Curated OER
Scary Short Story Writing Lesson
There's nothing like the prospect of writing a scary story to get your middle schoolers' writing juices flowing! In the lesson presented here, pupils listen to scary short stories read to them by the teacher. Then, a discussion ensues...
Curated OER
Using Figurative Language
Adding details and figurative language makes any story more fun to read! After reading two versions of the same story, one devoid of figurative language and one embellished, young writers are asked to add alliteration, hyperbole,...
Curated OER
Spooky Analysis
Focus on building suspense as well as evaluating web sites through creative writing. After introducing the idea of suspense and holding a discussion, class members complete a WebQuest, during which they find inspiration for their own...
Teach-nology
What Went Bump in the Night?
What would you do if you found a monster watching your TV? Take a walk on the scary side with a fun cloze reading activity. As kids read the passage, they use the words on the bottom of the page to fill in the eight blank spaces that...
Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character
Charlotte's Web: A Story About Friendship
Strengthen the bonds of friendship within your class with a reading of E.B. White's award-winning novel, Charlotte's Web. Focusing on the unique characters in the story and the relationships they develop, young readers draw from their...
Curated OER
Pumpkin and Ghost Garland
Reading scary stories on Halloween is frightfully good fun! As elementary learners read several stories for the holiday, they choose a favorite and create a decorative garland representing the characters and setting elements found in the...
Curated OER
Scary Stuff
Fourth graders interview community members for a newspaper, design a business brochure, write a disappearing ghost story, and try their hands at monoprinting. This series of three lessons combines art, journalism, and creative writing....
United K12
Jan Brett Author Study
Expose young children to the wonderful works of author and illustrator Jan Brett using a few of her stories such as Armadillo Rodeo, The Mitten, or Daisy Comes Home through a unit study.
Curated OER
The Monster in the Barn
What could that scary sound be? Join Bobby and his dad in a search for a screeching monster with a short reading passage. In addition, learners show their understanding with a series of comprehension questions and a lesson extension.
Curated OER
Three Skeleton Key: Elements of Literature
Rats! How are they described in "Three Skeleton Key," and what happens to the characters in the story? Study the vocabulary and the story with these worksheets. Learners complete pre-reading activities, study vocabulary, complete...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Tales of the Supernatural
Scary stuff! Whether approached as the first horror story or a "serious imaginative exploration of the human condition," Frankenstein continues to engage readers. Here's a packet of activities that uses Mary Shelley's gothic novel to...
Curated OER
A Noise in the Night-- Story Starter
In this writing worksheet, students read a scary story starter about hearing a noise in the night. Students write the story on the lines provided.
Seussville
Hooray For Diffendoofer Day!
Eleven engaging activities make up a story guide that accompanies Dr. Seuss' Hooray For Diffendoofer Day! Scholars design a fictional classroom setting including scary face tests, writing job descriptions, adapting the book into a play,...
Reed Novel Studies
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit: Novel Study
What a joy to see the world through the eyes of a child. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit allows readers to see a child's perspective of fleeing Germany due to having a father the Nazis wanted. Scholars read about the adventures of the...
Curated OER
Writing Bug: A Halloween Who, When, Where
In this creative writing worksheet, students choose one item from each category about who, where, and when and write a creative Halloween story. Students write 1 story.
Curated OER
Celebrating Halloween through Language and Literature
Use the theme of Halloween to spice up campfire stories, journal writing, and presentations in your classroom.
PBS
Interviewing: The Art of Asking Questions
Interviewing skills are important, even outside of a news reporter's desk or employer's office. Take your class through the process of interviewing people they don't know with a set of case studies featuring journalists and various...
Curated OER
The Tell-Tale Hearts of Writers
Knock, knock, knock...Creep out your class with a critical thinking lesson focused on word relationships in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." They investigate the relationship between word choice, mood, and interpretation of a...
Curated OER
The Story of the Jack o' Lantern
In this Halloween comprehensive reading worksheet, learners read a passage about the Jack o' Lantern and answer questions about the type of story and main character. Students choose two multiple choice answers.
Curated OER
Scary: writing
In this writing activity, students write a scary story after they read the writing prompt. Students have 3 pages that they can write their story on.
Curated OER
Scary Stuff!
Fourth graders interview community members for a "newspaper". They design a business brochure, write a disappearing ghost story, and experiment with mono-printing. They experiment with a variety of materials, tools, equipment, and...
Curated OER
Creatures of the Night Lesson Plan
Students write a list of words that are associated with scary creatures that they imagine now or in their younger days. They read books that share ideas for dealing with scary experiences. Finally, they use a variety of art materials to...
Curated OER
The Fall of the House of Usher
These frightening questions cover The Fall of the House of Usher, one of Edgar Allan Poe's most infamous works. The scary details are rehashed in these ten multiple-choice questions. Take the quiz if you dare!
Curated OER
Adjectives in Stories
In this adjectives worksheet, students match adjectives with descriptions of different types of stories. Students then read a news report and fill in the spaces with adjectives that begin with the specified letters.