Are you looking for creative ways to bring the autumn spirit into your ELA classroom? If so, the Secondary English Coffee Shop totally has you covered. We've gone ahead and compiled all of our favorite activities for the harvest season—which, if you ask us, is also the season of spooky stories and other Halloween-themed fun! Check out each of our ideas below:
HALLOWEEN SHORT STORY FLIP BOOK:
One of The Classroom Sparrow's favorite short stories to teach during the month of October is, “If Cornered, Scream”. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, please do! If you’re looking for a writing resource, this Halloween Short Story Flip Book will guide your students to writing a spooky short story of their own!
THE TELL-TALE HEART BY EDGAR ALLAN POE:
Addie Williams loves this time of year! There are so many fun activities to do and one of her favorites is this newspaper writing activity for “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Students create a newspaper to report on the events of the story. Just print and go!
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER BY ROALD DAHL:
Danielle from Nouvelle ELA loves getting students to put their detective hats on with “Lamb to the Slaughter.” In this pre-reading simulation, students make inferences at the crime scene to solve Mr. Maloney’s murder. Students LOVE the ah-ha! moment as they check their work by reading the actual story afterwards.
THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO BY EDGAR ALLAN POE:
Christina from The Daring English Teacher absolutely loves a good spooky story to share with her students during the month of October. One of her favorite bone-chilling stories to read with her students is “The Cask of Amontillado.” Its got suspense and macabre, and the students love it! To help students dig in deep and gain a better understanding of the story, try this close reading and literary analysis Cask of Amontillado assignment.
THE MONKEY'S PAW BY W.W. JACOBS:
One of Tracee Orman's favorite short stories to teach is The Monkey's Paw. The idea of having three wishes and all the suspense that comes with those wishes truly makes it a classic spooky story to share with your students. Get the complete unit, which includes the story, here.
TEACHING SUSPENSE AND TENSION:
Jackie from Room 213 says that she loves spooky story season because it’s the perfect time to get students engaged as they explore the strategies writers use to create suspense and tension. Her favorite stories for modeling this are The Landlady and Just Lather, That’s All. Both are hits with students and are part of her Teaching Suspense and Tension Unit.
HALLOWEEN READING MYSTERY:
October is one of Bonnie of Presto Plans' favorite months because it lends itself so well to so many fun ELA activities, such as this Halloween reading mystery! For the Mystery of the Missing Halloween treats, students must work together, using their close reading, inference, and text evidence skills, to determine who stole Alex’s pillow case full of hard-earned candy! Check out this engaging, hands-on Halloween activity by clicking here.
We hope you have a fun, spooktacular month!
Looking for more Halloween Ideas for English Language Arts? Click here.
