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

This story is also available as part of an eight story ebook, "Young Voices: Eight Short Stories of Courage & Resilience."

"Echoes of Hope: The Children of Sarajevo" is an inspiring story of resilience and creativity amidst the devastating siege of Sarajevo. A group of children, led by Luka, Maja, Amir, and Zlata, transform a war-ravaged hideout into "The Nook," a sanctuary of learning, art, and music. They preserve the city’s spirit through storytelling, makeshift classes, and concerts, becoming a symbol of hope. Post-siege, "The Nook" evolves into a community center, its mural a poignant reminder of courage. The children, now adults, impart lessons of unity and creativity to future generations, showcasing the enduring power of the human spirit.

There are thought provoking questions (and suggested answers) at the end of the story.

General Learning Objectives for Deep by Design stories:

Understanding Conflict: The material offers insights into the dynamics of territorial conflicts and their ramifications for those caught in the crossfire.

Effects of War or Conflict on Youth: The content underlines the deep-seated impact of hostilities on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.

Resilience and Hope: Through character experiences, the narrative highlights the human capacity for endurance and the quest for collective healing amidst adversity.

Cultural Insight: The text provides a window into the complexities of a region's culture and the intense obstacles its inhabitants endure.

Human Rights: The narrative serves as a primer for dialogues concerning the safeguarding of civilians and the enforcement of human rights in times of strife.

Peacebuilding: The book promotes an investigation into the adoption of nonviolent strategies for mitigating disputes and fostering reconciliation at the community level.

This story is also available as part of an eight story ebook, "Young Voices: Eight Short Stories of Courage & Resilience."

In "Beyond the Horizon," a poignant tale unfolds, following the footsteps of Jose and his three close friends as they embark on a journey that will test the bounds of their friendship and the depth of their dreams. Set against the backdrop of their small Mexican town, this 1200-word story invites readers to walk alongside these spirited youths as they navigate the rugged path to a future filled with hope and uncertainty.

The narrative weaves the laughter, fears, and silent strength of this band of brothers, who are determined to chase the opportunities that eluded their ancestors. With the golden dawn of possibilities before them, they face the daunting challenge of crossing the Mexico-U.S. border, carrying not just their aspirations but also the rich cultural heritage of their homeland.

As the four friends confront the harsh realities of their quest, their bond is tested in ways they never imagined. The story captures the essence of human resilience and the unbreakable spirit of those who dare to dream beyond their horizon. Join us in this heartfelt journey that transcends borders and resonates with anyone who has ever reached for the stars.

There are thought provoking questions (and possible answers) at the end of the story.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding Conflict: The material offers insights into the dynamics of territorial conflicts and their ramifications for those caught in the crossfire.

Effects of War or Conflict on Youth: The content underlines the deep-seated impact of hostilities on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.

Resilience and Hope: Through character experiences, the narrative highlights the human capacity for endurance and the quest for collective healing amidst adversity.

Cultural Insight: The text provides a window into the complexities of a region's culture and the intense obstacles its inhabitants endure.

Human Rights: The narrative serves as a primer for dialogues concerning the safeguarding of civilians and the enforcement of human rights in times of strife.

Peacebuilding: The book promotes an investigation into the adoption of nonviolent strategies for mitigating disputes and fostering reconciliation at the community level.

This story is also available as part of an eight story ebook, "Young Voices: Eight Short Stories of Courage & Resilience."

Amid the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, young girls Mykhala and Daniela, refugees, bond over a shared vision of a peaceful Donbas. Inspired by Mykhala's love for birds and Daniela's artistry, they create a bird sanctuary, drawing in various species, notably the Hoopoe, a symbol of peace. Their sanctuary becomes a beacon of hope amidst war, earning local admiration and global recognition. Despite success, they remain committed to their homeland, furthering their education to serve their community. Their enduring friendship and their shared dream leaves a lasting legacy - the thriving Hoopoe Haven of Donbas, a testament to resilience and hope.

There are thought provoking questions (and possible answers) at the end of the story.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding Conflict: The material offers insights into the dynamics of territorial conflicts and their ramifications for those caught in the crossfire.

Effects of War or Conflict on Youth: The content underlines the deep-seated impact of hostilities on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.

Resilience and Hope: Through character experiences, the narrative highlights the human capacity for endurance and the quest for collective healing amidst adversity.

Cultural Insight: The text provides a window into the complexities of a region's culture and the intense obstacles its inhabitants endure.

Human Rights: The narrative serves as a primer for dialogues concerning the safeguarding of civilians and the enforcement of human rights in times of strife.

Peacebuilding: The book promotes an investigation into the adoption of nonviolent strategies for mitigating disputes and fostering reconciliation at the community level.

This product features a comprehensive literature guide for use while reading Edgar Allan Poe's gruesome story, The Tell-Tale Heart. The activity bundle provides an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourages students to think critically about plot structure, literary elements, perspective, and figurative language within the story. With newly added material like the Snap Chat graphic organizer and Figurative Language Challenge, the wide range of activities in this guide will keep your students engaged and help them to delve into the mind of one of the most notorious unreliable narrators of all time!

Product Includes:

• Attractive cover page for student packet
• The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan
• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary drawing activity
• Comprehension questions
• Freytag’s pyramid graphic organizer
• Literary elements graphic organizer
• Figurative language graphic organizer
• The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective
• Snap Chat Story Graphic Organizer
• The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity
• Full answer keys for teacher use

While this literature guide is Common Core aligned for eighth grade, it is appropriate for students in seventh-tenth.

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Looking for a fun way to end the study of this tale? Check out:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

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 ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ 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

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

⭐ The Raven 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 a comprehensive literature guide for use while reading Edgar Allan Poe's creepy classic tale, The Black Cat. The packet provides an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourages students to think critically about plot structure, literary elements, figurative language, and the superstitions within the story. The wide range of activities in this guide will keep your students engaged and help them to gain a deep understanding of one of the most highly regarded tales of American literature.

Product Includes:

• Attractive cover page for student packet
• Anticipation guide - "Debate Statements"
• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary drawing activity
• Comprehension questions
• Freytag’s pyramid worksheet
• "History of the Black Cat" extension article and comprehension questions
• "Putting it all Together" short essay question
• Literary elements worksheet
• Figurative language worksheet
• Unreliable Narrator of The Black Cat Lesson Plan
• Full answer keys for teacher use

While this literature guide is Common Core aligned for eighth grade, it is appropriate for students in seventh-tenth.

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Will you be teaching “The Tell-Tale Heart” during your Edgar Allan Poe unit as well? Save money on cohesive literature guides for both short stories by purchasing them together:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat Literature Guides BUNDLE

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

⭐ The Black Cat ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe "Breaking News" Article and Illustration Activity

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart/The Black Cat Socratic Seminar Materials

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

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter & 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 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 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 Tell-Tale Heart 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⭐

"Collaborative Story Time" is a communal writing activity in which students practice using Freytag's Pyramid plot structure in their own narrative writing. In this activity, each student begins a story inspired by a unique evocative photograph. They are prompted to write the exposition of the tale by introducing the setting and main characters. After the allotted amount of time, the story is then passed to another student who is prompted to write the inciting incident or conflict and begin to detail the rising action. The paper is passed from student to student twice more until the story is resolved. When the stories are finished, the worksheet is returned to the original student who can then make edits and is responsible for producing a final draft.

With this intrinsically engaging activity, each student has the chance to tap into their creativity while applying knowledge of the 7 steps of Freytag's Pyramid. It is a great activity to introduce or reinforce the plot diagram and is perfect for a Friday, a substitute plan, or simply for when students need a creative break without sacrificing learning and hard work. I trust you will find that your students will ask for this activity again and again!

Product Includes:

• 30 unique "Collaborative Story Time" worksheets with evocative photographs (2-sided)
• 1 blank worksheet so that you may include your own picture or photograph

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Because your students will be begging to do this activity again...

⭐ Collaborative Story Time - Second Edition

⭐ Christmas Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Winter Themed Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Valentine's Day Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Halloween Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Fall Themed Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Summer Collaborative Writing Activity
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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

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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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource features a meticulous lesson plan for reading the story, comprehension questions, a literary elements chart, a vocabulary worksheet, and comprehensive answer keys for Shirley Jackson's chilling tale of a small town, The Lottery. Materials encourage students to examine the text closely and make inferences based on their observations. Each resource is meant to enhance your students' understanding of the story so that you can really dive into the deep stuff! This product is suitable for inside or outside of class and can also function as an emergency substitute plan.

Product Includes:

• Comprehensive Lesson Plan for Reading the Story
• Comprehension Questions
• Literary Elements Chart
• Vocabulary Worksheet
• Answer Keys for all Components

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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 "Tossing Lines" Pre-Reading Activity

⭐ The Lottery Social Media Activities

⭐ The Lottery ESCAPE ROOM

⭐The Lottery Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan & Materials

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource features an engaging lesson plan for students to discuss symbols found within Kurt Vonnegut's dystopian short story, Harrison Bergeron. The gallery walk is an ideal technique to achieve 100% student engagement within your classroom in a non-intimidating way. It is a great lesson for administrator observations due to the high level of student engagement, physical movement around the classroom, and deep level of interaction with the text.

Resource Includes:

• Full-length CCSS-aligned lesson plan
• Student worksheet

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

⭐ Harrison Bergeron Pre-Reading Activity

⭐ Harrison Bergeron ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

**Now with newly added material!**

This resource features a bundle of all of our lesson plans, materials, and activities for the study of Shirley Jackson's shocking tale of tradition gone wrong, The Lottery. The numerous activities as well as full-length lesson plans provide an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourage students to think critically about literary elements, theme, and symbolism. An Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint and Crossword Puzzle helps to set the groundwork for the dystopian tale. Social media activities will encourage your students to bring the story to modern day and all the materials needed for a formal set of Socratic Seminars are included to ensure deep thinking and close reading of the text. A full answer key is provided along with student-tested lesson plans to help guide you through teaching the story. We have now also included the wildly popular Escape Room with tasks on characters, vocabulary, plot, quotes, and literary elements of the story - perfect for a review before the final test. The wide range of lessons in this unit will keep your students engaged from start to finish and help them to gain a deep understanding of one of the most controversial tales of American literature.

Product Includes:

• Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint & Crossword
• "Tossing Lines" pre-reading activity
• Lesson plan for reading the story
• Comprehension questions
• Vocabulary worksheet
• Literary elements chart
• The Lottery Theme Jigsaw Lesson Plan
• Socratic Seminar lesson plan and materials
• Escape Room
• The Lottery "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity
• Social Media materials and lesson plan
• Dystopia Quote Posters - newly added!
• Complete teacher's key
• Bonus: Symbolism Worksheet and Lesson Plan included for free!**

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource bundle features two comprehensive and cohesive literature guides and final compare/contrast essay assignment for use while reading The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe. The activity bundle provides an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short stories and encourage students to think critically about plot structure, literary elements, figurative language, unreliable narrators, perspective, and the superstitions within the stories. A compare/contrast essay assignment is included that will encourage students to think critically and specifically about the similarities and differences between the two famous tales. The wide range of activities will keep your students engaged and help them to gain a deep understanding of two of the most highly regarded stories of American literature.

The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide:

• Attractive cover page for student packet
• The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan
• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary drawing activity
• Comprehension questions
• Freytag’s pyramid graphic organizer
• Literary elements graphic organizer
• Figurative language graphic organizer
• The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective
• Snap Chat Story Graphic Organizer
• The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity
• Full answer keys for teacher use

The Black Cat Literature Guide:

• Attractive cover page for student packet
• Anticipation guide - "Debate Statements"
• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary drawing activity
• Comprehension questions
• Freytag’s pyramid worksheet
• "History of the Black Cat" extension article and comprehension questions
• "Putting it all Together" short essay question
• Literary elements worksheet
• Figurative language worksheet
• Unreliable Narrator of The Black Cat Lesson Plan
• Full answer keys for teacher use

The Tell-Tale Heart & The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay

• Complete assignment directions
• Specific similarities/differences chart with 17 story components
• Venn diagram template
• Essay graphic organizer (Block Method)
• Rubric
• Teacher key for chart

The Tell-Tale Heart & The Black Cat "Breaking News" Article

• Comprehensive project directions
• Scoring Guide

Buying this bundle saves 20% off the price of the two literature guides and compare/contrast essay.

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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 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 Resource Bundle

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

⭐ The Raven 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

Celebrate October, the season of Edgar Allan Poe, with this collection of comprehensive literature guides for seven of Poe's notoriously chilling stories! This bundle includes literature guides with engaging and varied activities, thoughtful materials, and student-tested lesson plans for: "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Black Cat," "The Raven," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Masque of the Red Death." Materials will last you well over a month and ensure that your unit on the Father of Horror will never get dull. Purchase this bundle and you will get the seven literature guides all aligned to the Common Core for 20% off the cover price.

The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation guide - "Debate Statements"

- Vocabulary

- Vocabulary drawing activity

- Comprehension questions

- Freytag’s pyramid worksheet

- Literary elements worksheet

- Figurative language worksheet

- Creative writing assignment - "Through the Old Man's Evil Eye"

- Full answer keys for teacher use

The Black Cat Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation guide - "Debate Statements"

- Vocabulary

- Vocabulary drawing activity

- Comprehension questions

- Freytag’s pyramid worksheet

- "History of the Black Cat" extension article and comprehension questions

- "Putting it all Together" short essay question

- Literary elements worksheet

- Figurative language worksheet

- Full answer keys for teacher use

The Raven Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation guide

- Vocabulary

- Vocabulary drawing activity

- Comprehension questions

- Freytag’s pyramid worksheet

- Literary elements worksheet

- Figurative language worksheet

- Full answer keys for teacher use

The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation Guide - "Creative Quick-Write"

- Vocabulary Worksheet

- Sensory Detail Drawing Activity

- Sensory Detail Chart

- Sensory Detail Analysis Open Response

- Comprehension Questions

- Literary Elements Chart

- Figurative Language Worksheet

- Symbolism Activity

- Socratic Seminar Materials

- Full Answer Key for Teacher Use

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Anticipation Guide

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Sensory Detail Study

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Symbolism Worksheet

The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation Guide - Debate Statements

- Vocabulary

- Comprehension Questions

- Literary Elements Chart

- Irony or Foreshadowing?

- Family Crest Activity

- Symbolism Activity

- Full Answer Key for Teacher Use

- Student Examples of Symbolism and Family Crest Activities

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Family Crest Activity

The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation Guide - "Numbered Heads"

- Vocabulary Worksheet

- Comprehension Questions

- Literary Elements Chart

- Plot Diagram Activity

- Figurative Language Worksheet

- Symbolism Drawing Activity

- "Snap Chat!" Activity

- Full Answer Key for Teacher Use

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Anticipation Guide

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Symbolism Drawing Activity

The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide Includes:

- Anticipation Guide - Debate Statements

- Vocabulary Worksheet

- Vocabulary Drawing Activity

- Comprehension Questions

- Literary Elements Chart

- Figurative Language Worksheet

- Symbolism Drawing Activity

- "Twitter" Activity Graphic Organizers (in color and in black and white)

- 12 Reader Response Task Cards

- Conversation Builder Cards for use with literature circles

- Full Answer Key for Teacher Use

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Anticipation Guide

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Symbolism Drawing Activity

- Suggested Lesson Plan for "Twitter" Activity

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource features a bundle of all of our lesson plans, materials, and activities for Edgar Allan Poe's gruesome tale, The Tell-Tale Heart. Each product is thoughtfully crafted and allows students to think outside the box by delving deeply into the story's themes, characters, vocabulary, and plot development. Lessons have all been classroom-tested and allow for differentiation while encouraging optimal student engagement. This activity bundle provides more than a week's worth of material to bring the story to life!

Included in this Bundle:

The Black Cat Literature Guide: This resource features a comprehensive literature guide for use while reading Edgar Allan Poe's creepy classic tale, The Black Cat. The packet provides an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourages students to think critically about plot structure, literary elements, figurative language, and the superstitions within the story. The wide range of activities in this guide will keep your students engaged and help them to gain a deep understanding of one of the most highly regarded tales of American literature.

The Black Cat Socratic Seminar: 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 Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe... with very little preparation required on your end.

The Black Cat ESCAPE ROOM: This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for The Black Cat 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. It is the perfect activity for Halloween or any day you want to shake it up with your students without sacrificing learning. 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!

Unreliable Narrator of The Black Cat Lesson Plan (also included within Literature Guide): 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.

**BONUS FILE: Intro to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint: 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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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource features a bundle of all of our lesson plans, materials, and activities for Roald Dahl's ironic tale of an enraged housewife, Lamb to the Slaughter. Each product is thoughtfully crafted and allows students to think outside the box by delving deeply into the story's themes, characters, vocabulary, and plot development. Lessons have all been classroom-tested and allow for differentiation while encouraging optimal student engagement. This activity bundle provides a week's worth of material to bring the story to life!

Included in this Bundle:

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Literature Guide: This resource features a comprehensive literature guide for the study of the story. 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.

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Escape Room: 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.

⭐ Lamb to the Slaughter Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan (also included within Literature Guide): This resource features an anticipation guide 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.

⭐ BONUS {FREE} FILE: Lamb to the Slaughter & The Black Cat Compare Contrast Essay: For this assignment, students will need to think critically and specifically about the similarities and differences between the two famous stories of marital strife taken to the extreme. A comprehensive chart is provided to prompt students to take a close look at both tales and to think beyond the obvious (like the fact that they are written by different authors) and consider the deeper similarities and differences (plot structure, mental state of the narrators, and elements of suspense, etc.) between them. These thoughtfully-constructed materials will help students develop exemplary compare/contrast essays that they can be proud of!

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This resource features a bundle of all of our lesson plans, materials, activities, and classroom decor for the study of Kurt Vonnegut's cautionary tale of government overreach, Harrison Bergeron. The numerous activities as well as full-length lesson plans provide an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourage students to think critically about literary elements, theme, and symbolism. An Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint and Crossword Puzzle helps to set the groundwork for the dystopian tale. All the materials needed for a formal set of Socratic Seminars are included to ensure deep thinking and close reading of the text. A full answer key is provided along with student-tested lesson plans to help guide you through teaching the story. Also included is our wildly popular Escape Room with tasks on characters, vocabulary, plot, quotes, and literary elements of the story - perfect for a review before the final test (also included!). The wide range of lessons in this unit will keep your students engaged from start to finish and help them to gain a deep understanding of Kurt Vonnegut's enduring dystopian tale.

Product Includes:

• Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint & Crossword
• What is Equality? Activity
• "Tossing Lines" pre-reading activity
• Lesson plan for reading the story
• Comprehension questions
• Vocabulary worksheet
• Literary elements chart
• "Silent Conversation" Quote Pass Activity
• Socratic Seminar lesson plan and materials
• Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game
• Escape Room
• Symbol Gallery Walk Lesson & Materials
• Unit Test - newly added!
• Complete teacher's key
• Dystopia Quote Posters

By purchasing this bundle, you are saving 35% off the price of all resources. Suitable for middle and high school students.

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Why is it that calling out sick can actually mean more work as you scramble to come up with a plan for your substitute teacher?

This product features a bundle of 6 (mostly) print & go emergency lesson plans that are ideal for days prior to and returning from vacations, between units, emergency sub plans, or simply those days when you just "can't." (And let's face it, we've all been there!)

Each lesson plan maintains a high standard for student learning and engagement with minimal preparation on your end. Plans are varied yet cohesive and allow for differentiation within your classroom. It is recommended that you read through each lesson plan prior to the start of class to make sure that you have all materials ready as photocopying and in some cases moderate set-up is required. While plans work well for substitutes, you may find that they are so much fun that you will want to experience them with your students yourself!

Purchasing these resources as a bundle saves 20% off the cover price!

Products included in this bundle:

⭐ "Still I Rise" (Angelou) Lesson Plan & Materials -- A best-selling product!

This lesson plan on Angelou's poem can be used in a variety of ways throughout the school year. For instance, the lesson is the perfect jumpstart for your unit on slavery, Civil Rights, poetry, or Women's Rights in America. It can also be used as a stand-alone lesson to get your students to reflect upon and discuss overcoming their own personal obstacles. Given the theme of the poem, the lesson even acts as a great medium for discussing how to to rise above bullying in a society where bullying is sadly so prevalent. These meticulously laid-out materials and lesson plan will have your students thinking, speaking, reading, and writing all in one class period and interacting deeply with one of the most beautiful and resounding works of American poetry.

⭐ We Didn't Start the Fire Activity

This step-by-step two-day lesson plan encourages students to consider what defines their generation and then create their own lyrics to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire." Every year, this lesson has been a huge hit with my students especially on the last two days of school. Your students will appreciate your taking the time to allow them to step back and reflect upon their world. You will love it because no preparation is needed at all for this very memorable activity!

⭐Shakespeare's "Death Lines" Activity

In this full-length lesson plan, students will closely examine the final lines of Shakespearean characters before their deaths (if you know Shakespeare, there are quite a few!). Following a mini-lesson on the importance of these final words, students will take part in the classic game, Mafia, with a unique, Shakespearean twist. I invented the take on this game several years ago and it has become one of my students' and my favorite days of the whole school year. There is truly nothing like seeing students having a great time while studying Shakespeare. I am confident that your students will love it too!

⭐"Literature Talk" Lesson Plan

This product features an engaging "Literature Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving all in one class period. In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about books and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective. They will have a chance to discuss their opinions in small groups and as part of a full class discussion. The full-length lesson plan can literally be used any day of the school year and is sure to spark thoughtful discussion among your students.

⭐Collaborative Writing Activity

"Collaborative Story Time" is a communal story-telling activity in which students practice using Freytag's Pyramid plot structure in their own narrative writing. In this activity, each student begins a story inspired by a unique evocative photograph. They are prompted to write the exposition of the tale by introducing the setting and main characters. After the allotted amount of time, the story is then passed to another student who is prompted to write the inciting incident or conflict and begin to detail the rising action. The paper is passed from student to student twice more until the story is resolved. When the stories are finished, the worksheet is returned to the original student who can then make edits and is responsible for producing a final draft.

⭐Poe's Annabel Lee Poetry/Song Pairing

Who in the world knows more about love and loss than Edgar Allan Poe? This resource features a full-length lesson plan and accompanying materials for a song/poem pairing of "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe and popular song, "Sad Beautiful Tragic." Lesson plan is Common Core aligned and centers around rhyme scheme, repetition, figurative language, and theme. This student-tested activity is the perfect addition for any unit on Edgar Allan Poe and is guaranteed to enlighten your students on the timelessness of Poe's poetry in an engaging and contemporary way.

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⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

This resource features a bundle of all of our lesson plans, materials, and activities for Edgar Allan Poe's gruesome tale, The Tell-Tale Heart. Each product is thoughtfully crafted and allows students to think outside the box by delving deeply into the story's themes, characters, vocabulary, and plot development. Lessons have all been classroom-tested and allow for differentiation while encouraging optimal student engagement. This activity bundle provides more than a week's worth of material to bring the story to life!

Included in this Bundle:

• The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide: This product features a comprehensive literature guide for use while reading Edgar Allan Poe's gruesome tale, The Tell-Tale Heart. The activity bundle provides an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourages students to think critically about plot structure, literary elements, perspective, and figurative language within the story. With newly added material like the Snap Chat graphic organizer and Figurative Language Challenge, the wide range of activities in this guide will keep your students engaged and help them to delve into the mind of one of the most notorious unreliable narrators of all time.

• The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan: This resource features an anticipation guide for Edgar Allan Poe's chilling tale of murder and mutilation, The Tell-Tale Heart, 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 The Tell-Tale Heart and your overall Poe unit. This lesson is particularly useful for Poe's tale which can be difficult for students to understand at first, thus going in with knowledge of themes will help them connect. I am confident that your students will enjoy this thoughtful, engaging activity and beg you to begin reading one of the most notoriously gruesome stories in American literature.

• Unreliable Narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart Lesson Plan: This resource features a full-length lesson plan, accompanying materials, and creative writing assignment that asks students to delve into the crazed mind of the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart. 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.

• The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective (also included within Literature Guide): This engaging assignment asks students to think critically about the events detailed by an unreliable narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart. Did the old man truly have no inkling of the narrator's hatred of him? Did the police officers really "chat pleasantly" as they interrogated the increasingly agitated man? In the assignment, students must consider these questions and more, then write a short narrative through the perspective of either the old man or a police officer at the scene. The assignment is fun but more importantly, it leads to sophisticated discussion about the concept of an unreliable narrator. This is a perfect supplement for any unit on Edgar Allan Poe!

• The Tell-Tale Heart Socratic Seminar Materials: 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 includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding the short stories, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe... with very little preparation required on your end.

• The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM: This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Escape Room for The Tell-Tale Heart 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. It is the perfect activity for Halloween or any day you want to shake it up with your students without sacrificing learning. 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.

• The Tell-Tale Heart Human Tic Tac Toe Review Game: 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.

• The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity (also included within Literature Guide): 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!

**BONUS FILE: Intro to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint: 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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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Your elementary / middle / high school students will be able to complete ELA activities with engagement and no confusion, and they will use this template to help answer text-dependent writing questions or when writing notes. This Plot Diagram Graphic Organizer includes the following: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Please see the preview as it is exactly what you will receive in your download.

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• plot diagram
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This is a 9-page set of worksheets for the short story "The Landlady" by Roald Dahl. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* foreshadowing

* irony

* theme (appearance versus reality)

* characterization

* story elements

* writing activity

There is an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This is a 9-page set of worksheets for the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* foreshadowing

* irony

* theme (tradition)

* theme (persecution)

* parts of a story

* writing activity

There is an answer key included for the comprehension questions and vocabulary.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* ...and more worksheets for short stories