This webquest is designed for 8th grade students. Most of them are between thirteen and fourteen years old, depending on when their birthday occurs.
The Thirteen Year Old: Growth Patterns
Physical:
• High physical energy
• Skin problems emerging; hygiene a key issue
• Girls: 95% of mature height in average girl; menstruating has begun for most
• Boys: voice change for many; growth spurt about a year behind girls
Social:
• Neatness a key issue with personal appearance, not with personal environment
• The mirror is their best friend and worst enemy
• Often quieter than 12's or 14's
• Like to be alone at home
• Feelings easily hurt and can easily hurt other's feelings
• Mean = scared
• Touchy; flaring anger
• Close friendships more obviously important to girls
• Boys hang in groups or formal gangs
• Girls more interested in older boys
• Strong sports interest in both genders
• Telephone, computer, video games and other electronic diversions a major factor
• Music becoming a major preoccupation
• Peer pressure increasing regarding dress, language, music, in-out, being cool
• Worries about school work
• Humor highlighted by growth of sarcasm
• Horseplay, practical jokes still high in boys
• Collections of things (jewelry, make-up, tapes)
Language:
• One word answers to adult questions (minimal feedback)
• Street language/peer language important
• Extreme language and volume in face of parental involvement
• Rudeness
Cognitive:
• Withdrawn and sensitive nature is protective of developing self-concept and intellectual ideas that remain not fully formed
• Abstract reasoning and "formal operations" begin to be functional in some 13's
• Tentative approach to difficult intellectual tasks; not willing to take big learning risks
• Like to challenge intellectual as well as social authority
The Fourteen Year Old: Growth Patterns
Physical:
• High energy continues
• Generally healthy age-pushes through illness in desire to participate with peers
• Loud
• Alcohol and drugs a major influence on physical well being
• Girls; full development nearly complete
• Boys; growth spurt continues
• Both; sexually active in increasing percentages
• Upper body strength beings to develop in boys
• High need for physical exercise and snacking
Social:
• Like to do as much as possible-cram as much into the day as they can
• More of their own adult personality evident
• Often embarrassed to be see with their parents; critical of parental dress, habits, friends, ideas
• Loud
• Especially don't like or respond well to adult lectures; feel that they know what is going to be said once a few words have been spoken; "know it all" stage
• Can be a pain at home and a star at school
Language:
• Peer language patterns of paramount importance, but learning to negotiate adult world as well
• Will engage more in a group discussion
• Interested in the meaning of words; developing a broader vocabulary
• Loud
Cognitive:
• More abstract reasoning evident, especially in regard to cause and effect
• More willing to admit an error, revise their work or try something a second or third time
• Very aware of problems in larger world and generally still invested in finding solutions and participating in learning more
• Interested in technology and hot things work
• Learn well in cooperative groups
• Responds well to academic variety and challenge
• Easily "bored"'
In addition to the common characteristics of 8th grade students, the teacher still need to know your students’ learning styles, prior knowledge of nuclear energy and their expectations of course outcomes. In the introductory activity, students have posted all the questions they want know about nuclear on the blog, which is helpful for teachers to know about their expectations of course outcomes.
Resources: http://www.scolumbiasd.k12.pa.us/ms/robinsonpage/grade8.htm
Resources: http://www.scolumbiasd.k12.pa.us/ms/robinsonpage/grade8.htm
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