Make it Middle School

Problem Solving is the cornerstone of a successful math program. The following 25 problems can be used individually or with groups. A problem solving rubric is included to help assess a student's ability to communicate their understanding and mathematical processes. I have used these problems successfully in my 20 years as a middle school teacher, and I have grouped them according to strand. Enjoy!

The following is a compilation of the high interest, non-fiction units I have developed and used in my classroom over the last five years. Each unit comes with a variety of readings that will provoke debate and discussion in your classroom. Each reading also has questions that allow your students to look beyond the text while working on important skills such as connecting, inferring, and synthesizing. Combined with any fiction you introduce in your class, there is enough content here for two yea

Recently, the issue of fake news has become front and center in public discourse. This unit has selected non-fiction readings which allow students to examine the problem of fake news in great detail. This literacy unit has different activities, such as summary writing, online research of fake news, connecting to personal experience, creating fake news headlines, and using success criteria to write a fake news story.

Studying social justice in middle school helps students develop a deeper understanding of fairness, equality, and the world around them. This unit explores topics such as homelessness, climate justice, and gender equality. Throughout the unit, students learn to think critically about society and their role in making it better. Introducing social justice at this age equips young learners with the tools to address complex issues and promotes a classroom environment where respect and inclusivity ca

The following activity is just as much an English activity as it is a history activity. Students are expected to understand and write from two completely different points of view. The challenge for students is to use the right kind of voice (buffered with correct historical facts) to get their point across. Emotion (pathos) is mixed with fact (logos) to convince writers about the legitimacy of their point of view (ethos). There is no doubt that editorials in different newspapers would both pr

Born between 2010 and 2024, Generation Alpha has grown up in a fast-paced world. This large generation has always been surrounded by technology, and like those before them, they've developed their own unique language. This unit explores the distinct challenges and opportunities that Generation Alpha faces, with a special focus on understanding their unique lexicon. No cap, this literacy unit is sure to be totally GOAT for your middle school students!

Once students have reviewed all four operations with integers, have them put their knowledge to work creating a game where other students guess their integers based on clues they provide. Samples are provided which model what students are expected to do.

The following is a collection of assignments I have created over the years in my middle school geography class. Whether you are teaching human geography, physical geography, or a combination of both, these high interest activities will give your students the opportunity to flex their geographic muscles in highly creative ways!

The following unit is meant to supplement your study of fiction in language class. Students, when given explicit instruction about different literary devices, can in turn use them with greater precision and creativity in their own fiction writing. Literary devices covered in this package include simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, idiom, imagery, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. Encourage students to be imaginative as they come up with examples of their own!

Depending on the side you were on, you would have a different opinion about the most important battle of The Seven Years War. This assignment requires students to write about the battle outside of Quebec from two perspectives: French and English. A tip sheet of historical facts is provided. As well, two examples of what the articles sound like are included to give your students a sense of how the voice sounds depending if they are writing from either the winner's or loser's perspective.

The topic of the Stolen Generation in Australia has connections to students living in North America. The movie is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about perceptions of native people, and how this could connect to the treatment of First Nations People in Canada. The assignment is a worksheet of high order thinking questions to help gage students understanding of the themes presented in the movie. The questions also link nicely to Geography as well. Included is as exemplar page f