Scary Stories to Tell Aloud Grade level :3rd through 6th grade
Objectives:
- Have students recognize characters (protagonist/antagonist), setting, time, plot (beginning, middle, end)
- Have students understand the elements of dramatic performance
Trunk Materials:
- Sound effects items such as prerecorded CD or cassette tape
- A sample scary story to read aloud
- Set of 6 blank cassettes
- Prerecorded sample tape/CD of student story
Other helpful items not in the trunk:
- Blackboard
- 2 tape recorders, 1 to play sound effects, 1 to record the performance
- or 1 CD player + 1 tape recorder, CD to play sound effects and tape recorder to record performance
Set Begin by telling/reading or listening to a scary story (5 minutes)
Class discussion (5 minutes)
- "What makes a story scary?" Make the distinction between violent, bloody tales and truly frightening ones
- "What are you afraid of? What makes us afraid?" Make a list from class suggestions From this list students choose which they would like to use for their story
Planning and writing (15 minutes)
Students must determine:
- The list of characters Protagonists, Antagonists
- The Plot beginning, middle, end (happy ending or unhappy ending?)
- The setting and time
Recording the story (30 minutes)
Could be recorded with a cassette recorder
Could be recorded digitally on a computer and burned on a CD
Closure: Listen back if possible Discussion what did students learn? Could you do this at home?Product: A CD or tape to be included with anthology. Also see "Clear Lake" and "Myers"