7th Grade Short Stories Lesson (by date, oldest first)

The Silent Struggle: A Powerful Resource for Addressing Bullying and Promoting Social-Emotional Learning

This is one story taken from a book eight, which can be found here

Inspire your students to become advocates for change with "The Silent Struggle," a captivating story that tackles the issue of bullying and the transformative power of self-advocacy. This comprehensive learning package is designed to help students in grades 6-8 develop empathy, resilience, and the courage to speak out against injustice.

The package includes:

1. "The Silent Struggle" short story
2. 10 thought-provoking discussion questions
3. 5 creative writing prompts
4. 10 engaging project ideas that align with the core competencies of social-emotional learning
5. A vocabulary list featuring 20 words related to bullying prevention and personal growth, complete with definitions and parts of speech
6. An in-depth analysis of the story's themes, tailored for middle school students

Through this powerful resource, your students will:

• Explore the far-reaching consequences of bullying on mental health and academic performance
• Discuss the importance of supportive friendships and the role of allies in overcoming adversity
• Examine the responsibilities of school staff in creating a safe and inclusive learning environment
• Engage in projects that foster self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision-making, self-management, and relationship skills
• Reflect on their own experiences and apply the lessons learned to their daily lives
• Expand their vocabulary and understanding of literary elements

"The Silent Struggle" learning package is a versatile tool that can be seamlessly integrated into your language arts, social studies, or character education curriculum. The projects and assignments are designed to accommodate diverse learning styles, ensuring that all students can engage with the material and develop a deeper understanding of the story's themes.

Each of these stores can be found individually here

Empower Your Students to Overcome Bullying with "The Power Within"

A Collection of Short Stories & Engaging Activities Designed to Spark Dialogue, Build Empathy, and Inspire Change

Are you seeking a powerful tool to address bullying in your middle school classroom?

"The Power Within: Stories of Overcoming Bullying" is more than just a book; it's a comprehensive resource designed to help you navigate the complex landscape of bullying with your students.

What's Inside:

• Eight Engaging Narratives: Captivating stories that explore various forms of bullying, including verbal, physical, social, and cyberbullying, from multiple perspectives – the victim, the bully, the bystander, and the supportive adult.
• Thought-Provoking Discussion Questions: Each story is followed by a set of questions designed to spark meaningful conversations, encourage critical thinking, promote self-reflection, and foster empathy.
• Creative Writing Prompts: Inspire your students to explore the themes of the stories through writing, allowing them to develop their own voices, express their understanding of bullying, and consider alternative perspectives.
• Action-Oriented Project Ideas: Empower your students to take action against bullying by engaging in projects that promote kindness, inclusivity, and positive change within their school communities.

Why Choose "The Power Within":

• Relatable and Engaging: The stories are carefully crafted to resonate with the middle school experience, capturing the attention of your students and making the lessons more impactful.
• Multifaceted Approach: The book addresses bullying from various angles, providing a holistic understanding of the issue and its complexities.
• Promotes Social-Emotional Learning: The activities and discussion prompts encourage students to develop essential social-emotional skills, such as empathy, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship building.
• Versatile Teaching Tool: Use the stories as individual reading assignments, springboards for class discussions, or the foundation for a unit on bullying prevention.

"The Power Within" is more than just a book; it's a catalyst for positive change.

Help your students find their voices, embrace their strength, and create a more compassionate and inclusive school environment. Order your copy of "The Power Within: Stories of Overcoming Bullying" today!

Bonus: Follow us on

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*This is one story taken from a book eight, which can be found here.

Introducing "The Bystander's Dilemma" - a compelling story and comprehensive teaching resource for grades 5-8 that addresses the critical issue of bullying and the power of being an upstander.

This thought-provoking story follows Lucas, a middle school student who witnesses the bullying of his classmate, Emma. As Lucas grapples with the decision to intervene or remain silent, students will explore themes of courage, compassion, and the importance of standing up for others.

"The Bystander's Dilemma" is more than just a story; it's a complete teaching package designed to engage your students and foster meaningful discussions about bullying prevention and character development.

This resource includes:

• The full story, divided into chapters for easy classroom reading and discussion
• Detailed character profiles and a story arc to help students analyze literary elements
• Thoughtful discussion questions to promote critical thinking and personal reflection
• Engaging writing prompts to encourage creative expression and empathy-building
• Vocabulary list with definitions to support language development
• Comprehensive lesson ideas & activities, including character analysis, anti-bullying campaign poster design, role-playing, and more

As an educator, you understand the importance of addressing bullying and promoting a positive school climate. "The Bystander's Dilemma" provides a relevant and relatable context for students to explore these issues, while also strengthening their literacy skills and social-emotional learning.

This resource features an anticipation guide for Roald Dahl's ironic tale of a scorned housewife, Lamb to the Slaughter, and a meticulously-explained lesson plan that I believe is the absolute best way to approach a new story. Using a non-intimidating method called "Numbered Heads", this activity will get your students thinking, writing, conversing, and reporting about themes you will be encountering during your study of Lamb to the Slaughter and your overall short story unit. I am confident that your students will enjoy this thoughtful, engaging activity and beg you to begin reading this creepy yet cheeky tale.

Product Includes:

• 2 Page Anticipation Guide with 7 Debate Statements
• "Numbered Heads" Lesson Plan

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Check out more great resources for your study of Lamb to the Slaughter by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Literature Guide

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Escape Room
⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter & The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Activity Bundle

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This product features a highly-engaging introductory PowerPoint Presentation for the Father of Horror himself, Edgar Allan Poe. A unit of study on Poe is not complete without learning the gory and heartbreaking details of his life and what made him into the master poet and writer whom we continue to marvel at today. This 20-slide powerpoint runs through his tragic family life and childhood, relationships, early occupations (before he was the Poe that you know), synopses of some of his most famous works, death theories, and current pop culture references. It concludes with a 10 question quiz to see how well students listened... and trust me, they will be hanging on your every word! This powerpoint encourages class participation, is fully editable to suit your class' needs, and lasts about 30-40 minutes to run through. I suggest presenting this on the very first day of your unit on Edgar Allan Poe. Enjoy and let the horror begin!

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Save 20% off this resource when you purchase as part of a bundle of Edgar Allan Poe products:

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

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Also, check out these great products by Language Arts Excellence for your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game

Chilling literature guides to frighten your students for months!

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

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⭐ Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

This resource features the most fun your students will have with figurative language all year!

I created this "Figurative Language Challenge" activity and lesson plan several years ago for my middle school students as they were studying Poe's chilling story of murder and mutilation, "The Tell-Tale Heart." Little did I know that it would become the most requested game among my students of all time. This resource includes a meticulously-detailed lesson plan using warm-up, explanation, application, and synthesis, and a one-of-a-kind game that will get your students excited about identifying the copious amount of figurative language that pervades the text. This is the perfect lesson plan for a Friday, on Halloween, or any time you need to amp up the energy in your classroom without sacrificing learning... and of course, it is Common Core aligned!

Product Includes:

• Full-length lesson plan
• Figurative Language Review Sheet
• 8 Figurative Language Signs to hang in room
• Detailed Answer Key

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Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Unreliable Narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart Lesson Plan

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart/The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay

More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

But why stop with one story? We have enough Edgar Allan Poe resources to frighten your students for months!

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

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Get ready to have the most fun you'll have teaching with a lesson that your students will be talking about for years to come with Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron ESCAPE ROOM!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task (and it is!), but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

In this escape room, students will try to escape from 2081 by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles, deciphering an encrypted message, and finding clues along the way.

• Close Read: In the first task, students must answer challenging multiple choice questions about Harrison Bergeron. The corresponding letters of the correct answers reveal their first code.
• Plot it Out: In the second task, students must order the plot events of Harrison Bergeron on Freytag's Pyramid. Once solved, corresponding letters reveal the code.
• Vocab Challenge: In the third task, students must fill in the blanks with vocabulary words from Harrison Bergeron. When inserted correctly, shaded boxes will reveal the code.
• Criss-Cross: In the fourth task, students must solve a crossword puzzle with questions about literary elements and plot events of the story. Circled boxes on the crossword once unscrambled will reveal the code.
• Final Question: In the fifth and final task, students must complete a jig saw puzzle that reveals a quote about freedom and equality_._ In order to escape from 2081, they must answer the final question about the quote.

Product Includes:

• Escape Room Basics
• Detailed Day-Of Instructions
• Escape Room Print Checklist
• Student Teams Chart
• Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and necessary information to be kept at stations
• Student Answer Booklet
• Teacher Answer Keys
• Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity
• Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

Because this is a skills-based escape room, it is perfect for a review of the story before the test.

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Also, check out these great products for your dystopian unit by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint & Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM & PowerPoint

⭐ Escape from Dystopia Digital ESCAPE ROOM & PowerPoint

⭐ Dystopian Literature Socratic Seminar

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⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

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Socratic Seminar Materials for Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding The Lottery by Shirley Jackson... with very little preparation required on your end.

Product Includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom

• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building

• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation

• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

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Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on The Lottery by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint Presentation

⭐ The Lottery Literature Guide

⭐ The Lottery ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Lottery "Tossing Lines" Pre-Reading Activity

⭐ The Lottery Social Media Activities

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM

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This resource features a full-length lesson plan and accompanying materials that asks students to delve into the crazed mind of the narrator of Poe's "The Black Cat." Through an engaging "True/Untrue Storytelling" activity, precise mini-lecture on the unreliable narrator, guiding questions, and follow-up assignment, your students will be able to understand the sometimes daunting concept of the unreliable narrator and discuss how a story is affected when told through the eyes of one. This lesson plan opens up a new world for students as they realize that many of the books, movies, and tv shows that they have read or seen in the past may have been influenced by an unreliable narrator. Thus, not only is this lesson important, it is intrinsically fascinating to students and the "oohs" and "aha" moments that tend to arise from the discussion make it a blast to teach! I am confident that you and your students will love this lesson as much as mine have for years.

Product Includes:

• Meticulously-crafted lesson plan with objectives, materials, warm-up, explanation, application, synthesis for either 1 90-minute period or 2 45-minute periods
• Student packet of accompanying materials
• Detailed teacher's key

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Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Black Cat:

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Compare Contrast Essay

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter & The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Get ready to have the most fun you'll have teaching with a lesson that your students will be talking about for years to come with Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol ESCAPE ROOM!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. All tasks are Language Arts skills-based so that with this fun lesson near a sugar-filled holiday, learning is not sacrificed. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

It is Christmas morning and you have traveled all the way to London to visit your Uncle Scrooge. He is visibly shaken and tells you that he’s had a terrible dream about 3 ominous ghosts. He says that apparently he’s supposed to have learned some valuable lesson last night but he can’t remember what it is…. and if he can’t remember it by midnight, Christmas will be destroyed forever! The only way to escape the room and save Christmas is by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles about A Christmas Carol to help Scrooge remember the lessons he learned last night.

• Plot it Out: In the first task, students must order the major plot points of A Christmas Carol on Freytag's Pyramid. When ordered correctly, letters in the shaded boxes on the chart form their first code.
• VocaBah Humbug: In the second task, students must match the vocabulary words from A Christmas Carol with their definitions by drawing a line connecting them. Letters not intersected by these lines will form their second code word. Clue cards using the words in context are included.
• Criss-Cross: In the third task, students must complete a crossword puzzle about major plot points, characters, setting, figurative language, and quotes from the story. Circled letters within the crossword, once unscrambled, reveal the code.
• Say What: In the fourth task, students must match notable quotes with the characters who said them. When cards are matched correctly, the fourth code is revealed.
• Missing Word: In the final task, students must assemble a jig saw puzzle that forms a notable quote from the story with one missing word. Once the puzzle is assembled and students figure out the missing word, they may escape the room and save Christmas.

Product Includes:

- Escape Room Basics

- Detailed Day-Of Instructions

- Escape Room Print & Classroom Preparation Checklist

- Student Teams Chart

- Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and necessary information to be kept at stations

- Student Answer Sheet

- Teacher Answer Keys

- Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity

- Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

This escape room is an ideal way to end your unit on A Christmas Carol and a great way to review for the final test.

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Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ A Christmas Carol "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Christmas Poetry ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Hanukkah Kwanzaa Christmas Diwali ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐ The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

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⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Socratic Seminar Materials for Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart

A Socratic Seminar (or a "Fish Bowl" Conversation as I like to call them with my students) is a higher order way of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource was created to include everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe... with very little preparation required on your end.

Product Includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom

• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building

• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation

• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet

• Conversation Builder Prompts

• Observation Sheet

• Rubric

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Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity

⭐ Unreliable Narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart Lesson Plan

More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Give your students the chance to hone their skills with figurative language with this engaging yet rigorous Short Story Escape Room!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Short Story Elements Escape Room. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. All tasks are Language Arts skills-based so that with this fun lesson, learning is not sacrificed. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

The ghosts of Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, and Charles Dickens have risen from the grave to lock your students inside your classroom. They are upset because they believe that students spend too much time on Tik-Tok and not enough time reading and writing short stories. In order to appease them, your students must show their expertise with short story elements.

• Plot it Out: In the first task, students will identify the steps and step definitions of Freytag’s Pyramid and place them on the plot diagram.
• What's the POV?: In the second task, students will match passages from short stories with the point of view in which they are written (first person, second person, third person limited, omniscient and objective). Cheat sheet outlining points of view included for differentiation.
• I'm so Conflicted: In the third task, students will match the descriptions from literary works with the conflicts they exemplify (character vs. self, character, society, nature, technology, fate).
• Crossword: In the fourth task, students will complete a crossword puzzle about short story elements.
• The Final Word: In the final task, students will use their code words to determine a final word that completes a quote about short stories.

Product Includes:

• Escape Room Basics
• Detailed Day-Of Instructions
• Escape Room Print Checklist
• Student Teams Chart
• Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs, task instructions, and supplementary materials
• Opportunities for Differentiation
• Student Answer Sheet
• Teacher Answer Keys
• Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity

This escape room is suitable for middle and high school students and is ideal for any time throughout your short story unit, prior to state testing, or any time you're looking to switch it up in the classroom while maintaining rigor and standards.

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Check out more short story escape rooms by Language Arts Excellence here:

⭐ Short Story Escape Rooms

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⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

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Get ready to have the most fun you'll have teaching with a lesson that your students will be talking about for years to come with O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi ESCAPE ROOM!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. All tasks are Language Arts skills-based so that with this fun lesson near a sugar-filled holiday, learning is not sacrificed. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

The ghost of O. Henry has returned from the grave and is upset because he believes that people nowadays care too much about getting expensive gifts at Christmas and no longer understand the true importance and wisdom of the magi. He has decided to destroy Christmas forever, unless your students can show their knowledge of the short story and in turn, recall the lessons that Jim and Della learned themselves not so long ago.

• Magi Trivia: In the first task, students must complete a crossword puzzle about major plot points, characters, setting, figurative language, and quotes from the story. Circled letters within the crossword, once unscrambled, reveal the code.
• Merry Vocabulary: In the second task, students must match the vocabulary words from The Gift of the Magi with their definitions by drawing a line connecting them. Letters not intersected by these lines will form their second code word. Clue cards using the words in context are included.
• Word Maze: In the third task, students must complete a word maze. Letters collected along the way form the third code.
• Off the Chart: In the fourth task, students must fill in a chart containing literary elements and questions about the short story. Shaded boxes next to the correct answers reveal the fourth code.
• Missing Word: In the final task, students must assemble a jig saw puzzle that forms a notable quote from the story with one missing word. Once the puzzle is assembled and students figure out the missing word, they may escape the room and save Christmas.

Product Includes:

- Escape Room Basics

- Detailed Day-Of Instructions

- Escape Room Print & Classroom Preparation Checklist

- Student Teams Chart

- Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and necessary information to be kept at stations

- Student Answer Sheet

- Teacher Answer Keys

- Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity

- Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

This escape room is an ideal way to end your unit on The Gift of the Magi and a great way to review for the final test.

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Also, check out these resources to round our your unit on The Gift of the Magi:

⭐ The Gift of the Magi Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ The Gift of the Magi Socratic Seminar Materials

⭐ The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare Contrast Essay

More great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Christmas Poetry ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Hanukkah Kwanzaa Christmas Diwali ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ A Christmas Carol ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐ The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs Task Cards

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⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

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This product features an engaging pre-reading activity for Shirley Jackson's classic tale of an idyllic town with a shocking tradition, The Lottery. The lesson, called "Tossing Lines," will have each and every one of your students thinking, conversing, writing, and moving all in one class period as they become immersed in the words of the story. At the end of this lesson, students will be chomping at the bit to find out what The Lottery is all about! Over the years, this non-intimidating approach to literature has been the most often requested anticipatory activity that I do with my students.

Product Includes:

• Comprehensive 30 minute Lesson Plan
• 30 Unique "Tossing Lines" cards tailored to The Lottery

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Also, check out these great products to supplement your unit on "The Lottery" and dystopian fiction by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ The Lottery Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials

⭐ The Lottery ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Lottery Social Media Activities

⭐ The Lottery Comprehension Questions, Literary Elements & Vocabulary

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint

⭐Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM

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Get ready to have the most fun you'll have teaching with a lesson that your students will be talking about for years to come with Roald Dahl's Lamb to the Slaughter ESCAPE ROOM!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task (and it is!), but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game.

How does it work?

In this escape room, students will try to escape from the Maloney house by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles, discovering codes, and finding clues along the way.

• Isn't it Ironic?: In the first task, students draw lines to match examples of irony within the story to the type of irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) that they represent.
• Vocab Challenge: In the second task, students must fill in the blanks with vocabulary words third task, students must answer challenging multiple choice questions about Lamb to the Slaughter.
• Close Read: In the third task, students must answer multiple choice questions about the story.
• Criss-Cross: In the fourth task, students must solve a crossword puzzle with questions about characters, literary elements, quotes, and plot events of the story.
• Final Question: In the fifth and final task, students must complete a jig saw puzzle that reveals a fun quote that works perfectly with the story. Once they figure it out and bring it to you, the students may escape!

Product Includes:

• Escape Room Basics
• Detailed Day-Of Instructions
• Escape Room Print Checklist
• Student Teams Chart
• Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and necessary information to be kept at stations
• Student Answer Booklet
• Teacher Answer Keys
• Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity
• Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

Because this is a skills-based escape room, it is perfect for a review of the story before the test.

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Also, check out these great products for your Lamb to the Slaughter unit by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Literature Guide

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter & The Black Cat Compare/Contrast Essay

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⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

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This activity features an engaging escape room in which students tackle 5 puzzles covering plot, characters, quotes, and vocabulary from Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task (and it is!), but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Because this is a skills-based escape room, it is the perfect way to review the story for the final quiz or test. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

In this escape room, students must escape the Classroom of the Rue Morgue by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles, completing a secret message, and finding clues along the way.

• Vocab Match Up: In the first task, students must match vocabulary words from the story with their definition.
• Complete the Sentence: In the second task, students must complete sentences about the key pieces of evidence from the story.
• Criss-Cross: In the third task, students must complete a crossword puzzle about plot events, characters, quotes, and story details from The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
• Close Read: In the fourth task, students must answer multiple choice questions about the story.
• Jig Saw Quote: In the fifth and final task, students must complete a jig saw puzzle that reveals a quote from The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Students must write down the quote and show it to you to escape!

Product Includes:

- Escape Room Basics

- Detailed Day-Of Instructions

- Escape Room Print Checklist

- Student Teams Chart

- Welcome Sign for Your Door

- Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions, and supplementary materials to be kept at stations

- Student Answer Sheet

- Teacher Answer Keys

- Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity

- Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

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Check out more resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

And because your students will be begging for more escape rooms...

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Raven ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Black Cat ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Pit & the Pendulum ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death ESCAPE ROOM

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Get ready to have the most fun you'll have teaching with a lesson that your students will be talking about for years to come with Ray Bradbury's A Sound of Thunder ESCAPE ROOM!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task (and it is!), but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game.

How does it work?

In this escape room, students will try to escape from the past (60 million years ago to be exact) by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles, discovering codes, and finding clues along the way.

• Daggers, Toys, & Locomotives: In the first task, students complete the similes within A Sound of Thunder.
• 5 Senses: In the second task, students draw lines to match sensory details within the story to the type of sensory detail they represent.
• The Plot Thickens: In the third task, students must order the plot events of A Sound of Thunder on Freytag's Pyramid.
• Criss-Cross: In the fourth task, students solve a crossword puzzle with questions about literary elements, quotes, and plot details within the story.
• Jig Saw Quote: In the fifth and final task, students must complete a jig saw puzzle that reveals a quote from Chief Seattle that connects to a major theme within the tale. Once they figure it out and bring it to you, students escape from the past!

Product Includes:

• Escape Room Basics
• Detailed Day-Of Instructions
• Escape Room Print Checklist
• Student Teams Chart
• Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions, and necessary information to be kept at stations
• Student Answer Sheet
• Teacher Answer Keys
• Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity
• Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

Because this is a skills-based escape room, it is perfect for a review of the story before the test.

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Also, check out these great products to supplement your Ray Bradbury unit by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Ray Bradbury Escape Room

⭐ All Summer in a Day Escape Room

⭐ The Veldt Escape Room

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint

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⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

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Get ready to have the most fun you'll have teaching with a lesson that your students will be talking about for years to come with Jack London's To Build a Fire ESCAPE ROOM!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for To Build a Fire by Jack London. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task (and it is!), but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game.

How does it work?

In this escape room, students will try to escape from the brutal cold of the Yukon by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles, discovering codes, and finding clues along the way.

• Personification Destination: In the first task, students fill in the blanks with personification quotes within To Build a Fire.
• Figuratively Speaking: In the second task, students draw lines to match literary and poetic devices within the story to their definitions. (Devices covered: metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, allusion, repetition, alliteration, idiom, symbol)
• Multiple Choice: In the third task, students answer challenging multiple choice questions about To Build a Fire.
• Criss-Cross: In the fourth task, students solve a crossword puzzle with questions about literary elements, quotes, and plot details within the story.
• Word Search: In the fifth and final task, students must complete a word search of the first 4 codes. The letters that remain spell the final code to escape from the Yukon!

Product Includes:

• Escape Room Basics
• Detailed Day-Of Instructions
• Escape Room Print Checklist
• Student Teams Chart
• Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions, and necessary information to be kept at stations
• Student Answer Booklet
• Teacher Answer Keys
• Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity
• Theme Reflection for homework assignment or in-class writing activity

Because this is a skills-based escape room, it functions as a perfect review before the final test of To Build a Fire.

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Also, check out this great resource to supplement your unit on To Build a Fire by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ To Build a Fire Socratic Seminar

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This resource features a comprehensive literature guide for the study of Roald Dahl's ironic tale of the most devoted of housewives, Lamb to the Slaughter. The numerous activities provide an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourages students to think critically about literary elements, theme, and a great emphasis on irony. A social media activity will encourage your students to bring the story to modern day and a formal open response question is included to ensure deep thinking and close reading of the text. Of course, a full answer key is provided for all lessons and worksheets. The wide range of activities in this literature guide will keep your students engaged and help them to gain a deep understanding of this cheeky tale.

Product Includes:

• Attractive student cover page
• Lamb to the Slaughter Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan
• Vocabulary worksheet
• Comprehension questions
• Literary elements chart
• Plot Diagram Scramble Activity
• Snap Chat worksheet
• Irony handout
• Open Response Question: Irony
• Complete teacher's key

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Also, check out these great products for your short story unit by Language Arts Excellence:

Lamb to the Slaughter

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Escape Room

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter & The Black Cat Compare/Contrast Essay

The Lottery

⭐The Lottery Activity Bundle

⭐ The Lottery "Tossing Lines" Anticipation Guide

⭐ The Lottery Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials

⭐ The Lottery Twitter & Snap Chat

⭐ The Lottery Comprehension Questions, Literary Elements & Vocabulary

Edgar Allan Poe

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

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This resource features a lesson plan and materials for the Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game, an engaging and competitive way to review Edgar Allan Poe's chilling tale of cold-blooded murder, The Tell-Tale Heart. Let's face it, review days can be boring for both teachers and students, so liven them up with this collaborative game. The resource includes not only a meticulously detailed lesson plan and set-up instructions, but over 40 questions on plot, literary elements, vocabulary, and figurative language from The Tell-Tale Heart, as well as questions about Poe himself. Besides simple set-up, very little preparation is needed for this lesson and if your students are like mine, they will ask for this form of review for every unit of study!

Product Includes:

• Comprehensive lesson plan and set-up instructions
• 40+ questions on plot, literary elements, vocabulary, figurative language, and Poe
• 1 blank question sheet to write your own questions
• Signs and materials for game play

This lesson plan is ideal on a day leading up to the final quiz on The Tell-Tale Heart. It is recommended to be used in conjunction with the Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide.

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Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart/The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay

More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

But why stop with one story? We have enough Edgar Allan Poe resources to frighten your students for months!

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence