Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

When attention spans are short, these do the trick!

These ten top-notch short stories are perfect for teaching in middle school. Students can access the stories online.

Dystopian short stories for middle school and high school - list of dystopian short stories to engage young readers.

This resource includes activities for 33 short stories and poems. The goal of this reading literature journal is prepare students to recall, understand, apply, analyze, and evaluate a variety of texts while also using creative mini-projects to help encourage deeper thinking! This resource has everything you'll need to teach a short story or poem once a week for the ENTIRE school year. ZERO prep necessary! Answer keys for the short stories ARE INCLUDED in this resource. NOTE 2: This resource has been proofread by a professional editor. This resource has a DIGITAL component included as a way to incorporate distance learning! It is compatible with Google Slides and Google Classroom. This resource includes the following: -Teacher directions and answer keys -Generic rubric for all mini-projects -Activities for 33 short stories and poems that are appropriate for grades 6-8. -Questions for each story based on Bloom’s Taxonomy (remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate). -Mini-projects or extension activities for each short story and poem. -Links to all 33 short stories and poems that can be found in full-text, for free. -Editable version so that you can adjust any questions as necessary for your students. -Cover pages for each of the months. You can use this resource in several ways. Here are 5 options: OPTION ONE: Give students their journal at the beginning of the school year or semester and assign one short story or poem per week. They will work through all 33 works by the end of the semester. OPTION TWO: Assign the different short stories or poems at your leisure. Instead of giving your students the entire journal, only pass out the activities as you see fit. OPTION THREE: Three words– EMERGENCY SUB PLANS!!! These are great for a quick lesson if you have to miss a day. OPTION FOUR: Use these activities as extra practice or reinforcement for struggling or advanced students. OPTION FIVE: If you are a proponent of homework OR a flipped classroom atmosphere– assign the stories and poems for homework and complete the activities during the class period. Activities for the following short stories and poems are included: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl After Twenty Years by O. Henry The Lottery by Shirley Jackson The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin O Captain! My Captain! By Walt Whitman A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye Marigolds by Eugenia W. Collier Aunt Misery by Judith Ortiz Cofer Still I Rise by Maya Angelou Seventh Grade by Gary Soto The Treasure of Lemon Brown by Walter Dean Myers Hearts and Hands by O. Henry How to Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam Charles by Shirley Jackson Miss Awful by Arthur Cavanaugh This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost The Moustache by Robert Cormier The Landlady by Roald Dahl Oranges by Gary Soto The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury Mother to Son by Langston Hughes The Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty Each text includes comprehension questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy (recall, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate) and a mini-project that encourages students to think beyond the text. Check out what other teachers, just like you, are saying about this resource: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Absolutely LOVED everything about this resource. You can even use it for both in-person and virtual learners. There is ZERO prep involved, so more time can be actually spent on TEACHING!! Win-win!" -Anice B. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Excellent resource! Questions are easily adaptable for multiple levels of learners, and I really appreciate the inclusion of links to the literature pieces on the digital version. Nice variety of literature pieces as well. Thank you!" -Donna H. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I really love this resource! It makes it simple for me to post assignments and pass them out. The questions that go along with the stories are thought provoking, but not so detailed that students require assistance understanding what the question is asking." -Katie B. Please download the preview for more information. The preview provides images of the Reading Literature Journal in action. Connect with Me SuperHERO Teacher Blog Find me on Facebook Find me on Instagram Find me on Pinterest Find me on Snapchat:  Superheroteach If you like this product, please leave feedback!

Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

Short stories definitely have their place in the middle school English classroom. These short works of literature can grab a reader's attention right from the start, making them great for reluctant readers, whose patience and attention spans can often run short; while they can be enjoyed by all students, they are perfect for the kids who are unable (or unwilling) to tackle an entire novel. Great short stories can be used to teach literary elements and critical thinking skills, and lay the groundwork for engaging classroom discussions and writing assignments. Many of my favorite short stories have twist endings, and are great for teaching careful reading; while the endings often jolt the reader, the author usually gives enough hints along the way to give the reader the chance to figure out what is going to happen. It is hard to beat a good twist ending when it comes to engagement. Too often I find that teachers limit the stories they use in their classrooms to those they can find in their classroom literature anthology. There are so many amazing stories out there, just waiting to be taught! As a true lover of the short story, I have dedicated my teaching career to collecting some of the very best, and have created my own personal classroom anthology. As many full text versions of short stories can be found for free online, I simply googled the title of each of the short stories I wanted, made copies, and put them all together in a duotang. I now have a classroom set of my favorites that I can use when the mood strikes, and can add (and subtract) new short stories as I discover them. I have included some of my very favorite short stories below. These are stories that I have used with my middle schoolers for many years - all are guaranteed to be highly engaging, and promise to raise questions and instigate great discussions in your classroom. Included are links to online versions of the stories, so you can check them out yourself. I have only included a quick blurb about each, as I don't want to spoil the stories for those of you who are yet to discover them. The Necklace - Guy De Maupassant In this engaging short story, a woman borrows an expensive necklace from a wealthy friend, only to lose it. She then spends the rest of the story trying to repay her debt. With a surprising twist ending, this short work of classic literature is sure to engage your students. The characters in this story are very well developed, and make for great lessons on characterization. As the main character comes off quite spoiled and unlikable, it makes for an excellent class debate or writing assignment on whether or not she deserved her fate. Full text of the short story can be found here. Lamb to the Slaughter - Roald Dahl Roald Dahl is easily one of my favorite writers of all time. While his novels are amazing, his lesser known shown stories are equally as great. "Lamb to the Slaughter" focuses on a scorn woman, who murders her husband with a frozen leg of lamb. The rest of the story revolves around her trying to hide her guilt and conceal the evidence. This is certainly a creepy story, but I think that is exactly what makes it so appealing to students of this age group. I often use the story to teach persuasive essay writing, while having the kids debate about whether or not they think the main character should get away with the crimes. After reading, I always make sure to show the kids the Alfred Hitchcock version of the story on youtube - Mary's giggle at the end is haunting! Full text of the story can be found here. The Sniper - Liam O'Flaherty If you are looking for a way to draw in your reluctant male readers, this short story is it. With guns, war, and a little bit of violence, I found that it really appeals to a lot of the adolescent boys in my classes. The story revolves around a sniper sitting on a rooftop during the Irish Revolution; he gives away his place while lighting a cigarette, and knows he has to escape. The twist ending will leave your students open-mouthed, and always makes for great classroom discussion. The unexpected ending is a great opportunity to teach irony. I often integrate this story into my Social Studies curriculum, as use it as an introduction to our civil war unit. Full text of the story can be found here. Interlopers - Saki I only recently discovered this haunting short story, but it has quickly become one of my all time favorites. The story begins with the heads of two feuding families, hunting each other through the forest at night. Just as they are about to shoot each other, a large tree falls in the snowy forest, trapping both of them beneath it. The story has a great twist at the end that will leave your students gasping, making it a great story for teaching about irony and for reviewing plot. I also love to use it for teaching character motivation; the story begins with the characters being motivated by hatred, which quickly changes to the opposite. The misfortune of the events that unfold mature the men quickly, making a great teaching example of how empathy and understanding are the keys to conflict resolution. Full text of the story can be found here. The Chaser - John Collier In this very short story a young man purchases a love potion, and is pleased to discover that it only costs a very small amount. The merchant, however, has something more costly to offer him, should he need it in the future. This is one of my favorite stories to teach in February, as the whole love potion idea pairs well with Valentine's Day festivities. The story itself is only a page or two long, making it highly accessible to even your most struggling middle school readers. After reading the story, students soon discover that the title is a great play on words, which makes for engaging class discussion. For a full text version of the story, click here. The Story of an Hour - Kate Chopin This story begins when a woman is given news that her husband has died in a railroad accident. In the hour that follows, she contemplates her life while experiencing a wide range of emotions. Another story with a twist (can you tell I love twist endings?), students are always caught off guard by the ending, leading to great class discussions. The story easily lends itself to activities relating to symbolism, irony, and plot structure. Full text of the story can be found here. The Gift of the Magi - O. Henry In this story, a young couple low on funds try to find a way to get each other a special Christmas gift. This is one of my favorite stories to read around the holidays, as it has a beautiful message about giving, and the things we should value most. It is a great story to pair with a reading of A Christmas Carol, and is also great for reviewing plot, character motivation, and irony. Full text of the story can be found here. A Sound of Thunder - Ray Bradbury Set in the future, time travelers on a hunting expedition visit prehistoric times to shoot and kill a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The story explores the concept of the "Butterfly Effect", where one small action in the past can have massive consequences in the future. Students who have seen Groundhog Day will be familiar with the concept, but I find this story to be much darker. I usually have students complete a plot diagram to go along with this story, and make notes on the actions of the characters that make an impact on future events. This story is a bit longer than some of the ones I mentioned above, but I have found that the kids get hooked into the story right from the start, making them not mind the length as much. This story is a great way to hook some of your reluctant adolescent boys. This story pairs well with "Of Missing Persons" by Jack Finney, as both stories discuss the effects of time travel - although Finney's story is quite long, it is really one of my very favorites. Full text of "A Sound of Thunder" can be found here. Rain, Rain, Go Away - Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov is one of my favorite science fiction writers. His stories often have twist endings, and just the right amount of strange creepiness to make them extra appealing to this age group. When it comes to creepy and strange, "Rain, Rain, Go Away" does not disappoint. In the story, the main characters are curious about their new neighbors, who seem to be acting strangely. In an effort to get to know them better, they invite them on an outing to a local fair; after consuming massive amounts of cotton candy, panic ensues when an unforeseen rain storm catches the new neighbors off guard. This is an excellent story for teaching cause and effect and character changes over time. The story is also great for visualization, as the final scene really paints a picture in the minds of young students. Because of this, I often have my students illustrate before and after pictures of the neighbors. Full text of the story can be found here. The Most Dangerous Game - Richard Connell This is one of my favorite stories to teach about mood and suspense. In this engaging and tense story, a well known hunter crashes his boat into an almost deserted island, only to discover that the inhabitant likes to hunt humans. The beginning of the story is a great opportunity to teach students about how setting can help to create mood. The descriptions in the story are very visual, and I often have my students draw maps of the island, and show where key plot events in the story take place. This story is a definite favorite among middle school students. Full text of the story can be found here. Examination Day - Henry Seslar Don't let the fact that this story was originally published in Playboy (!??!) stop you from using it in your classroom! Its distopic version of the future makes it a hit with students interested in this genre. In the story, bright young Dickie is sent to write an exam that all children of the future must take. The story ends with a jolting twist, and lends itself to some interesting classroom discussion and writing activities about the nature of intelligence. Harrison Bergeron - Kurt Vonnegut I love pairing this story with Seslar's "Examination Day", as both stories are set in the future and discuss similar themes about intelligence. In this story, the people of the future have been given "handicaps" to make sure that everyone is equal. The story picks up when young Harrison Bergeron takes over a television program, revolting against the handicaps he has been given. This story lends itself to a great discussion about political propaganda; I usually end the unit by having the kids create their own propaganda posters for the main character in the story. A full text version of "Harrison Bergeron" can be found here. All Summer in a Day - Ray Bradbury When Margot moves from Earth to the rainy planet of Venus, she is bullied by the other children who are jealous of her for seeing the sun. As the first sunny day the planet has seen in many years approaches, the bullying intensifies, leading up to a heartbreaking finale. This is a great story to use when discussing bullying, as students tend to feel quite strongly for Margot, and can often make connections to their own lives. As it is set on a distant planet, it is also a great story to use when discussing setting. When we are done reading, I often show my students the movie version of the story, which can easily be found on youtube. The full text version of the story can be found here. The Birds - Daphne Du Maurier As this is the classic short story that Alfred Hitchcock's famous movie was based on, it makes for a great spooky story to use around Halloween. 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, and 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, and annotate the text as they go along. When the unit is complete, it is fun to show the students the classic Hitchcock movie, and compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the movie and story. While it was considered to be quite a scary movie when it was first released, it is quite tame by today's standards, and I have no problem showing it in my classroom. My students are so accustomed to the special effects of today's movies, that they usually find this movie quite hilarious to watch. A full text version of the story can be found here. The Elevator - William Sleator This story revolves a young boy named Martin, and his overwhelming fear of an overweight lady who climbs into his apartment elevator every time Martin boards. This is a great story to review plot, as the climax happens at the very end. I have found that my students often struggle to locate the climax of the story when it happens so late in the text, and this is a great way to help them practice with this. This story is definitely creepy, making it a hit with this age group. A full text version of the story can be found here. Hopefully you can make use of some of these fantastic short stories in your classroom! I will continue to add to this list as I discover more favorites. Looking for some resources to use along with these stories? This giant 88 page resource bundle is available in my Teachers Pay Teacher store, and contains 11 of my best selling short story resources, bundled together for a heavily discounted price. Resources to use with a variety of short stories are included, as well as detailed activities and notes to go along with the elements of literature. Perfect for your upcoming short story unit, this package has enough resources to keep kids engaged while learning about the literary elements. This 88 page package includes: -Short Story notes on the Elements of Literature -Literary Elements Flip Book Project -Short Story Poster Projects to go along with 10 different short stories -Additional worksheets to use with any of the included stories -Links to online versions of all stories -Detailed answer keys for all assignments. What are some of your favorite short stories to teach with middle school students?

Looking for even more short stories to read with your middle school and high school students? There are so many options out there, many of which can be used to teach a variety of literary elements and lead into interesting discussions and activities. Read on for 15 recommendations from secondary English Language Arts teachers.

Teaching Roald Dahl's Short Story The Landlady is my favorite lesson of the year. It’s such a powerful story to read during October or any time of year!

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell - short story teaching tips and activities to go along with the iconic short story.

These 5 short texts for teaching suspense and pacing will help make your lessons on literary elements less daunting and more memorable!

Looking for ways to spread kindness? Dive into 3 inspirational stories about middle schoolers who make a difference! Perfect for inspiring young readers and sparking conversations about empathy and compassion.

Whenever I teach freshmen or sophomores, I always begin the school year with a short story unit. I use this unit to introduce literary elements to my

The Socratic style of discourse lends itself quite well to establishing critical thinkers due to the fact that Socrates believed that enabling students to think for themselves was more important than filling their heads with knowledge. With so much talk about the Common Core standards and truly increasing our student's argumentative powers and critical thinking skills, I decided to launch a Socratic Seminar style of instruction in my sixth grade classroom this week. Our Seminar The Text My approach began by engaging in a guided reading of a novel titled I Can't Believe I Have To Do This by Jan Alford. Throughout the course of the week we read the novel and discussed story events and critical vocabulary associated with the readings. The Questions Students were given a Socratic Seminar "Prep Sheet" at the beginning of the week. The sheet asked the students to do the following: #1. Summarize the assigned reading #2. Identify 3 compelling quotes or statements from the reading #3. Develop one Knowledge based question #4. Develop one Application style question #5. Develop one Synthesis style question Download at: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Socratic-Seminar-Packet The Set Up I then arranged my room in a double horseshoe configuration and assigned five students to be the inner circle. The inner circle students were slated to be the ones discussing and interacting. The outer circle of students were slated to observe and reflect and provide a 'backchannel'. The Discourse Relinquishing control was the MOST DIFFICULT thing!! Once the seminar began I truly had to force myself not to jump in and facilitate. Initially, it was truly awkward. Students nervously giggled and looked down at their papers. No one seemed willing to emerge as a leader. Once they realized that no one was coming to their rescue, the dialogue began and WOW. DID YOU KNOW?? A website called blockposters.com can take any .jpg or .gif image and turn it into a larger printable poster with overlapping edges for assembly?? Backchannel To occupy my outer circle, I distributed 5 ipads (1 for every 3 students) and allowed them to connect on todaysmeet.com. There they posted thoughts, questions, comments and even prompts to assist the inner circle. This back channel scrolled on the Smartboard throughout the seminar. (Admittedly, I didn't love the lack of grammar conventions demonstrated in the statements below.) Reflection/Assessment Without a doubt, we will do this again. Once the awkwardness ended, the dialog went FAR beyond what I've ever experienced with this novel. Students shared events that related DEEPLY to the characters, the character's choices and experiences. They also extrapolated character traits and applied them to new situations. As an assessment tool, each student completed an Exit Slip paragraph where they exercised their argumentative writing skills by completing a one paragraph reflection on the grade they deserved as a result of their participation in the seminar. Socratic discourse....making the kiddos use THEIR Smarticles!! All of my materials are available at: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Socratic-Seminar-Packet

In my book Blended Learning in Grades 4-12, I shared the following middle school writing rubrics with my readers. Unfortunately, the short links I provided in my book have timed out, so I wanted to share these on my blog so any middle school teachers interested in using them have access! Feel free to make […]

Don't let your literature anthology dictate the short stories you read with your middle school and high school students. There are so many wonderful short stories out there, many of which can be used to teach a variety of literary elements and paired with other texts. Read on for 13 of my favorites, which literary terms and skills they lend themselves to teaching, plus suggested text pairings and activities.

When attention spans are short, these do the trick!

Short stories are a great way for middle school teachers to engage their students in reading and writing. Short stories provide an introduction to literature that is age-appropriate, interesting and easy to understand.

Inside: You’ll find expert advice on middle and high school short stories to bring fresh light to your classroom. One of the best ways to build innovative ideas is to collaborate with other teachers. This post highlights secondary teachers, their favorite middle and high school short stories, and how to use them. Full disclosure: I […]

Adding a Reading Literature Journal to Your Instruction Sometimes, as English/Literature teachers, we have a hard time making room for short stories in our instruction. There is a focus on novels and longer texts. However, it

Looking for inspiration for your middle school students? These 30 short story writing prompts are sure to help!

Young teenagers will love the dystopian themes, futuristic settings, and fantastical (at least, it was...) technology. Curated Short Stories Library Members: Click here to access your downloads! All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury -- Nine-year-old Margot hasn't seen the sun since she left Earth. Will she get to see the…

No dusty old classics here! There are my favoite new short stories for middle school, and some non-traditional texts to engage and inspire.

Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

When attention spans are short, these do the trick!

If you're like me, you thought, "Hey, it's Thanksgiving soon! I think I'll teach Thanksgiving short stories for middle school or high school." So you did a web search for "Thanksgiving short stories for middle school or high school" and probably found nothing. How can there not be Thanksgiving short stories for middle school or

When attention spans are short, these do the trick!

Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

This resource includes activities for 33 short stories and poems. The goal of this reading literature journal is prepare students to recall, understand, apply, analyze, and evaluate a variety of texts while also using creative mini-projects to help encourage deeper thinking! This resource has everything you'll need to teach a short story or poem once a week for the ENTIRE school year. ZERO prep necessary! Answer keys for the short stories ARE INCLUDED in this resource. NOTE 2: This resource has been proofread by a professional editor. This resource has a DIGITAL component included as a way to incorporate distance learning! It is compatible with Google Slides and Google Classroom. This resource includes the following: -Teacher directions and answer keys -Generic rubric for all mini-projects -Activities for 33 short stories and poems that are appropriate for grades 6-8. -Questions for each story based on Bloom’s Taxonomy (remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate). -Mini-projects or extension activities for each short story and poem. -Links to all 33 short stories and poems that can be found in full-text, for free. -Editable version so that you can adjust any questions as necessary for your students. -Cover pages for each of the months. You can use this resource in several ways. Here are 5 options: OPTION ONE: Give students their journal at the beginning of the school year or semester and assign one short story or poem per week. They will work through all 33 works by the end of the semester. OPTION TWO: Assign the different short stories or poems at your leisure. Instead of giving your students the entire journal, only pass out the activities as you see fit. OPTION THREE: Three words– EMERGENCY SUB PLANS!!! These are great for a quick lesson if you have to miss a day. OPTION FOUR: Use these activities as extra practice or reinforcement for struggling or advanced students. OPTION FIVE: If you are a proponent of homework OR a flipped classroom atmosphere– assign the stories and poems for homework and complete the activities during the class period. Activities for the following short stories and poems are included: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl After Twenty Years by O. Henry The Lottery by Shirley Jackson The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin O Captain! My Captain! By Walt Whitman A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury Kindness by Naomi Shihab Nye Marigolds by Eugenia W. Collier Aunt Misery by Judith Ortiz Cofer Still I Rise by Maya Angelou Seventh Grade by Gary Soto The Treasure of Lemon Brown by Walter Dean Myers Hearts and Hands by O. Henry How to Eat a Poem by Eve Merriam Charles by Shirley Jackson Miss Awful by Arthur Cavanaugh This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost The Moustache by Robert Cormier The Landlady by Roald Dahl Oranges by Gary Soto The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury Mother to Son by Langston Hughes The Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty Each text includes comprehension questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy (recall, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate) and a mini-project that encourages students to think beyond the text. Check out what other teachers, just like you, are saying about this resource: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Absolutely LOVED everything about this resource. You can even use it for both in-person and virtual learners. There is ZERO prep involved, so more time can be actually spent on TEACHING!! Win-win!" -Anice B. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Excellent resource! Questions are easily adaptable for multiple levels of learners, and I really appreciate the inclusion of links to the literature pieces on the digital version. Nice variety of literature pieces as well. Thank you!" -Donna H. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I really love this resource! It makes it simple for me to post assignments and pass them out. The questions that go along with the stories are thought provoking, but not so detailed that students require assistance understanding what the question is asking." -Katie B. Please download the preview for more information. The preview provides images of the Reading Literature Journal in action. Connect with Me SuperHERO Teacher Blog Find me on Facebook Find me on Instagram Find me on Pinterest Find me on Snapchat:  Superheroteach If you like this product, please leave feedback!

Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

Although I teach high school, I often teach short stories that work for middle school as well. If you need science fiction short stories for middle school or science fiction short stories for high school, here's a good—but nowhere close to exhaustive— list. Science Fiction Short Stories for Middle School Could you use these science

Make students laugh while also teaching satire, irony, and other literary devices.

Dystopian short stories for middle school and high school - list of dystopian short stories to engage young readers.

Don't let your literature anthology dictate the short stories you read with your middle school and high school students. There are so many wonderful short stories out there, many of which can be used to teach a variety of literary elements and paired with other texts. Read on for 13 of my favorites, which literary terms and skills they lend themselves to teaching, plus suggested text pairings and activities.

Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

Short stories for middle school - a list of the best short stories for your middle school classroom with tips and teaching ideas.

Short stories definitely have their place in the middle school English classroom. These short works of literature can grab a reader's a...

As much as English teachers love novels, I am beginning to see a decline in how many novels students read each year in the classroom. This post is in no way

If you’re teaching foreshadowing and suspense in your Middle School ELA classroom, you need some compelling short stories. Thankfully, there are TONS of incredible short stories you can use that your students will really enjoy. The great thing about teaching foreshadowing and suspense is that the stories you can use as examples are usually incredibly

Short stories definitely have their place in the middle school English classroom. These short works of literature can grab a reader's attention right from the start, making them great for reluctant readers, whose patience and attention spans can often run short; while they can be enjoyed by all students, they are perfect for the kids who are unable (or unwilling) to tackle an entire novel. Great short stories can be used to teach literary elements and critical thinking skills, and lay the groundwork for engaging classroom discussions and writing assignments. Many of my favorite short stories have twist endings, and are great for teaching careful reading; while the endings often jolt the reader, the author usually gives enough hints along the way to give the reader the chance to figure out what is going to happen. It is hard to beat a good twist ending when it comes to engagement. Too often I find that teachers limit the stories they use in their classrooms to those they can find in their classroom literature anthology. There are so many amazing stories out there, just waiting to be taught! As a true lover of the short story, I have dedicated my teaching career to collecting some of the very best, and have created my own personal classroom anthology. As many full text versions of short stories can be found for free online, I simply googled the title of each of the short stories I wanted, made copies, and put them all together in a duotang. I now have a classroom set of my favorites that I can use when the mood strikes, and can add (and subtract) new short stories as I discover them. I have included some of my very favorite short stories below. These are stories that I have used with my middle schoolers for many years - all are guaranteed to be highly engaging, and promise to raise questions and instigate great discussions in your classroom. Included are links to online versions of the stories, so you can check them out yourself. I have only included a quick blurb about each, as I don't want to spoil the stories for those of you who are yet to discover them. The Necklace - Guy De Maupassant In this engaging short story, a woman borrows an expensive necklace from a wealthy friend, only to lose it. She then spends the rest of the story trying to repay her debt. With a surprising twist ending, this short work of classic literature is sure to engage your students. The characters in this story are very well developed, and make for great lessons on characterization. As the main character comes off quite spoiled and unlikable, it makes for an excellent class debate or writing assignment on whether or not she deserved her fate. Full text of the short story can be found here. Lamb to the Slaughter - Roald Dahl Roald Dahl is easily one of my favorite writers of all time. While his novels are amazing, his lesser known shown stories are equally as great. "Lamb to the Slaughter" focuses on a scorn woman, who murders her husband with a frozen leg of lamb. The rest of the story revolves around her trying to hide her guilt and conceal the evidence. This is certainly a creepy story, but I think that is exactly what makes it so appealing to students of this age group. I often use the story to teach persuasive essay writing, while having the kids debate about whether or not they think the main character should get away with the crimes. After reading, I always make sure to show the kids the Alfred Hitchcock version of the story on youtube - Mary's giggle at the end is haunting! Full text of the story can be found here. The Sniper - Liam O'Flaherty If you are looking for a way to draw in your reluctant male readers, this short story is it. With guns, war, and a little bit of violence, I found that it really appeals to a lot of the adolescent boys in my classes. The story revolves around a sniper sitting on a rooftop during the Irish Revolution; he gives away his place while lighting a cigarette, and knows he has to escape. The twist ending will leave your students open-mouthed, and always makes for great classroom discussion. The unexpected ending is a great opportunity to teach irony. I often integrate this story into my Social Studies curriculum, as use it as an introduction to our civil war unit. Full text of the story can be found here. Interlopers - Saki I only recently discovered this haunting short story, but it has quickly become one of my all time favorites. The story begins with the heads of two feuding families, hunting each other through the forest at night. Just as they are about to shoot each other, a large tree falls in the snowy forest, trapping both of them beneath it. The story has a great twist at the end that will leave your students gasping, making it a great story for teaching about irony and for reviewing plot. I also love to use it for teaching character motivation; the story begins with the characters being motivated by hatred, which quickly changes to the opposite. The misfortune of the events that unfold mature the men quickly, making a great teaching example of how empathy and understanding are the keys to conflict resolution. Full text of the story can be found here. The Chaser - John Collier In this very short story a young man purchases a love potion, and is pleased to discover that it only costs a very small amount. The merchant, however, has something more costly to offer him, should he need it in the future. This is one of my favorite stories to teach in February, as the whole love potion idea pairs well with Valentine's Day festivities. The story itself is only a page or two long, making it highly accessible to even your most struggling middle school readers. After reading the story, students soon discover that the title is a great play on words, which makes for engaging class discussion. For a full text version of the story, click here. The Story of an Hour - Kate Chopin This story begins when a woman is given news that her husband has died in a railroad accident. In the hour that follows, she contemplates her life while experiencing a wide range of emotions. Another story with a twist (can you tell I love twist endings?), students are always caught off guard by the ending, leading to great class discussions. The story easily lends itself to activities relating to symbolism, irony, and plot structure. Full text of the story can be found here. The Gift of the Magi - O. Henry In this story, a young couple low on funds try to find a way to get each other a special Christmas gift. This is one of my favorite stories to read around the holidays, as it has a beautiful message about giving, and the things we should value most. It is a great story to pair with a reading of A Christmas Carol, and is also great for reviewing plot, character motivation, and irony. Full text of the story can be found here. A Sound of Thunder - Ray Bradbury Set in the future, time travelers on a hunting expedition visit prehistoric times to shoot and kill a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The story explores the concept of the "Butterfly Effect", where one small action in the past can have massive consequences in the future. Students who have seen Groundhog Day will be familiar with the concept, but I find this story to be much darker. I usually have students complete a plot diagram to go along with this story, and make notes on the actions of the characters that make an impact on future events. This story is a bit longer than some of the ones I mentioned above, but I have found that the kids get hooked into the story right from the start, making them not mind the length as much. This story is a great way to hook some of your reluctant adolescent boys. This story pairs well with "Of Missing Persons" by Jack Finney, as both stories discuss the effects of time travel - although Finney's story is quite long, it is really one of my very favorites. Full text of "A Sound of Thunder" can be found here. Rain, Rain, Go Away - Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov is one of my favorite science fiction writers. His stories often have twist endings, and just the right amount of strange creepiness to make them extra appealing to this age group. When it comes to creepy and strange, "Rain, Rain, Go Away" does not disappoint. In the story, the main characters are curious about their new neighbors, who seem to be acting strangely. In an effort to get to know them better, they invite them on an outing to a local fair; after consuming massive amounts of cotton candy, panic ensues when an unforeseen rain storm catches the new neighbors off guard. This is an excellent story for teaching cause and effect and character changes over time. The story is also great for visualization, as the final scene really paints a picture in the minds of young students. Because of this, I often have my students illustrate before and after pictures of the neighbors. Full text of the story can be found here. The Most Dangerous Game - Richard Connell This is one of my favorite stories to teach about mood and suspense. In this engaging and tense story, a well known hunter crashes his boat into an almost deserted island, only to discover that the inhabitant likes to hunt humans. The beginning of the story is a great opportunity to teach students about how setting can help to create mood. The descriptions in the story are very visual, and I often have my students draw maps of the island, and show where key plot events in the story take place. This story is a definite favorite among middle school students. Full text of the story can be found here. Examination Day - Henry Seslar Don't let the fact that this story was originally published in Playboy (!??!) stop you from using it in your classroom! Its distopic version of the future makes it a hit with students interested in this genre. In the story, bright young Dickie is sent to write an exam that all children of the future must take. The story ends with a jolting twist, and lends itself to some interesting classroom discussion and writing activities about the nature of intelligence. Harrison Bergeron - Kurt Vonnegut I love pairing this story with Seslar's "Examination Day", as both stories are set in the future and discuss similar themes about intelligence. In this story, the people of the future have been given "handicaps" to make sure that everyone is equal. The story picks up when young Harrison Bergeron takes over a television program, revolting against the handicaps he has been given. This story lends itself to a great discussion about political propaganda; I usually end the unit by having the kids create their own propaganda posters for the main character in the story. A full text version of "Harrison Bergeron" can be found here. All Summer in a Day - Ray Bradbury When Margot moves from Earth to the rainy planet of Venus, she is bullied by the other children who are jealous of her for seeing the sun. As the first sunny day the planet has seen in many years approaches, the bullying intensifies, leading up to a heartbreaking finale. This is a great story to use when discussing bullying, as students tend to feel quite strongly for Margot, and can often make connections to their own lives. As it is set on a distant planet, it is also a great story to use when discussing setting. When we are done reading, I often show my students the movie version of the story, which can easily be found on youtube. The full text version of the story can be found here. The Birds - Daphne Du Maurier As this is the classic short story that Alfred Hitchcock's famous movie was based on, it makes for a great spooky story to use around Halloween. 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, and 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, and annotate the text as they go along. When the unit is complete, it is fun to show the students the classic Hitchcock movie, and compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the movie and story. While it was considered to be quite a scary movie when it was first released, it is quite tame by today's standards, and I have no problem showing it in my classroom. My students are so accustomed to the special effects of today's movies, that they usually find this movie quite hilarious to watch. A full text version of the story can be found here. The Elevator - William Sleator This story revolves a young boy named Martin, and his overwhelming fear of an overweight lady who climbs into his apartment elevator every time Martin boards. This is a great story to review plot, as the climax happens at the very end. I have found that my students often struggle to locate the climax of the story when it happens so late in the text, and this is a great way to help them practice with this. This story is definitely creepy, making it a hit with this age group. A full text version of the story can be found here. Hopefully you can make use of some of these fantastic short stories in your classroom! I will continue to add to this list as I discover more favorites. Looking for some resources to use along with these stories? This giant 88 page resource bundle is available in my Teachers Pay Teacher store, and contains 11 of my best selling short story resources, bundled together for a heavily discounted price. Resources to use with a variety of short stories are included, as well as detailed activities and notes to go along with the elements of literature. Perfect for your upcoming short story unit, this package has enough resources to keep kids engaged while learning about the literary elements. This 88 page package includes: -Short Story notes on the Elements of Literature -Literary Elements Flip Book Project -Short Story Poster Projects to go along with 10 different short stories -Additional worksheets to use with any of the included stories -Links to online versions of all stories -Detailed answer keys for all assignments. What are some of your favorite short stories to teach with middle school students?

Make students laugh while also teaching satire, irony, and other literary devices.