Make it Middle School

Vertical learning can transform a math classroom. When students get out of their chairs and work on non-permanent surfaces, they start to communicate and think more effectively. The following set of 67 problems are examples of activities I use to engage student thinking. The problems allow students to approach math from more than one perspective. As my school year progressed, I would randomly use different problems to review concepts taught earlier in the semester. These problems and this approa

Set in 1832, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a high seas adventure centered on a young female protagonist who has to travel across the ocean by herself in order to reunite with her family already in North America. Her crossing is anything but normal. In no time whatsoever, Charlotte is front and center in a whirlwind of events that will change her in ways that she could not have imagined! The following is a novel guide with questions and vocabulary for every chapter. It can be used

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

From planking to pet rocks, fads and trends have captivated people across generations, shaping culture and sparking conversations. This literacy unit invites middle school students to explore the world of fads—what they are, why they happen, and how they influence society. Through different readings, studentsdiscover the history, creativity, and impact of various trends and fads. Alongside reading, activities like discussions and writing exercises challenge students to think critically, express

Dark Tourism has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Some people are not interested in beaches and swimming pools during their time off; for some folks, a vacation is a chance to learn about some of the unhappier times and places on our planet. This unit has three readings where students use critical thinking, inferencing, and connecting to understand the theory behind why people are attracted to darker places and history. The culminating task allows kids the opportunity to rese

Vertical learning can transform a math classroom.  When students get out of their chairs and work on non-permanent surfaces, they start to communicate and think more effectively.The following set of 80 problems are examples of activities I use to engage student thinking.  The problems allow students to approach math from more than one perspective.  As my school year progressed, I would randomly use different problems to review concepts taught earlier in the semester.  These problems and this app

This tableau activity, spanning about a week, immerses students in the history of the Red River Resistance of 1869. Students form groups and choose specific aspects of the Red River Resistance to research. As they delve into their topics, they write scripts that capture key moments and perspectives: each group member typically presenting one script to the class. Students prepare props and poses to authentically portray their chosen scenes. The culmination of the activity involves the groups

Elijah is the first person to be born in Buxton, a settlement of freed black slaves in Canada West. Although seen by most as a “fragile” boy, Elijah has skills at throwing rocks, catching fish, and talking a lot. When a former slave known as The Preacher steals money from one of Elijah’s friends, he goes on a dangerous journey to try to get the money back. Elijah is out to prove that he may not be so fragile after all. The following novel study gives students the opportunity to examine some

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!

Aliens are back in the news! This unit looks at our fascination with UFOs, UAPs, and of course aliens. There are four lessons in this package. Two are independent reading activities with vocabulary and questions provided. The final two activities analyse aliens in entertainment and the War of The Worlds Radio broadcast in 1938. Through informative texts, thought-provoking questions, a choice board, and group work, students will sharpen their reading and critical thinking skills while exploring e

Jordana Leibowitz is a nineteen old university student on a mission: to attend to the war criminal trial of Oscar Groening. Known as the “bookkeeper of Auschwitz”, Groening stood trial in 2015 in Luneburg, Germany, accused of being complicit in the deaths of 300,000 Hungarian Jews. To Look A Nazi In The Eye is a fictionalized account of the first days of the trial of Oscar Groening. Seeing events unfold from the perspective of Jordana, the reader learns more about the events themselves: the r

Teaching students how to do operational work with integers is an important skill, yet students must also learn to think more deeply about integers. Creating riddles is a good way for your students to work with sets of different number and work beyond operational questions. This product has a couple of examples for students to use as models when they create their own integer riddles.