GRADE 8 ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THEME: HEROES AND HEROINES

Unit 1: Descriptive Writing

Topics
1.

Grammatical Sentences
- Tenses: Past and Present
- Past Continuous and Present Continuous
Subject and object pronouns: I vs. me
Objectives:

1.Conjugate given verbs

2.Apply spelling rules for the verb tenses
3.Identify and correct errors in the use of tenses in
short extracts
4.Distinguish between the pronouns I and me
and use them correctly

Suggested Teaching/Learning Activities

- Create a table showing the conjugation of given

verbs
- Spell irregular past tense forms using strategies
for difficult words
- Fill in blanks in sentences/paragraphs with the
correct form of the verbs in brackets
- Read texts (based on theme) and identify the
verbs then categorize them as past, present or
continuous
- Unscramble sentences and write them in the
correct tense (also review capital letters and full
stops) http://www.eslfast.com/writing/
- Complete sentences with the subject/object
pronouns
2.
Descriptive Essay Writing

- Describe a Person
Adverbs and adjectives

Objectives

1.

Explain what makes a hero or heroine

2.Create an outline of an essay describing a
personal hero/heroine
3.Write, proofread and edit essay for common
errors (capitalization, punctuation, grammar,
spelling and paragraphing)
4.Use the correct form of comparative or
superlative adjective or adverb in speech and
writing
Suggested Teaching/ Learning Activities

- Listen to Bette Midlers song The Wind

Beneath My Wings, read the lyrics as they
listen and then share their interpretation and
what the song means to them.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=jorJh8DTMVM
- Compile a list of heroic attributes
- Volunteers talk about someone who they
consider to be their hero.
- Review exercises of comparative adverbs and
adjectives

Unit 2: Letter Writing

Topics
1.

Social Letters
- Friendly Letters
- Thank You Letters
Subject and verb agreement (rule 3 and 4)
Objectives:

1.Define the term social/informal letters

2.Identify parts of a social letter
3.Identify common expressions used in friendly
letters and thank you letters
4.Write social letters using the correct format
5.Apply subject verb agreement rules to their
writing and the writing of others
Suggested Teaching/ learning Activities

Label the parts of an informal letter

Write thank you letters to a relative for a

birthday/Christmas gift
Complete error recognition and correction
exercises on subject verb agreement
2.

Formal Letters
Letter of Request/Enquiry
Letter of Complaint
Subject and Verb Agreement
Objectives:

1. Read sample formal letters and explain their

purpose and format
2. Identify the writers tone and discuss choice of
words
3. Construct letters according to guidelines taught
4. Utilize basic punctuation marks and capital
letters correctly in their writing
5. Identify and correct subject and verb agreement
errors
Suggested Teaching/ Learning Activities

- Pinpoint differences between informal and

formal letters
- Proofread letters of complaint.
- http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english/en
15edit/worksheet/en15edit-l1-w-editing-andproofreading-a-complaint-letter.pdf
- http://www.teachnology.com/worksheets/language_arts/editing/ed
it16.pdf
- Review exercises of subject and verb agreement