Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

Advanced Learning Extensions

8th Grade Honors Unit Plans

This document includes units developed by teachers during our November 2025 and February 2026 collaboration sessions using the core tenets of the Honors Framework. Following those sessions, the units were reviewed by teacher peers, and annotated versions with peer feedback notes are linked below for reference. These units are not intended to be final or fixed products. Instead, they are meant to serve as a starting point for continued refinement and development within site based PLCs, where teams can adapt them to their students, courses, and local context.

Informative

Supplemental Texts

TED talks summary (AMS)

Extended Learning

Extended length in writing and presentation time (DPMS) Motif/theme project for Anne Frank (music project) MJMS

Research and Inquiry

Make a Difference Day (IHMS) Identify Psychological techniques that influence people and society (UMS) How can one person or moment change the world by taking a stand? (MMS) Growth Mindset research. Pre and post mindset self-assessment (UMS) How does the bystander effect impact the social climate at local and global scales? (MMS) Holocaust/Genocide Comparison Project (BMS) What are the common causes for crimes against humanity? (BMS) Teach psychological technique that influences people and society (UMS) How does bias impact local and global interactions? (MMS) What are the causes and effects of teen violence? (MMS) How can I make change in my community? (MMS)

Project Based Learning

Outside Project

Character resume (IHMS)

Supplemental Activities

Morph my -ology (IHMS) Advertising and Propaganda Analysis Project (MMS) Poe analysis essay (IHMS) Design A Monument for Victims of Teen Violence (MMS) Courtroom project (IHMS) Trojan War Cartoon Timeline (BMS)

Argument

Extended Learning

Honors Scholarship Essay (BMS) Costco informed debate (IHMS)

Research and Inquiry

Should people advocate for (women’s, gay, animal, disability, green, or Civil) rights? (Argument Essay) -- BMS

Project Based Learning

[Do the Write Thing (BMS)]

Last Updated June 2nd, 2026 Secondary ELA, Page 82