Halloween Short Stories: Part Two
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Sept 30, 2023
Welcome to the second part in my series on Halloween Short Stories. There were just too many great titles to share in one post! Halloween is a great time to add in some short stories to your ELA curriculum, as the creepiness of the stories definitely ups the engagement factor! In this post I will share some more of my favorite Halloween Short Stories – these ones are sure to add a spooky vibe to your middle school ELA classroom.
Looking for more Halloween short stories for middle school learners? Be sure to check out my previous posts here and here.
The Birds – Daphne Du Maurier
Those who have seen the Hitchcock classic will already be familiar with the story. However, I can honestly say that the film does not do it justice. While it is a bit on the longer side, as far as short stories go, it is definitely worth a read. I love the way Du Maurier takes something that is typically peaceful, and turns it into something frightening.
In the story, the main character notices that the town’s birds have been acting strangely. Soon, he is forced to barricade himself inside his house. While there, he must fight to protect his family from the swarming birds.
The spooky nature of this story makes it a great one to teach mood and suspense. As it is a longer story, I like to have my students practice their close reading strategies while reading. This way, they can annotate the text as they go along. The language used to develop the story really adds to its overall creepiness.
Upon finishing the story, you might consider having your students watch the Hitchcock version. While I believe it was certainly terrifying in its era, I regret to say it doesn’t quite measure up to today’s horror and special effects norms. Interestingly, my middle school students tend to find it rather comical. This sets the stage for an excellent compare and contrast exercise, allowing students to scrutinize the similarities and differences between the book and the film adaptation.
If you don’t have a copy of the story, you can read it online here. Alternately, you can listen to the story read aloud in the YouTube video below.
For tips and tricks for keeping students engaged and accountable during a class read aloud, check out our post on read aloud accountability.
The Veldt – Ray Bradbury
I am a huge Bradbury fan. Because of this, I may be a bit bias when adding this one to the list of great spooky short stories. It is definitely one of his best. Its haunting vision of the children of the future is sure to give you chills.
In the story, the Hadley family live in a fully automated house called “The Happylife Home”. Soon however, parents George and Lydia become concerned by their children’s fascination with their “nursery”. The nursery is a virtual reality room that can recreate any desired scenario and allow them to live within it. When forced to make the decision between the room and the requests of their parents, the children’s choice has frightening results.
After reading the story, I like to have my students analyze the key elements of the story. Then, I have them answer comprehension questions to show their understanding. These pennant projects are super fun, as they allow students to process the story in a visual way. The completed pennants make fantastic bulletin board displays!
For more great science fiction short story teaching ideas, check out our complete guide to science fiction and our list of favorite science fictions stories!
The Tell Tale Heart – Edgar Allan Poe
If you are looking for a great Halloween Short Story, look no further than the great Edgar Allan Poe. While many of his short stories would make fantastic additions to your Halloween short story roster, The Tell Tale Heart is at the very top of my list.
In this story, the narrator is slowly driven mad by the creepy eye of an old man who is staying with him. After murdering the unsuspecting victim, the guilt of the narrator quickly becomes his downfall.
This gruesome tale of murder and madness is always a hit in my middle school classroom. The creepy eye, the crazy narrator, and the body buried beneath the floorboards are just the kind of scary grossness that brings middle school kiddos to life!
This movie poster project is a fun and creative ways for students to show their understanding of this gruesome story. Students take on the role of movie directors, and design their own movie posters to advertise their latest blockbusters. On the back of each poster, they must write paragraphs explaining what famous person they have cast for each of the main roles. This is a fun way to make Poe modern and relevant to your learners, and I love the opportunity for kids to really be creative.
Looking for more lesson ideas for Edgar Allan Poe? Be sure to check out my previous posts (with FREE Poe resources!) here, here, and here.
The Lottery – Shirley Jackson
Known as one of the best spooky story writers of all time, Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery is a must add to your Halloween collection. If you like short stories, this one does not disappoint.
Set in a fictional small town, inhabitants observe an annual rite known as “the lottery”. In this lottery, a member of the community is selected by chance, and the story slowly follows the actions of the small town residents as they submit their entries. The story comes to a startling and unsettling conclusion, making the reader realize that winning isn’t always a good thing.
I have taught this Dystopian story in both middle and high school for a number of years, and it is always a favorite with students. Those familiar with The Hunger Games will likely draw connections to Katniss at the Reaping Ceremony.
If you don’t have a copy of this story, you can read it online here, or listen to it read aloud on YouTube below.
On the hunt for more great holiday themed middle school short stories? Check out our lists of favorite short stories for St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and Black History Month!
For more information on teaching about the Dystopian genre, check out our complete guide to Dystopian Fiction, and our favorite Dystopian Short Story and Novel Study lists!
Looking for more Halloween Short Stories?
Check out my previous post featuring more Halloween Short Stories here.
Looking for more Halloween Lesson Ideas?
See my previous Halloween posts below!
Edgar Allan Poe Activities for Middle School
Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary
Halloween Close Reading Activities for Middle School
Interested in grabbing these activities for Halloween Short Stories to use in your own classroom?
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Looking for a FREE resource to use alongside your Short Story Unit?
Click here or on the images below to download a FREE activity to teach plot! It includes detailed student notes and fill in the blank notetaking templates!
Interested in trying out one of my short story resources for free?
Click here or on the image below to download a COMPLETE short story unit. It contains a full text version of the story, comprehension questions, close reading activities, graphic organizers, answer keys, and more!
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