares any size they want. Explain that the object of this is not simply to make a basic checkerboard, but to do so in a creative way. Encourage them to use any materials that are normally accessible to them (be certain to allow cleanup time at the end of each class). Also remind them they will need to create checkers for their board, and that they will need two distinctly different sets of 16 checkers each design (typical sets are red and black, but creativity is the key here).

4. Collect checkerboards and sets at the end of the day, or have students save them to share with their teacher the next day.

Featured Time-Filler: Math War

The only drawback to this math activity is that you need one deck of cards for every 2 students. If you don't have a free or cheap source of cards, you might want to use this as an incentive game for students who finish assignments early.

I found this activity at http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MathWarCa... . Pair students, have them divide deck of cards in half, each keeps a pile. All cards are face value, and jacks=11, queens=12, and kings=13. Each student flips up two cards from their own deck and multiplies them (or adds or subtracts, as you instruct them to do); the student with the highest result wins and keeps all four cards. Play for a certain period of time, or until all cards are won.