8th Grade Language Arts Skills   &     Spelling Lists

Eighth Grade Vocabulary

01.  Ambiguous (adjective) - Vague or unclear due to having more than one possible meaning or interpretation.

        Example: "Paul reminded John that he owed him one hundred dollars."  (Who owes whom?  Who is "he, and who is "him"?  Does Paul owe John, or does John owe Paul?)

02.  Image (noun) - An image is a word that appeals to or stimulates one or more senses.  Images can be visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or gustatory.

        Example of images in a sentence:  "The officer groaned, yanked open the door, and stomped into the damp, dingy room."  ("groaned" is an auditory image; "yanked" is a visual image; "stomped" is a visual, auditory, and tactile image; "damp" is a tactile image; and, "dingy" can be a visual image.)

03.  Redundant (adjective) - Unnecessary repetition of word or idea.

04.  Trite (adjective) - Overused or commonplace.

05.  Cliche (noun) - A trite (overused) expression.

        Examples of clichés:  "kept me on the edge of my seat"..."left me hanging"..."in the middle of nowhere"..."take it one game at a time"...raining cats and dogs"..."from the bottom of my heart"

06.  Distraught (adjective) - Worried, anxious (Mitty & Wind)

        Example: "The mother was distraught when she realized her daughter had not yet returned home."

07. Bickering (verb/adjective) - Arguing (Mitty)

        Example: "The two reporters were bickering over who would interview the coach first."  (verb)

        Example: "The bickering reporters were finally silenced by their editor." (adjective)

08. Pandemonium (noun) - Wild excitement, chaos (Mitty)

        Example: "When the home team scored, the stands erupted in pandemonium."

09. Bedlam (noun) - Extreme confusion or disorganization (Mitty)

        Example: "After the accident bedlam ruled the scene."

10. Somber (adjective) - Gloomy, sad, serious (Durango)

        Example: "The mood throughout the country was somber following the surprise attack."

11. Apprehension (noun)/Apprehensive (adjective) - Dread, anxiety (Durango)/Worried, anxious (Mice)

        Example: "The pilot felt apprehension when he noticed the fuel gauge was near empty."

12. Dismal (adjective) - Dreary, bleak (Durango)

        Example: "The dismal shop was dark and damp."

13. Avert - (verb) - To turn away, to prevent (Breakfast)

        Example: "The student averted his eyes because he did not want to be called on."

        Example: "The government is trying to avert another terrorist strike on civilians."

14. Dissipate - (verb) - To scatter or disperse, to make disappear (Breakfast)

        Example: "The thick smoke slowly dissipated into the sky."

15. Mundane - (adjective) Common, ordinary (Breakfast)

        Example: "The singer's life was more mundane than it was glamorous."

16. Oblivion - (noun) Forgetfulness, lacking awareness (Winner)

        Example: "It's almost as if he is in a state of constant oblivion."

17. Perpetual - (adjective) Continual, continuous, without end (Winner)

        Example: "His mouth is in perpetual motion."

18. Vexed - (adjective/verb) Irritated, annoyed (Heart & Wind)

        Example: "I was vexed by his negative reaction to my suggestion." (adjective)

        Example: "His response to my suggestion vexed me." (verb)

19. Sagacity - (noun) Wisdom (Heart)

        Example: "We were impressed by the speaker's apparent sagacity."

20. Audacity - (noun) Boldness, nerve (Heart & Wind)

        Example: "Their attorney had the audacity to call my client a liar."

21. Derision - (noun) Scorn, ridicule (Shard & Mice)

        Example: "This past season the Brewers were often the object of derision among fans."

22. Stealthy - (adjective) Sly, sneaky, secretive (Heart)

        Example: "The stealthy coyote approached its unwary prey."

23. Bliss - (noun) Extreme joy (Spoon & Wind)

        Example: "Filled with bliss after hearing about her promotion, the assistant manager called her husband to tell him the news."

24. Epitaph - (noun) An inscription, generally on a tomb, that serves a memorial to the deceased. (Spoon)

        Example: "The epitaphs of all the police and firemen who perished in the World Trade Center tragedy should portray them as true heroes."

25.  Impudent - (adjective) Disrespectful, rude, impertinent (Red Chief, Shard, Bird)

        Example: "The reporter's impudent question during the President's press conference showed a lack of class."

26.  Surreptitious - (adjective)  Stealthy, furtive, secretive (Red Chief)

        Example: "The husband's surreptitious effort to throw a surprise birthday party for his wife was so successful, she did not expect it at all."

27.  Gaunt - (adjective) Very thin, bony (Wind)

        Example: "He was so gaunt, you could almost see his ribs."

28.  Haughty - (adjective) Excessively proud, arrogant (Wind)

        Example: "Once they achieve stardom, some celebrities become haughty."

29.  Jubilant - (adjective) Filled with joy (Wind)

        Example: "The team was jubilant after its upset victory."

30.  Agape - (adjective) Wide open (Wind)

        Example: "After he saw his score on the unit test, his mouth was agape."

31.  Blasphemy - (noun) Contemptuous act or utterance concerning God. (Wind)

        Example: "Brady accuses Drummond of blasphemy."

32.  Heathen - (noun/adjective) Someone who does not acknowledge God Judaism/Christianity. (Wind)

        Example: "Colonists considered Native Americans to be heathens."

33.  Agnostic - (noun/adjective) Someone who doesn't believe in God but does not deny God's existence as there is no proof either way. (Wind)

        Example: "Henry Drummond is actually an agnostic, not an atheist."

34.  Dogma - (noun) A belief taught to be true, never to be questioned. (Wind)

        Example: "Almost every religion includes a certain amount of dogma."

35.  Atheist - (noun) One who denies or rejects the existence of a Supreme Being. (Wind)

        Example: "Many atheists believe it's wrong to say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools because it makes a reference to God."

36.  Heretic - (noun) One who rejects or breaks away from an accepted system of beliefs. (Wind)

        Example: "When he switched from the Republican to the Democratic party, many of his former colleagues viewed him as a heretic."

37.  Cynical - (adjective) Suspicious or skeptical of others' motives. (Wind)

        Example: "Many Americans have become cynical about politicians' promises."

38.  Messiah - (noun) A savior (Wind)

        Example: "In some religions people believe that a messiah will come to earth and save humanity."

39.  Ominous - (adjective) Threatening, dangerous, menacing (Wind)

        Example: "A long, ominous shadow appeared behind him."

40.  Miffed (adjective) Upset, irritated (Wind)

        Example: "Some fans are miffed at the team for raising ticket prices."

41.  Benign - (adjective) Kind, gentle  (Wind)

        Example: "Though he appeared stern and mean, the coach was really a benign person."

43.  Superfluous - (adjective) Unnecessary, more than enough (Wind)

        Example: "Having already made his point, the rest of the politician's speech was superfluous."

44.  Nettled - (adjective) Upset, aggravated (Wind)

        Example: "The player was nettled due to the coach's constant criticism."

45.  Pious - (adjective) Religious, devout or observant, spiritual (Wind)

        Example: "His colleagues considered him a pious leader of the congregation."

46.  Preposterous - (adjective) Ridiculous, ludicrous (Wind)

        Example: "The student's recommendation to put a soda machine in the lunch room is preposterous."

47.  Bewildered - (adjective) Confused, puzzled, perplexed, baffled (Wind, Mice, Bird, & Treasure)

        Example: "The candidate was so bewildered by the reporter's question that he didn't know how to answer it."

48.  Pariah - (noun) Outcast (Wind)

        Example: "Because he had turned in his friend to the principal, the other students treated him as a pariah."

49.  Animosity - (noun) Hostility, ill will, antagonism (Wind)

        Example: "There is a great deal of animosity between the union and management in these labor negotiations."

50.  Treacherous - (adjective) Dangerous (Wind)

        Example: "The explorer set off on an extremely treacherous journey through the jungle."

51.  Fervent - (adjective) passionate, zealous (Wind & Bird)

        Example: "The protester was fervent in her opposition to the death penalty."

52.  Glower - (verb) Glare (Wind & Flies)

        Example: "The referee glowered at the coach who had protested his call."

53.  Pertinent - (adjective) Related, relevant (Wind)

        Example: "The judge said that astrology was not pertinent to the prosecution's case."

54.  Irrelevant - (adjective) Not related to, not pertinent (Wind)

        Example: "The lawyer's statement that his client was ill was irrelevant."

55.  Pagan - (noun/adjective)  Heathen; someone who does not believe in God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.  (Wind)

        Example: "European explorers considered inhabitants of the "New World" pagans."

54.  Gall - (noun) Nerve, boldness, audacity (Wind)

        Example: "The President had the gall to lie to Congress about his role in the cover up."

56.  Irreconcilable - (adjective) Unable to coexist or accommodate each other (Wind)

        Example: "The couple broke up because of irreconcilable differences."

57.  Scrutinize - (verb) Examine closely or carefully (Wind)

        Example: "The attorney scrutinized the document before signing it."

58.  Incontrovertible - (adjective) Can not be disputed or argued against (Wind)

        Example: "The fact that she did not pass the test because she did not study at all is incontrovertible."

59.  Melange - (noun) - A mixture (of elements that do not go well together) (Wind)

        Example: "The punch, a melange of grape juice and chocolate milk, was awful."

60.  Exultant - (adjective) Jubilant, filled with joy (Wind)

        Example: "Mr. Taft was exultant after he won the Wisconsin lottery."

61.  Indignant - (adjective) Angry or upset over a perceived injustice (Harjo, Wind, & Bird)

        Example: "After she failed to get the leading role in the play, the young actress was indignant since she felt her audition had been superior to the performances of other candidates."

62.  Incredulous - (adjective) Disbelieving, finding it difficult or impossible to believe (Wind)

        Example: "I was incredulous when he told me the story of his abduction by aliens."

63.  Innocuous - (adjective) Harmless (Wind)

        Example:  "Although people were shocked by his comment, it was actually rather innocuous."

64.  Vanity - (noun) Ego, sense of self-importance, conceit, arrogance (Wind)

        Example: "Her incredible vanity did not let her admit even her most minor mistakes."

65.  Alliteration - (noun) Repetition of the initial consonant sound in two or more words

        Examples: "beautiful butterfly"   "fiery furnace"   "calm and controlled"

        Note: "cracked ceiling" is not alliteration (same letter but different sounds)

        Note: "silliness in cyberspace" is alliteration (different letters but same sound)

66.  Consonance - (noun) Repetition of final consonant sound in two or more words

        Examples:   "The best man won"     "Take a look"    "Love it or leave it"

        Note: It is possible to find both alliteration and consonance in a word combination.

        Examples:   "man in the moon"   "talking on the phone can be fun"

67.  Assonance - (noun) Repetition of the non-initial vowel sound in two or more words

        Examples:   "vowel sound"    "The night was fine"    "It's a good book"

        Note: Assonance is not rhyme; rhyme is not assonance!

        Note: It is possible to find both alliteration and assonance in a word combination.

        Examples: "Flying can be frightening."   "Shopping can be a shocking experience."

68.  Inane - (adjective) Extremely foolish or unwise, stupid

        Example: "The destruction of the tropical rain forests in the Amazon is inane"

69.  Galleon - (noun)  A large Spanish ship of war or trade of the 15th and 16th centuries. (Highwayman)

        Example: "The divers were disappointed that they could find no treasure on the sunken Spanish galleon."

70.  Rapier - (noun) A short sword with a thin, sharp blade (Highwayman)

        Example: "The fatal wound appeared to have been made with a weapon similar to a rapier."

71.  Onomatopoeia - (noun) A word that represents a sound

        Example: "When he turned the key, the engine went vvvrrrrrrrmmmmmmmm."

72.  Spendthrift - (noun) A person who spends carelessly and/or impulsively (Money)

        Example: "My sister is a spendthrift, which is why she constantly asks me to lend her money."

73.  Miser - (noun) A a person who hoards money or material possessions (Money)

        Example: "The most famous miser is literature is probably Scrooge."

74.  Concurrent - (adjective) Occurring at the same time, simultaneous (Concurrence)

        Example: "It is not easy to watch television, talk on the phone, and study for a test concurrently."

75.  Stigma - (noun) Mark or reputation of shame or disgrace (Enemy's Eyes)

        Example: "During the Nazi reign of terror they thought having Jews wear a yellow Star of David would be a stigma for them."

76.  Furtive - (adjective) Sly, sneaky, secretive  (Bird)

        Example: "The suspect furtively crept around the side of the building, tryi8ng to stay out of sight of the police."

77.  Repent - (verb)  To regret one's actions or views and try to change one's beliefs or behaviors to make up for those errors or sins.  (Harjo)

        Example: "The convicted robber vowed to repent for his crime and never break the law again."

82.  Jest - (verb)  Joke  (Harjo)

        Example: "At first I thought he was jesting about giving me a twenty per cent raise, but he wasn't."

83.  Defiled - (adjective/verb) Spoiled, polluted, made impure (Harjo)

        Example: The raw sewage that the city dumped into the lake defiled the clean water."

84.  Solemn - (adjective) Serious, grave  (Harjo)

        Example: "The vacation trip took on a solemn mood because of the sudden wave of illness."

86.  Deplorable - (adjective)   Regrettable  (Harjo)

        "The fact that he lied under oath is deplorable."

87.  Obstinate - (adjective)  Stubborn  (Harjo)

        Example: "I don't think I've ever met a more obstinate, pig-headed individual."

88.  Perplexed - (adjective/verb) Confused, bewildered (Harjo)

        Example: "Even after the expert tried to explain what stem cell research is, I was still perplexed."

89.  Rehabilitate - (verb)  To improve or restore one's status or privilege or rank.  (Harjo)

        Example: "Prisons have not been very successful in their attempts to rehabilitate convicts."

90.  Solvent - (adjective)   Able to meet financial obligations  (Harjo)

        Example: "It took him many years to overcome his massive debts and become solvent."

91.  Tactful - (adjective) Able to say or phrase something in an acceptable way without offending (Harjo)

        Example: "Although the doctor wanted to scream at his patient for not following his directions, he took a more tactful approach."

93.  Taciturn - (adjective) Silent, uncommunicative (Bird)

        Example: "My grandfather was so incredibly taciturn that nobody else in the family even tried to talk to him."

94.  Prudent - (adjective) Careful, cautious (Bird)

        Example: "The investor took a prudent approach to his stock investments."

95.  Malevolent - (adjective) Evil wicked, malicious (Bird)

        Example: "His opponent's malevolent look made Rocky shiver."

96.  Nebulous - (adjective) Hazy, indistinct (Bird)

        Example: "After being rescued, her memory of the accident was nebulous."

97.  Contentious - (adjective) Argumentative, filled with strife or conflict, hostile (Bird)

        Example: "It was obvious that the relationship between the divorced couple was still contentious."

98.  Auspicious - (adjective)  Fortunate, having good luck (Bird)

        Example: "Winning the lottery was the most auspicious event of his life."

99.  Placid - (adjective)  Calm, serene (Bird)

        Example: "The lake was so placid that I leaned back in the boat and dozed off."

100. Tacit -  (adjective) Implied, unspoken but understood (Bird)

        Example: "He gave tacit approval for me to pursue my research on a voluntary basis."

101. Umbrage - (noun) Offense (Bird)

        Example: "The judge took umbrage at the district attorney's implied criticism of his ruling."

102. Inevitable - (adjective) Unavoidable, unable to prevent (Bird)

        Example: "The student's failing grade on the test was inevitable since he did not study at all."

103. Acquiesce - (verb) To comply with or go along with (Bird)

        Example: "The young boy acquiesced to his mother's request to clean his room."

104. Elucidate - (verb) To explain or clarify  (Bird)

        Example: "Because the professor's explanation was unclear, I asked him to elucidate."

105. Affluent - (adjective) Wealthy, extremely rich (Bird)

        Example: "We looked at a home in an affluent new subdivision."

106. Amiable - (adjective) Friendly  (Bird)

        Example: "He was one of the most popular kids in school, probably because he was such an amiable person."

107. Acrimonious - (adjective) Hostile, bitter, antagonistic (Bird)

        Example: "The siblings' rivalry had become increasingly acrimonious."

108. Complacent - (adjective) Self-satisfied (Mice & Bird)

        Example: "Since the Wildcats had already beaten ULS twice, the team grew dangerously complacent."

109. Mollify - (verb) Appease (Mice & Bird)

        Example: "He was so upset about not making the team that no one could mollify him."

110. Expunge - (verb) Delete, remove (Bird)

        Example: "After three years a driver's traffic offenses are expunged from his record."

111. Temerity - (noun) Boldness, audacity (Bird)

        Example: "The girl had the temerity to accuse the minister of lying to her."

112. Exhilaration - (noun) Elation, extreme joy (Bird)

        Example: "The dinner guests were filled with exhilaration when the host announced his upcoming wedding."

113. Adamant - (adjective) Inflexible or unyielding in one's position or beliefs. (Bird)

        Example: "The Colonists were adamant in their demand to repeal the Stamp Act."

114. Vehement - (adjective) Intense, passionate conviction or emotion (Bird)

        Example: "Mr. Bach was vehement in his remarks that students follow the common Trust."

115. Devout - (adjective) Pious or observant (Bird)

        Example: "Though the pastor seemed a person of devout faith, some of his advice was unethical."

116. Impertinent - (adjective) Rude, insolent (Bird)

        Example: "The candidate's response to the reporter's question was impertinent."

117. Brevity - (noun) Briefness, of short duration (Bird)

        Example: "The speaker's address was perfect, characterized by clarity and brevity."

118. Purloined - (adjective) Stolen (Bird)

        Example: "The police referred to the incident with the stolen steak as the 'case of the purloined sirloin.'"

119. Commemorate - (verb)  To honor the memory of someone/something with a ceremony.

        Example:  "D-day commemorates the invasion that ended World War 2."

120. Morose - (adjective) Sullen, gloomy (Mice)

        Example:  "After the teams' fourteenth straight lost, the players and coaches were growing morose."

121. Dejected - (adjective) Depressed (Mice)

        Example:  "When he learned he had not successfully auditioned for the play, the young actor was dejected."

122. Aloof - (adjective)  Distant in one's relationships, indifferent (Mice)

        Example: "I don't like my boss because he is aloof and is, therefore, difficult to communicate with."

123. Belligerent - (adjective)  Hostile, contentious (Mice)

        Example: "His belligerent manner caused his colleagues to shun him, making him a pariah in the firm."

124. Retort - (verb) To reply angrily, to counter an argument (Mice)

        Example: "The pro-life speaker retorted to the statement by the previous speaker."

125. Affable - (adjective) - friendly, amiable  (Masks)

        Example:  "One reason he is so popular is that he's such an affable person."

126. Connoisseur - (noun) - A person who has expert knowledge in some field appreciates the highest quality.   (Shard)

        Example: "Some people are connoisseurs of fine wine, while others, like Mr. Georgeson, are connoisseurs of folk music."

127. Comply - (verb) - To agree to act upon a request.  (Shard)

        Example:  "When my parents ask me to clean my room, I usually comply."

128. Forage - (verb) - To search for food.  (Shard)

        Example: "Part of our training was to forage in the forest to see if we could survive."

129. Mock - (adjective) - False, fake.  (Shard)

        Example:  "Even though he already knew about the surprise party, his face showed mock shock."

130. Cower - (verb) - To huddle or crouch in fear.  (Shard)

        Example: "Gollum cowered from the blows that rained down on him."

131. Diligent - (adjective) - Industrious, working hard (Shard)

        Example:  He is one of the most diligent students I have ever had."

132. Despair - (noun) - feeling of hopelessness, lacking hope (Shard)

        Example:  Even in the most difficult times, one should not despair."

133. Insolent - (adjective) - rude, impudent, impertinent, disrespectful (Shard)

        Example:  "The reporter's insolent question during the President's press conference showed a lack of class."

134. Tedious - (adjective) - tiresome (Shard)

        Example: "Studying for vocabulary quizzes can be incredibly tedious."

135. Vigilant - (adjective) - watchful (especially for danger)  (Shard)

        Example: "Since 9/11 Americans have had to be more vigilant because of the threat of terrorism."

136. Spurn - (verb) - to reject in a scornful way (Shard)

        Example: "In Inherit the Wind, the townspeople spurned Bert Cates for his teaching of evolution."

137. Commiserate - (verb) - to sympathize with someone  (Shard)

        Example: "It was easy to commiserate with the players after they lost a heartbreaker in overtime."

138. Serene - (adjective) - calm, peaceful  (Shard)

        Example: "Relaxing on the beach and listening to the gentle ocean waves, I felt as serene as I ever had before."

139. Speculate - (verb) - to ponder, to guess (Shard)

        Example: "Many American citizens are speculating who will become the next President."

140. Feign - (verb) to pretend  (Shard)

        Example: "The teacher feigned surprise when all of her students got either an A or a B on the unit test."

141. Replica - (noun) a reproduction or duplicate  (Shard)

        Example: "I recently saw an exhibit of replicas of famous painting."

142. Frenetic - (adjective) - frantic  (Shard)

        Example: "The pace of the game was frenetic as the home team tried to overcome a 10 point deficit in the final two minutes of the game."

143. Trepidation - (noun) - fear, worry (Shard)

        Example:  "Because he had never spoken in front of such a large audience, he felt a great deal of trepidation."

144. Quell - (adjective) - to subdue, to end  (Shard)

        Example:  "Bert Cates tried to quell his rising nervousness as he waited for the jury's verdict."

alien
allotment
allotted
already
altercation
amass
amendment
amorous
ancestor
anecdote
angular
anonymous
antidote
antique
antiseptic
architect
arrangement
asphalt
assignment
asterisk
attorneys
audible
aviator
bachelor
bankruptcy
barbaric
bask
battery
behavior
benefited
berserk
besieged
bicycle
blanch
brilliance
budget
bulletin
business
cachet
callus
cancellation
canvas
canvass
capricious
carburetor
cashier
catastrophe
centripetal
characteristic
chaste
cinnamon
classic
collateral
colleague
college
comedy
commerce
commercial
committee
communicate
commuter
compel
compensation
competent
consider
contiguous
corporal
council
counsel
country
creator
critique
customary
customer
daybreak
deceive
defendant
deficient
deficit
depreciation
desirable
desolate
detain
devour
diagnosis
diffidence
diminish
disappeared
disapproval
disbursement
 

discernible
discrepancy
disinterested
disoblige
dissociate
distress
diurnal
divine
domestic
domesticate
dominance
easier
ecstasy
effect
eject
eligible
eliminate
encouragement
encyclopedia
epic
equilibrium
erroneous
especially
exceptional
excessive
existence
exotic
expression
extremity
extricate
facsimile
familiar
fantastic
faulty
federal
feud
flexible
flout
fluorescent
folklore
forcible
fortunately
franchise
frivolous
frostbitten
further
galaxy
galling
genuine
gesture
geology
gigantic
gnawing
gorgeous
grotesque
gymnasium
handicapped
handling
handsome
haphazard
harness
hazardous
headquarters
homogenize
horrific
humidor
idiosyncrasy
impatience
impinge
incandescent
inconsolable
indelible
inept

irksome
irresistible
irrevocable
issuing
itemized
jewelry
judicious
juror
justifiable
landslide
legitimate
leisure
liaison
library
license
lieutenant
loophole
lunar
luncheon
magnify
 

malefactor
malicious
markup
mattress
mesmerize
meteor
metric
mischievous
misgiving
modern
modicum
mystery
negligence
neon
neutral
newsstand
nineteenth
nonentity
noticeable
notoriety
nuisance
numerator
nylon
obesity
oblique
obstinate
obsolete
officious
opposite
optimism
oregano
overrate
pageant
parliament
passable
paucity
penalty
perseverance
personality
picnicking
plaintiff
poignancy
poignant
potential
preceding
precipice
preoccupy
prospectus
quest
questionnaire
quixotic
radioactive
rapacious
rayon
raze
recently
reconcile
relevant
relief
repulse
revive
rhyme
rhythm
roommate
roster

session
shrine
sieve
signal
sincerely
soccer
solitary
subvert
statutory
terrific
thieves
tragedy
transient
transmutation
turpitude
tyranny
unacceptable
unique
unmoved
usher
utopia
vengeance
vocal
voucher
withhold
wrestle
written 

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Build a class of professional wordsmiths! Subscribe to the Word of the Day site and have a different student assume the role of wordsmith each day. It's the wordsmith's task to check your email for the daily word, and share its' definition, pronunciation, and contextual usage with the class as a whole. Be sure to watch for the weekly theme.

CyberGuides - http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/cyberguide.html

Looking for exciting ways to integrate technology into your literature curriculum? Check out this professional site that offers a host of online, standard based units. Each CyberGuide includes a comprehensive unit plan with extension activites, pre-selected websites, a ready made rubric and guides for both the teacher and the student.

English & Language Arts: Teaching and Learning - http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/ela20/teach4.html

Although plain, this site offers English and Language Arts teachers a multitude of ideas on how to teach writing to students. Created by educators, the authors include writing strategies, assessment ideas, scoring rubrics, and an in-depth explanation of the core components of a good writing program. Visit the index for additonal materials on teaching reading, listening and speaking skills.

Neverending Tale - http://tales.coder.com/creations/tale/

Join other young writers online to craft the direction these choose-your-own-path stories will take. An exciting, interactive approach to creative writing instruction. Have your class start their own neverending story and email your tale to other classrooms in your school or beyond.

On-line English Grammar - http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/index.cfm

Students can hone their writing skills by reaquainting themselves with the rules of grammar. The table of contents provides direct links that explain hundreds of grammer terms and usage issues. Have a specific problem? Visit the English Grammar Clinic which answers specific grammar questions for students.

Paradigm Online Writing Assistant -http://www.powa.org/

An interactive site which contains advice on writing techniques, organization, editing, and source documentation. Be sure to explore one of the many activities to help young writers get started writing.

Poetry Pals - http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/5165/index1.html

Teach poetry writing to your students by sharing the work of hundreds of other students around the world. Use the samples at the site as models for your students. Then ask your students to craft their own piece to post on your classroom site and share their writing with the world. Poetry Pals also offers lesson plans, a review with samples of multiple poetry forms, and an awesome poetry machine that enables students to create their own poetry tiles online.

Rhyming Poetry - http://www.lyricalline.com/rhymersearch.html

Need a rhyming word? Search this easy to use online, interactive rhyming dictionary. Students can choose between a variety of rhyme types such as end rhymes, double rhymes, or first syllable rhymes. Have students use this interactive tool to find rhyming words that describe themselves and create their own autobiographical poems.

Wacky Web Tales - http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

Everyone loves Mad Libs! Now your students can craft their own Wacky Tales online. This is a fun and creative way to reinforce the various parts of speech. There is also an excellent guide to the parts of speech available to refresh the user's memory. Extend the use of this site to a creative writing activity by having your students create their own wacky web tales which they can submit to the site for publication.

Word Central - http://www.wordcentral.com/

Looking for a creative approach to building student's vocabularies? Head to the Word Central Cafeteria for the daily buzzword where students find terms, their definitions and can even hear pronunciations with the appropriate plug-in. Don't forget to take the Word Wiz Quiz to test your vocab-savy. The archives are a great place for students to build their vocabularies. Hosted by Merriam Webster, this site also offers a student dictionary and the option for users to build their own on-line dictionary of terms.

Write Site - http://www.writesite.org/

Pass out the press passes and send your class off to the Write Site. This web site was designed for use in the middle school Language Arts curriculum and enables students to explore the world of journalism. Students, as either writers or editors, research, draft, and publish their own newspaper while learning the history of the trade and potential career paths. You'll also find excellent unit activities, downloadable handouts, and information on how to write.

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Math:

AAA Math - http://www.aaaMath.com

This is an excellent site to supplement your Math instruction using an interactive forum. Organized by grade level and Math topic, have students visit the activity of choice. Each lesson is color coded with areas of explanation, interactive practice, and challenge opportunites to play. The seventh grade section covers such topics as computation, geometry, divisibility, fractions, decimals, ratios, scientific notation, etc. (Contributed by Janet Hotham)

Ask Dr. Math - http://Mathforum.org/dr.Math/drMath.middle.html

Hosted by Drexel University, Ask Dr. Math enables students to access hundreds of archival Math solutions and explainations of the most common Mathematical quandaries sorted by grade level. The site encourages students to search the archives first and find the answer on their own but if they remained stumped they can contact Dr. Math who will help them with their problem solving!

Figure This! Math Challenges for the Family - http://www.figurethis.org/

Figure This! posts several interesting Math challenges a month that middle school students can do either in school or at home with their families. Each problem includes a description of the Math involved, a note on how the Math is used in the real world, hints to get started, complete solutions, and additional related problems. Other excellent features are questions to think about, fun facts related to Math, and animated cartoon characters such as Polygon and Exponent who illustrate the challenges for the viewer.

MacTutor History of Mathematics - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/

Search the history of Mathematics by accessing the many indices available at Mac Tutor including a Birthplace Map index, Timeline index, Chronology index, Female Mathematician index and Biographies index to name only a few. Have your students research Mathematics based on a current topic of study in their history class and present a presentation on their topic to the class. (Contributed by Shelley Northrop)

Math Magic - http://Mathforum.org/Mathmagic/

MathMagic is another exciting site sponsored by the Math Forum. Through online challenges and activities students are encouraged to use computer technology to increase both their communication and problem solving skills. Divided by grade level, the 7-9 link offers 26 Math challenges in downloadable document form.

Math Problems for Kids - http://www.stfx.ca/special/Mathproblems/welcome.html

Problem-solving is an important skill for your students to build and this site was designed to do just that! Students from grades 5-12 can access a variety of Mathematical problems suitable for their skill level. Working these challenges will help reinforce the concepts you teach and expand their problem-solving skills. Helpful hints are also available in case students get stumped.

The Math Forum Middle School Problem of the Week - http://Mathforum.org/midpow/

The Math Forum developed the Middle School Problem of The Week as a Mathematics challenge activity for middle level students. The site is intended to support students in the solution of non-routine problems. Problem solutions can be submitted to the site by either individuals, small groups, or the whole class. Once a solution is submitted, students have access to hints, error-checking strategies, and can view other teams work online. Problems are posted every Monday between September through May. (Contributed by Shelley Northrop)

Top Spots - http://americasroof.com/usa.shtml

Become a world-weary traveler as you click through the top spots around the world in this virtual tour of elevations. Have students gather peak data and create exciting graphs for use in an extreme sports or travel advertisement.

Mathematics WWW Virtual Library - http://www.Math.fsu.edu/Science/Math.html

Florida State University's Math Department hosts this virtual world of Mathematics. Follow the education link to access over 200 Math problems, games, tutorials, and lesson plans for the Math curriculum. Pick a challenge and get your students instantly engaged in the world of computation.  

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Science:

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse- http://www.enc.org

This is a comprehensive site, chock full of resources for teachers of both Science and Mathematics. Resources are organized by topic and include life and space Science, earth Science, physical Science, the history of Science, and assessment issues. Under each category find links to some of the best URL's available on the web that are suitable for use in the classroom.

Environmental Education Network- http://envirolink.org/enviroed

If you teach environmental Science, this web site is a must have. An excellent resource that offers hyperlinks to a multitude of websites organized by topic. Other features include educational materials and interactive projects to use in the Science classroom. Also be sure to have your students follow up their environmental studies by selecting and following through one of the suggested Actions To Take!

Exploratorium- http://www.exploratorium.edu/

An on-line Science museum, the Exploratorium offers many interactive activities that enable your students to study the basic principles of Science. Whether they build their own solar system, study the Science of sports, or follow a crew of explorers through Antarctica, their involvement and learning will both be greatly increased. Also, don't foget to check out the live webcast available - its a great way to bring Science to life in the classroom.

Extreme Science - http://www.extremeScience.com/index.html

Students can gather a host of interesting earth Science facts from this extreme site! Includes comprehensive data on Mother Earth and the scientists driving the investigations. Add career exploration to your class curriculum by having students select a type of earth scientist they'd like to be and defend their rationale.

K-12 Science @ SciCentral - http://www.scicentral.com/

Another phenomenal web site that provides Science teachers with a vast array of educational resources for use in their classrooms. Check out the Research News section for the latest information on breaking wave dynamics, earthquakes in the sky, or to view a newly found black hole. Under each division of Science find special gateways to studies in specific topic areas.

National Geographic Society - http://www.nationalgeographic.org

The National Geographic Society hosts one of the best sites on the Internet for educators looking to integrate technology into their Science and Social Studies curricula. The site offers thousands of links to exceptional resources on the web and includes many on-line adventures. There are exceptional teacher resources available including comprehensive unit plans, activity sheets, assessment rubrics, and images of actual artifacts such as maps, journal entries, and paintings. Be sure to check out the Virtual Solar System and the Adventure and Expeditions links.

Nine Planets - http://www.seds.org/billa/tnp/nineplanets.html

Nine Planets offers an entire unit on astronomy and the solar system at one site. Provided is an "overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our solar system." Visitors can also find excellent images, sound clips and even movies of space throughout the site. Additional links to other space related web sites are available as well.

MAD Scientist Network - http://www.madsci.org/

Hosted by scientists and graduate students at the University of Washington Medical School, this fun Science site will help you bring your Science topics alive for students. Visit the MAD Labs and check out the Random Science Generator for fun facts, conduct scientific experiments with edible objects, or take a virtual tour of The Visible Human. The site is maintained 24 hours a day so your students can always Ask A Scientist when they are stumped!

Museum of Science - http://www.mos.org

The Boston Museum of Science hosts a fabulous number of interactive Science based activities, virtual exhibits, and high quality teacher resource materials along with a great online Science glossary. Your students can watch 6 climbers scale Kilamanjaro, visit the Virtual Fish Tank and create their own fish on screen to send it to the museum's virtual tank, explore the aging process at Secrets of Aging, or learn all about our global seas at Ocean's Alive!

WISE (The Web Based Inquiry Science Environment) - http://wise.berkeley.edu/welcome.php 

WISE is a exceptional web site where students can examine real-world evidence online to analyze current scientific controversies. The curriculum projects are designed to meet national Science standards and are suitable for use in grades 5-12. There is also an excellent teachers area that previews new projects and offers the option to grade student work on-line.

The Why Files - http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu

Sponsored by the National Institute for Science Education and the National Science Foundation, the Why Files enables your students to explore current developments in all aspects of Science, Mathematics, and technology. Visitors can uncover the facts behind genetically engineered corn, view images from the Hubble scope, or explore the controversy behind stem cell research and the rush to cure brain disease.

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Social Studies:

Biography - http://www.biography.com/

Integrate history and Language Arts by using this wonderful resource site to help your students learn how to write a biography. Have them select and then brainstorm a list of interview questions they'd like to ask the figure if they could. Then ask them to reseach their person using Biography and try to answer their interview questions. When all information is gather, have students act out the interview and record the session.

Countries of the World - http://infoplease.lycos.com/countries.html

Countries of the World, hosted by Lycos, provides students easy acces to vital information and statistics on every country imaginable. Flags and maps are included along with geographical descriptions, capital cities, political structure, population statistics, and economic data. Have your students use this site to create exciting Countries of the world trading cards.

Exploring Ancient World Cultures - http://eawc.evansville.edu/index.htm

This site offers a comprehensive look at ancient world cultures and contains detailed information on a variety of topics. Have your students use this excellent Internet resource to research ancient historys of India, Greece, Rome, China, the Near East and medieval Europe. There is also a great teachers resource section with related links to help you teach ancient culutres with the web.

Geography Quiz - http://library.thinkquest.org/10157/inftour.html

Created by students for the ThinkQuest Challenge, this award winning, interactive, on-line project is a wonderful conclusion to a unit on geography. Have students take the online quiz to see what they have learned about major landmarks and their locations. A real challenge level activity!

History/Social Studies Web Site for K-12 Teachers - http://execpc.com/~dboals/boals.html

An award winning teacher created directory of hundreds of resources on the web, this site offers one-stop shopping for all things history related. You'll find hundreds of site links organized by topic, resources for K-12 educators, and search tools to help you expand your web resources.

HyperHistory Online - http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html

Study the people, history, events, and maps that played a role in shaping thousands of years of world history. HyperHistory Online offers color coded timelines of major events in technology, art, politics, literature, Science, etc. An exceptional resource that is fun and easy to use.

PBS Online - http://www.pbs.org/neighborhoods/history/

Now you can access the vast resources of PBS research on the Internet and use their wonderful materials to supplement your Social Studies curriculum. The Content is divided into categories such as the Ancient World, Biographies, The United States, Wars and World History. This site is rich with hyperlinks, interactice online adventures and fully developed teaching materials available at the Teachers Source link.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/9705/seven.wonders/

CNN provides students with a concise overview of the each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Some beautiful images are also provided. Be sure to visit an exciting section that addresses potential wonders of the new world. Extend this idea by asking your students to select their own modern wonders and present a rationale for their selections.

Social Studies Resources- http://www.kent.wednet.edu/curriculum/soc_studies

A web directory to hundreds of Social Studies sites selected and reviewed by a university professor of secondary education. Includes lesson plans, classroom resources and links to the best Social Studies resources on the Internet.

The History Channel's On This Day in History - http://www.historychannel.com/thisday/

The History Channel is an exceptional web resource for the study of both U.S. and World history. The On This Day feature allows students to search historical archives of the day they were born. Ask your class to create their own newspapers for their individual birthdates that highlight major world events. See if they can answer these questions: What was the top news story of the day? Does anyone famous share their birthday? What was the #1 song and the favorite movie the day and year they were born? A wonderful way to help your students make meaningful , personal connections to world history.

World Fact Book- http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

A great resources site for exploring other countries and their cultures. All data is current as of 2001. Information provided includes government, people, economy, communications, military, transportation and transitional issues. There are also links provided on the home page to reference maps and The History of the World Fact Book.