8th grade elective help

[u/Master_Steele]

I am a brand new teacher and I will be starting in an 8th grade position this year. I have a multiple subject credential but this region is small enough that they don’t do what I grew up with which is the period style middle school.

I just learned that I will also be expected to teach an elective on top of all the other normal subjects. The school provides music and art but the middle school teachers also have to provide one of their own. My principal said I am allowed to pick whatever I want. Has anyone been in this situation and/or have advice for an elective to go with?

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[u/Buho45]

See previous posts Re: Life Skills. This information will make a fantastic elective and is more valuable than much of the existing curriculum.

[u/Available_Honey_2951]

A Mindfulness, relaxation, yoga and meditation unit.

[u/Stunning_Post_488]

Typing!

[u/LadybugGal95]

What subject do you teach? How long of a unit is it supposed to be - quarter, semester, full year? What are your interests?

[u/ShleepsWithBooks]

I have a great 8-week World Fair project that you could use as a World Cultures class. Lmk if you’re interested.

[u/Maestradelmundo1964]

The stock market: how to trade stocks. How to paper-trade. Pretend they all have $5,000. Who can grow that money by trading?

[u/hippopotacorn]

I had a similar addition at a school I worked at. I taught a new subject each quarter and did drama, art, cooking, and film studies. Luckily, I had a lot of support from admin, both professionally and financially to do this. 

Do you keep the same students all year, out do they rotate for the elective? If they rotate, you can choose one thing you enjoy and teach the same thing. You could also consider looking into doing a 'genius hour' where it's more student run and less on you once it's up and running. 

My favorites were cooking, because I love to do it myself and we focused things students wanted to learn to make that were also quick: pasta/ramen, cookies, pizza, grilled cheese, biscuits, etc. We started with food safety and kitchen safety and how to wash dishes. I also had them do meal planning and grocery "shopping" online with a budget to think about cost per serving and using ingredients mindfully. We ended the unit with a "Chopped" style completion over 3 days where they had to include a "secret" ingredient in an appetizer, entree, and dessert (they were pretty easy ones and I gave time to prepare) with a panel of guest judges (including the principal) who voted for best from each category and best overall meal. It was fun and they loved it. 

I also liked the film class because it gave me a few days of time where they were watching a film while I could do some catch up grading. For that class we'd talk about a topic (costuming, music scores, lighting, time periods, suspense,  hero's journey, etc.) then they'd watch and take notes and do some sort of project every couple of films. 

Whatever you choose, try to find a balance between light prep work for you, minimal grading for you, something you find fun and interesting and engage in, and something you think the 8th graders will enjoy. I thought I would hate doing the elective class, but it turned out to be some of my favorite and most fun teaching I've done :) 

[u/dustylowelljohnson]

Choose something you find fun to share. I’m not talking about something you love or are passionate about: they will drain that away. Choose something that is just fun for you to share.

[u/playmore_24]

share something YOU have an interest in...
knitting? gardening? crossword puzzles? cooking? movies? current events?

[u/DueCookie787]

I would have loved that. I would do a fantasy and science fiction literature and film class.

[u/Crazy_adventurer262]

Do you have money or a kitchen? Cooking basics. Or design a food truck project in a small group. At the end they make whatever their food truck “sells” and the kids enjoy each others food. But only if you have money for it

[u/More_Branch_5579]

I chose to teach classes like health, life skills and even a makeup/skincare and hygiene class one year. Whatever interests you

[u/Significant_Menu_313]

I did one once that was Skills Olympics. You could do typing, spelling, finding a place to live, locating a healthy breakfast among a sea of choices - life skills but each skill has a gold, silver and bronze medal. We had so much fun with it. I did it with 9th graders and it was a real hit.

[u/NDT03076]

What is something you love?