$5 - $10 Middle School Short Stories Resources

Product
Product
Product
Product

Story Writing Unit - Step-by-Step Guide to Building & Writing Stories - Editable

By Michellecurtis

Teach your students how to write a great story with this comprehensive, step-by-step Story Writing Unit! Perfect for teachers who want to provide explicit, easy-to-follow lessons on story writing, this no-prep resource guides students through the entire process, from brainstorming and planning to drafting and revising. Help your students master essential writing skills as they build characters, develop plots, and create engaging stories that they’ll be proud of.

What's Included:

  • 55 Fully Editable Teaching Slides:

    • Lessons on plot structure, including the beginning, middle, and end of a story.
    • Visual breakdown of key elements like rising action, climax, and falling action.
    • Detailed guidance on character development, settings, and story arcs.
    • Step-by-step instructions to help students plan and structure their stories.
    • Examples and visuals, including popular story references, to aid understanding.
  • 25-Page Printable Workbook:

    • Brainstorming Pages: Help students generate ideas for characters, settings, and plots.
    • Character Development Sheets: Guides to create dynamic, multi-dimensional characters.
    • Plot Planning Tools: Plot mountain and story arc templates to outline story events.
    • Story Writing Prompts: Structured activities to encourage creative thinking.
    • Final Draft Templates: Space for students to write, revise, and finalize their stories.
  • Final Writing Rubric: A clear rubric to guide and assess students as they write their final stories, ensuring they understand the essential components of a great story.

Key Features:

  • No Prep, Ready to Use: Simply print the workbook and present the editable slides—perfect for busy teachers who want to make story writing easy and accessible.
  • Step-by-Step Guidance: Each stage of the writing process is laid out in a clear, structured format, helping students learn how to write a complete, polished story.
  • Engaging & Visual: The slides feature visual aids and real-world examples to make complex concepts easy to understand and fun to learn.
  • Versatile Use: Great for individual, small group, or whole-class instruction. Suitable for writing centers, creative writing units, and language arts lessons.

Perfect For:

  • Teachers who want to teach story writing in a clear, structured way with no prep required.
  • Students who need explicit instruction on how to brainstorm, plan, and write a story.
  • Educators looking for an all-in-one resource to build writing skills and boost creativity.

Get your students excited about writing with this engaging, comprehensive Story Writing Unit! They’ll learn everything they need to craft their own unique stories, step by step.

Short Stories
Writing
Handwriting
$6.50
Product
Product
Product
Product

Murder Mystery Inference Activity: Lamb to the Slaughter Mini Unit

By TooBookedUp

Engage your middle school students with a thrilling 5-day detective unit centered around Roald Dahl's gripping short story, "Lamb to the Slaughter." This comprehensive unit combines critical thinking, inferencing, and multimedia analysis, making it perfect for ELA classrooms. Students will step into the shoes of detectives, analyze texts, watch film adaptations, and compare their experiences, all while meeting key CCSS standards.

What’s Included:

  • Detailed Lesson Plans: Each day is thoughtfully planned to guide students through reading, analyzing, writing, and discussing "Lamb to the Slaughter."
  • Graphic Organizers: Scaffolded organizers for each day to help students track evidence, make inferences, and compare the text with the film.
  • Texts and Multimedia: The original short story and a link to the film adaptation, complete with an introduction by Roald Dahl.
  • Writing Prompts: Engaging prompts to encourage students to write opinion essays and reflections.
  • Class Discussion Guides: Questions and prompts to facilitate meaningful classroom discussions.

Day-by-Day Breakdown:

Day 1: Introduction to the Detective Activity

  • Students are introduced to the murder mystery and work in groups to analyze witness statements and evidence photos.
  • Focus on inference and deduction skills.

Day 2: Writing an Opinion Essay

  • Students write an opinion essay based on their detective work from Day 1.
  • Emphasis on textual evidence and structured writing.

Day 3: Reading "Lamb to the Slaughter"

  • Students read the short story in chunked sections, making inferences and annotating the text.
  • Use of scaffolding techniques to support all learners.

Day 4: Comparing Text and Film

  • Students watch the film adaptation of "Lamb to the Slaughter."
  • They use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the text and film, analyzing differences in storytelling techniques.

Day 5: Final Analysis and Discussion

  • Students discuss their findings and the differences between the text and film.
  • Wrap-up activities include reflective writing and sharing insights.

CCSS Alignment:

This unit aligns with CCSS standards for grades 5-8, focusing on quoting accurately from texts, citing textual evidence, and analyzing multimedia elements. Standards covered include:

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.1
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.7
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.7
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.7

Benefits:

  • Engaging and Interactive: Students love the hands-on detective work and multimedia elements.
  • Skill-Building: Focus on inferencing, textual evidence, and critical thinking skills.
  • Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: All materials and instructions are included for a seamless implementation.

Bring excitement and depth to your ELA classroom with this 5-day detective unit on "Lamb to the Slaughter." Your students will love stepping into the role of detectives while honing their reading and analytical skills.

Literature
Short Stories
Writing
$5.00
Product

BUNDLE: There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury quiz, analysis activity, poem

By The Red-Haired Reader

This bundle includes the 3 resources I use to teach Ray Bradbury's iconic short story, "There Will Come Soft Rains". There is a comprehension quiz (answers included), a poetry foldable for the Sara Teasdale poem that appears in the text, and a Tabletop Twitter Silent Discussion Activity for analyzing the text. Please check out each item individually, and let me know if you have any questions!

$7.04
$6.05
Product
Product
Product
Product

The Power Within: Stories of Overcoming Bullying - for Middle Schoolers

By Mark Holmes

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

https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Deep-By-Design

https://www.youtube.com/@DEEP.by.DESIGN

https://www.facebook.com/deepbydesign.2024

Short Stories
Character Education
Social Emotional Learning
$9.95
Product
Product
Product

Cultural Aspects and AP Spanish Language Book

By ARIANA PEREZ

The Real 5 de Mayo and Other Important Cultural Aspects

Focusing heavily in Mexican history.

Las mujeres mexicanas

La historia verdadera de 5 de Mayo

mini- Investigación Cubana, dia de los muertos, posadas navideñas

Saturnino el pintor

Benito Juarez

Origen de la Musica norteña

La China Poblana story with questions

etc.

includes module (many activities) for DESAFIOS MUNDIALES-

Short Stories
World Languages
Spanish
$5.00
Product

Main Events | Plot | Close Reading Comprehension | Worksheet BUNDLE

By Perfectly Planned Designs

Do your students need practice to identify the main events and elements of a story? Do they have trouble distinguishing between main ideas or events and details? Then this close reading set is for you! These 15 worksheets with reading passages are designed to give your students an opportunity to practice identifying sequencing main events and details, as well as story elements!

What's included in the money-saving bundle:

Main Events and Sequencing Close Reading Worksheets

After reading each passage, students will identify the three main events in sequential order, a small detail from the story, as well as something made up that never actually happened in the story - my students love this!!

This packet contains 15 passages including one that's perfect for St. Patrick's Day titled "Catching a Leprechaun."

These no-prep worksheets are ready to go for you. Just print and proceed! The 15 passages offer variety, and this packet is ideal for teachers who want their students to get additional practice with this important skill.

INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:

  • 15 Printable Worksheets

Story Elements Close Reading Worksheets

Do your students need practice to identify the elements of story? These 15 worksheets with reading passages are designed to give your students an opportunity to practice identifying story elements.

After reading each passage, students will identify the characters, setting, problem (conflict), and lesson (theme).

This packet contains 15 passages including one that's perfect for St. Patrick's Day titled "Catching a Leprechaun."

These no-prep worksheets are ready to go for you. Just print and proceed! With 15 passages, this packet is ideal for teachers who want their students to get additional practice with this important skill.

INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:

  • 15 Printable Worksheets

***Note: both resources in the bundle utilize the same stories but each set focuses on a different skill! Perfect for practicing multiple skills!

Perfect for extra skill work during:

  • morning meetings
  • brain breaks
  • sub-activities
  • indoor recess
  • snack time
  • morning work
  • early finishers
  • end of year

★I would love to have you as my newest follower!★ Click here to follow.

$9.90
$7.92
Product

Flying Lessons and Other Stories Lessons LAST 5 STORIES BUNDLE

By Ms. J's ELA

This bundle of lessons should accompany the last five short stories of the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh.

Those five stories are:

- Choctaw Bigfoot, Midnight in the Mountains by Tim Tingle

- Main Street by Ellen Oh

- Flying Lessons by Soman Chainani

- Seventy-Six Dollars and Forty-Nine Cents by Kwame Alexander

- Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push by Walter Dean Myers

Each lesson includes a presentation and student worksheets which address:

- pre-reading journal prompts

- story vocabulary (except Main Street)

- tiered reading questions

- questions focused on one specific ELA standard

- answer keys

Depending on the length of your classes, this resource could take 4 days or 2 weeks. I have 50 minute classes, and it would take me 2 weeks.

$10.00
$9.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

The Masque of the Red Death ESCAPE ROOM

By 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 Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death 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 Masque of the Red Death 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 will try to escape from the clutches of the Red Death in Prince Prospero's lavish castle by solving 5 different skills-based puzzles, completing a secret message, and finding clues along the way.

  • Close Read: In the first task, students must perform a close reading of a passage from The Masque of the Red Death and answer multiple choice questions about the selection that when correct, reveal the code.
  • Masked Figure-ative Language: In the second task, students must identify 7 types of figurative language within the short story. Highlighted boxes in the correct answers will reveal the code.
  • Ahh-Mazing: In the third task, students must solve a word maze that relates to a theme of the story. Letters collected along the way reveal the code.
  • Vocab Match-Up: In the fourth task, students must fill in the blanks with vocabulary words from The Masque of the Red Death. When matched correctly, shaded boxes will reveal the code.
  • Jig Saw Quote: In the fifth and final task, students must complete a jig saw puzzle that reveals a quote from The Masque of the Red Death. In order to escape the Red Death, they must complete the missing word in the quote.

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

__________________________________________________________________________________

This escape room pairs perfectly with the The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

__________________________________________________________________________________

Plus, check out these great products to supplement your study of The Masque of the Red Death:

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Socratic Seminar

The Masque of the Red Death Anticipation Guide

The Masque of the Red Death Social Media Materials

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 ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ 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...

⭐ 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

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

English Language Arts
Balanced Literacy
Short Stories
$8.75
Product
Product
Product
Product

AESOP'S FABLES UNIT [WORKSHEETS & TASK CARDS]

By Richard B Williams

Teach themes and morals through this Aesop's Fable Unit [Worksheets & Task Cards] Product. 6th through 10th graders will students learn how to live with each other and learn about their world through these age-old stories. Students learn symbolism, self-reflection, and other vital lessons through their use of this unit. This Unit has 10 popular Aesop Fables pages, 30+ Comprehension questions, 10 Worksheets, Suggested Uses, 10 sets of TASK CARDS, and 50+ TASK CARDS to help make your classroom be GREAT! Check 'em out!

This Unit includes:

1. 10 Aesop Fables

2. Suggested Uses

3. 10 WORKSHEETS

4. Black & White Versions

5. 50+ TASK CARDS

6. 30 Writing prompts/Comprehension Worksheets

FABLES included:

1. The Fox & The Grapes

2. The Crow & The Pitcher

3. The Farmer & The Fox

4. The Ass & His Purchaser

5. The Ant & The Grasshopper

6. The Ass Carrying an Image

7. A Raven & A Swan

8. The Ass & The Load of Salt

9. The Hares & The Frogs

10. The Travelers & The Sea

You may also appreciate:

Aesop's Fables Unit

Nella Larsen's "Sanctuary" Short Story Unit

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" Bundle

Sandra Cisnero's "Eleven" Lesson Activities

Willa Cather's "A Wagner Matinee" Short Story Bundle

The Metamorphosis Unit [Lesson Activities]

FIND ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

INSTAGRAM

Youtube

Facebook

Pinterest

TeeSpring

EMAIL

TIKTOK

Hey guys,

I'm Richard Williams, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 18+ Years , and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other short story materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

English Language Arts
Creative Writing
Short Stories
$10.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

Spring Narrative Writing ELA Picture Prompts Workshop Unit Grades 4-6

By TooBookedUp

Inspire your students to unleash their creativity with our Spring Picture Prompts narrative writing resource! Designed specifically for 4th to 6th graders, this dynamic tool walks students through every step of the writing process using the beauty and renewal of spring as a backdrop. From St. Patrick's Day to the wonders of a spring park, each photo prompt is a doorway to imagination and storytelling.

What’s Inside:

  • 23 Engaging Slides: A visual journey that introduces students to the elements of a plot diagram, the critical difference between showing vs. telling, and 10 unique, spring-inspired photo prompts.
  • 10 Spring-Inspired Photo Prompts: Carefully selected images that capture the essence of spring, ready to spark creativity in young writers.
  • Comprehensive Writing Guides: Each photo prompt is accompanied by a 2-page planning guide to help students brainstorm settings, characters, and conflicts, laying the foundation for well-structured stories.
  • Show vs. Tell Examples: Clear, accessible examples to teach students how to bring their stories to life, making their writing more engaging and vivid.

Perfect For:

  • ☑️ Creative Writing Classes
  • ☑️ Choice Boards
  • ☑️ Extension Activities
  • ☑️ Writing Units
  • ☑️ Homework Assignments

Why You'll Love It:

  • ☑️ Fosters Creativity: Encourages students to think creatively, developing unique narratives based on intriguing picture prompts.
  • ☑️ Enhances Writing Skills: Guides students through the narrative writing process, from brainstorming to publishing, enhancing their writing skills.
  • ☑️ Teaches Critical Writing Concepts: Offers a hands-on approach to understanding and applying key writing concepts like plot development and descriptive writing.
  • ☑️ Flexible & Adaptable: Use it for a week-long writing project, a single class period, or as part of a larger unit. It’s designed to fit your needs!
  • ☑️ Print & Go Convenience: Everything you need is at your fingertips, ready to be printed or shared digitally, saving you valuable preparation time.

Transform your classroom this spring with narratives that bloom as brightly as the season itself. Our Spring Picture Prompts resource is not just a set of activities; it's a gateway to imagination, critical thinking, and joyous writing. Whether you're diving into a creative writing unit, looking for a meaningful homework assignment, or seeking engaging extension activities, these picture prompts are your key to a vibrant writing experience.

Capture the essence of spring in your classroom. Add our Spring Picture Prompts to your teaching toolkit today and watch your students' writing flourish!

Creative Writing
Short Stories
Writing
$5.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

The Landlady by Roald Dahl Mystery ESCAPE BREAKOUT PUZZLE Room!

By The Red-Haired Reader

My students are absolutely addicted to escape rooms, and LOVED Roald Dahl’s story “The Landlady”. I created this escape room to review the elements of the short story, including foreshadowing, characterization, figurative language, vocabulary, plot, and author's craft/ diction/ syntax. Students should read the text BEFORE they do the escape room.

Students will act as detectives trying to solve the mystery of the landlady’s true identity. The escape room will take place in the infamous Bed and Breakfast. You’ll set up your room with the different areas of interest from the story for your students to examine. They will visit each station and complete the task there in order to gather information to add to their dossier (answer sheet). Some stations will take longer/ shorter than others. It is up to you if you want to have your students work individually, with a partner, or in a small group.

Once all stations are complete, students will use the clues and information they’ve recorded on their dossier to identify which suspect is the murderer. My students had A TON of fun with this activity!

Did you like this escape room? Try my other escape rooms based on Bradbury's "The Veldt" or "A Sound of Thunder!

Ray Bradbury's "The Veld"t Mystery Escape Room

Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" Mystery Escape Room

English Language Arts
Literature
Short Stories
$7.99
Product
Product
Product
Product

Friendship and Loyalty: Eight Short Stories Vocab / SEL / ELA Activities 5-8

By Mark Holmes

Embark on a journey of friendship, loyalty, and personal growth with this captivating collection of eight short stories, perfect for teaching social-emotional learning and character education in the classroom.

"Friendship and Loyalty: Stories about the Challenges and Rewards of Maintaining Strong Friendships" is a powerful tool for educators seeking to foster meaningful discussions and lessons on the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships. Each story in this collection highlights different aspects of friendship, such as trust, empathy, communication, and standing up for what's right, making it an invaluable resource for teaching essential life skills.

As students follow the journeys of Emma and Olivia, Jack and Liam, Maya and Zoe, and other memorable characters, they will learn valuable lessons about the power of unexpected connections, the importance of reconciliation, and the strength that comes from supporting one another through difficult times. These stories also tackle important topics such as peer pressure, standing up for oneself and others, and the consequences of one's actions on friendships.

Each story comes with a vocab list (word, part of speech, definition), a selection of potential assignments, a breakdown of the story structure, and applicable Common Core and National Health Education standards. All stories are also available individually from the DEEPbyDESIGN store.

Friendship and Loyalty: Stories about the Challenges and Rewards of Maintaining Strong Friendship

  1. "The Unbreakable Bond": Two best friends, Emma and Olivia, find their friendship tested when they are assigned to compete against each other in a school science fair. As the competition intensifies, they must navigate the challenges of remaining loyal to each other while pursuing their individual goals.
  2. "The Long-Distance Friendship": When Jack's best friend, Liam, moves to another country, they promise to stay in touch. Despite the time differences and the challenges of maintaining a long-distance friendship, the boys find creative ways to keep their bond strong.
  3. "The Unexpected Friendship": Maya, a shy bookworm, and Zoe, a popular athlete, are paired together for a school project. As they work together, they discover that despite their differences, they have more in common than they thought and form an unlikely but powerful friendship.
  4. "The Friendship Fallout": Aiden and Ethan have been best friends since kindergarten, but when a misunderstanding leads to a falling out, they must find a way to reconcile and repair their friendship.
  5. "The Loyal Sidekick": When Sophia, the school's drama star, loses her voice before the big play, her best friend and understudy, Lily, steps in to help. Lily must balance her loyalty to Sophia with her own dreams of being in the spotlight.
  6. "The Secret Keeper": When Nate confides in his best friend, Luke, about a family secret, Luke must decide whether to keep the secret or risk their friendship by telling an adult who can help.
  7. "The Friendship Game": Four best friends, Ava, Bella, Chloe, and Daisy, create a game to test their friendship. As the challenges become more intense, they must decide what's more important: winning the game or maintaining their bond.
  8. "The Friendship Rescue": When Mia's best friend, Sophie, starts hanging out with a new group of friends who engage in risky behavior, Mia must find the courage to stand up for what's right and help Sophie see the value of their true friendship.
Short Stories
Character Education
Social Emotional Learning
$9.95
Product

Flying Lessons and Other Stories BUNDLE- First 5 Stories

By Ms. J's ELA

This bundle includes resources for the first five short stories in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories. Those stories are: How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium, The Difficult Path, Sol Painting, Inc., Secret Samantha, and The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.

Each resource includes a presentation and student worksheets which come in color and b/w for easy printing.

This bundle includes:

38 student worksheet pages

52 slides

Answer Keys

Each resource includes:

story vocabulary

pre-reading activities

tiered reading questions

an emphasis on one particular ELA standard

Depending on the length of your class periods, this resource could last 4 days or 2 weeks.

$10.00
$9.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

Short Story Elements Escape Room

By 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.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

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

⭐ Short Story Escape Rooms

_____________________________________________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐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⭐⭐⭐

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

English Language Arts
Literature
Short Stories
$8.75
Product
Product
Product
Product

ANANSI [THE SPIDER] FOLKTALE STORIES

By Richard B Williams

Teach themes and morals through this ANANSI [the spider] STORIES resource. Middle through 9th graders will students learn how to live with each other and learn about their world through these age-old stories. Students learn symbolism, self-reflection, and other vital lessons through their use of this unit. This Unit has 5 popular ANANSI Folk Tales, 15 Comprehension questions, Suggested Uses, and 11 PROJECTS to help make your classroom be GREAT! Check 'em out!


This Resource includes:

1. 5 ANANSI TALES

2. LESSONS FROM ANANSI STORIES [TEACHER NOTES]

3. 11 Lesson plan activities/Projects

4. 15 MULTIPLE CHOICE/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

5. YOUTUBE videos for each folktale to add multimodal parts to your lesson

6. Answer Keys Provided


FOLKTALES included:

1. ANANSI and the WISDOM POT

2. ANANSI and the TURTLE'S DINNER

3. ANANSI and the MAGIC ROCK

4. ANANSI and the EAR OF CORN

5. ANANSI and the TALKING MELON


You may also appreciate:

  • SEVENTH GRADE [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]
  • HIGH HORSE GOES COURTING [LESSON ACTIVITIES]
  • THE OPEN WINDOW [LESSON ACTIVITIES]
  • AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE [TASK CARDS]
  • THE SNIPER [TASK CARDS]
  • A WORN PATH [TASK CARDS]

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

EMAIL LIST

INSTAGRAM

Youtube

Facebook

Pinterest

TIKTOK


Hey Angry Teacher Fam,

I'm Richard Williams, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 20+ years, and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other EDUCATIONAL materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

English Language Arts
Creative Writing
Short Stories
$7.00
Product

BUNDLE: The Birthmark Socratic Seminar packets + Question Trail text analysis!

By The Red-Haired Reader

This Bundle contains 2 products for Hawthorne's story "The Birthmark": a question trail that is chock full of text analysis questions, and a Socratic Seminar that could be used as a final assessment. Check out each of the products above in further detail! Buying them together saves you $$!

Please help my little business grow!

Did you know that you can receive $ credit towards future TeachShare purchases by reviewing this product? Please leave a review at the product page or through "My Purchases" under "My Account" at TpT. Thank you!

$8.00
$7.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

Young Voices: Eight Short Stories of Courage & Resilience 5-8

By Mark Holmes

Young Voices: Stories of Courage & Resilience in Conflict & Adversity

64 pages

Grade 5 to 8

All stories also available individually

Discover the resilience and hope of youth with our collection of eight short stories for grades 5 to 8, each set against the backdrop of global conflict and adversity. These narratives, ranging from a diary in the ruins of Gaza to unexpected friendships in Kashmir, offer a window into the impact of war on young lives. They capture the essence of innocence and the unyielding human spirit, providing a poignant exploration of loss, tradition, and the strength found in family and friendship bonds amidst turmoil.

Our carefully curated anthology spans from the streets of Sarajevo to the tense borders of East Ukraine and beyond, bringing to light the often-overlooked experiences of children in war-torn environments. These authentic tales not only confront the harsh realities of violence but also weave threads of hope, suggesting paths toward healing and peace. This collection is a profound reminder of our shared humanity and the vital importance of nurturing and listening to the world's youth, who carry the promise of a brighter, more united future.

Each story comes with a set of probing and thought-provoking questions.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Stories

Iqbal & Yasmin: A Kashmiri Story

● A Kashmiri boy starts a cricket league to bring together youth from opposing

sides and provide hope in the midst of conflict.

Mykhala & Daniela: Slava Ukraini

● Two girls driven from their homes in Ukraine find friendship and purpose in

creating a bird sanctuary, becoming symbols of resilience and peace.

Kiribati: Rising Tides, Resilient Hearts

● Two girls from the island nation of Kiribati find strength in their bond as their

community is forced to leave their sinking homeland.

Irene’s Steps: A Story from the Troubles in Northern Ireland

● An unlikely friendship between a Catholic girl and a Protestant boy in Northern

Ireland during the Troubles helps bridge divides through their school project

sharing personal stories.

Beyond the Horizon: A Mexican Tale

● Four friends from Mexico undertake the perilous journey across the border,

driven by hopes for a better future.

Echoes of Hope: The Children of Sarajevo

● Children create an oasis of hope and resistance through education and art during the Siege of Sarajevo.

Gaza Diary: Shadows of Hope

● A young girl in Gaza chronicles her family's daily struggles for survival and

glimpses of hope amidst the cycles of war devastating her community.

The Day the World Changed: 9/11

● Two NYC teenagers find purpose helping their community cope with the

aftermath of 9/11, gaining resilience amidst tragedy.

--------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Short Stories
Civics
World History
$8.95
Product
Product
Product
Product

The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

By Language Arts Excellence

This literature guide features a Common Core-aligned mini-unit for use while reading Edgar Allan Poe's horrifying allegory of plague and pestilence, The Masque of the Red Death. The packet provides an excellent basis for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition for the short story and encourages students to think critically about Poe's use of literary elements, figurative language, and symbolism. Also included are 12 reader response task cards for literature circles and a creative social media activities that will bring the story to life in the 21st century. A full answer key is provided along with three bonus student-tested lesson plans. 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 horrifying tales in American literature.

Product Includes:

  • Attractive Cover Page for Student Packet
  • Masque of the Red Death Anticipation Guide & Lesson Plan
  • Vocabulary Worksheet
  • Vocabulary Drawing Activity
  • Comprehension Questions
  • Literary Elements Chart
  • Figurative Language Worksheet
  • Symbolism Drawing Activity
  • "Twitter" Activity Graphic Organizers
  • Snap Chat Worksheet
  • 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

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

________________________________________________________________________

Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Masque of the Red Death:

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Socratic Seminar

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 Black Cat 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

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Literature
Short Stories
Halloween
$10.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

ANANSI [THE SPIDER] FOLKTALE STORIES

By Richard B Williams

Teach themes and morals through this ANANSI [the spider] STORIES resource. Middle through 9th graders will students learn how to live with each other and learn about their world through these age-old stories. Students learn symbolism, self-reflection, and other vital lessons through their use of this unit. This Unit has 5 popular ANANSI Folk Tales, 15 Comprehension questions, Suggested Uses, and 11 PROJECTS to help make your classroom be GREAT! Check 'em out!


This Resource includes:

1. 5 ANANSI TALES

2. LESSONS FROM ANANSI STORIES [TEACHER NOTES]

3. 11 Lesson plan activities/Projects

4. 15 MULTIPLE CHOICE/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

5. YOUTUBE videos for each folktale to add multimodal parts to your lesson

6. Answer Keys Provided


FOLKTALES included:

1. ANANSI and the WISDOM POT

2. ANANSI and the TURTLE'S DINNER

3. ANANSI and the MAGIC ROCK

4. ANANSI and the EAR OF CORN

5. ANANSI and the TALKING MELON


You may also appreciate:

  • SEVENTH GRADE [LESSON PLANS and TEACHER NOTES]
  • HIGH HORSE GOES COURTING [LESSON ACTIVITIES]
  • THE OPEN WINDOW [LESSON ACTIVITIES]
  • AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE [TASK CARDS]
  • THE SNIPER [TASK CARDS]
  • A WORN PATH [TASK CARDS]

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

EMAIL LIST

INSTAGRAM

Youtube

Facebook

Pinterest

TIKTOK


Hey Angry Teacher Fam,

I'm Richard Williams, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 20+ years, and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other EDUCATIONAL materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

English Language Arts
Creative Writing
Short Stories
$7.00
Product
Product
Product
Product

A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury Mystery Escape Puzzle Breakout Room

By The Red-Haired Reader

Your students will be transported back in time to hunt dinosaurs! They will have to find the various time guides to gather information necessary to prevent the disturbance of the timeline. Only by carefully following all of the employees’ directions will they be able to return to the present, thus successfully completing the escape room!

The seven stations address the elements of the short story, including characterization, symbolism, summary, vocabulary, syntax and diction, foreshadowing, and figurative language. This is a rigorous review and analysis activity. Students should read the text BEFORE they do the escape room.

Download one of the 7 stations to preview here! Freebie Station!

Thanks for checking out my product! Please let me know if you have any questions!

English Language Arts
Literature
Short Stories
$7.99