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Grade 8 Curriculum

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The setting is the time and place where the story takes place. This includes the landscape, buildings, and weather to create the stage where the story unfolds.

Conflict is a struggle. It may be between people, aspects of nature, society, emotions, health, etc..

  • Internal conflicts occur within a character where values or traits are in opposition to each other.
  • Human vs. Human
  • Human vs. Nature
  • Human vs. Society
  • Human vs. Self (Internal Conflict)
  • Human vs. Fate or Destiny (seemingly External Conflict)

The theme within a story is a central idea, belief, insight, or lesson

Discussion :

  • Who is Charles? - How do you know?
  • When did she realize?
  • When did you realize?
  • Dramatic irony -opposite or contrast between what reader thinks is going on and what is really. There is irony in that the family finds Charles so fascinating -glorifying the misbehaviors through phrases like "Pulling a Charles" while not realizing they were giving Laurie the attention he desired.
  • What else did you find humorous? Why do we enjoy mischief and pranks in class? Why is a rebel often idolized? They break the rules! We get to live outside the box and not follow the rules.
  • Misbehavior, attitude.
  • Staying after school - "And so all the children stayed to watch him" Was this true?
  • The mischievous child
  • The concerned, relaxed, clueless, parents
  • What is the stereotype of the teacher?
  • Reader sympathy - who do you feel sympathetic towards? Why Charles, Laurie, parents (anyone?)
  • Why did Laurie do the things he did? What do you think he learned? What happens next?
  • What do you think of how the parents dealt with their son? What should they have done differently? What will they do now?

Copyright © 2024 Michael Seifert     (About me)

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This page features 22 of my favorite short stories with questions . These reading activities are perfect for classroom use. Written by some of the greatest authors in history, these stories are short enough to cover in a single class period, and rich enough to warrant study. I tried to select stories that students would find highly interesting. I chose stories with ironic endings, interesting twists, and clever plot movements . This collection will nurture your students' love of reading and storytelling. I also prepared ten multiple-choice and long response questions for each text. These questions cover a range of reading skills from comprehension and inferring to interpreting themes and identifying figurative language techniques.

These reading activities are available in both the old-school paper format (.RTF and .PDF) and the updated Ereading Worksheet format . With the print-out versions, I optimized to reduce paper use. Most of these fit onto 4 sides. With the new Ereading Worksheets (online versions), I was not limited by paper sides, and was able to ask follow-up short response questions to each multiple-choice. I recommend that you use these if you have the tech at your disposal. They can be completed on any Internet connected device. Students receive instant feedback, and they can print, save, or email score sheets . They can also share their results on Facebook. These activities are easy to integrate with Google Classroom . Definitions of challenging vocabulary words can be found with one click. And perhaps most importantly, these activities are more accessible to students with disabilities . Without further introduction, I present 22 of my favorite short stories with questions, available as worksheets and online activities.

This is a preview image of "Two Leaves". Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.

I hope that these stories and resources help you accomplish your goals. Please let me know if you find any errors or have any feedback. Leave a comment below or contact me directly at [email protected] . Thank you for visiting my website.

This is a picture of an old library with a bunch of antique books on the floor. They are open and the pages are leafing. No person is in the picture.

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75 Best Short Stories To Teach in Middle School

When attention spans are short, these do the trick!

Girl in library reading the best short stories for middle school.

Short stories are a perfect teaching tool for middle schoolers. Because they require less time to read, they’re an easy way to expose your students to new authors and genres. Also, between stylistic intricacies and plot twists, short stories hook readers and hold middle schoolers’ attention like nothing else.

We’ve compiled this list of short stories that are great for teaching middle schoolers. Links to each story are included below (they are sometimes scanned reproductions). Always remember to check in advance for typos, and be sure to respect copyright protections. Finally, before you bring these short stories for middle schoolers to your classroom, make sure the material (and whatever twist ending is in store) is previewed and appropriate.

Best Short Stories for Middle Schoolers

1. “ recitatif ” by toni morrison, “the minute i walked in and the big bozo introduced us, i got sick to my stomach. it was one thing to be taken out of your own bed early in the morning—it was something else to be stuck in a strange place with a girl from a whole other race.”.

Why I love this: Morrison’s stated goal in this short story, which begins in an orphanage, was to remove “all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial.” Also, it’s perfect for studying style and spurring conversation.

2. “ Stone Animals ” by Kelly Link

“carleton was serious about how he played. tilly sat on the landing, reading a book, legs poking out through the railings. whenever carleton ran past, he thumped her on the head, but tilly never said a word. carleton would be sorry later, and never even know why.”.

Why I love this: It’s another one of those longer short stories that is so rich with stylistic and narrative elements that it can serve as a short novel unit.

3. “ A Sound of Thunder ” by Ray Bradbury

“‘does this safari guarantee i come back alive’”, “‘we guarantee nothing,’” said the official, ‘except the dinosaurs.’”.

"'We guarantee nothing,’" said the official, 'except the dinosaurs.’"

Why I love this: It’s rich with descriptive language and fast-paced, dialogue-heavy action. This story unfolds its terrible tension to reveal a perfect ending.

4. “ The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street ” by Rod Serling

“maple street. 6:44 p.m., on a late september evening. maple street in the last calm and reflective moments … before the monsters came”.

Why I love this: Reading a play can be a wonderful classroom management trick. For example, let the talkative kids ham it up, let the quiet kids just follow along, and let the sound-effects kids do their thing.

5. “ Hearts and Hands ” by O. Henry

“among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. the two were handcuffed together.”.

Why I love this: Even though O. Henry’s language can be tough for kids today, “Hearts and Hands” is quick and clear and hits exactly as you want his stories to hit.

6. “ The Fir Tree ” by Hans Christian Andersen

“and the wind kissed the tree, and the dew wept tears over him; but the fir understood it not.”.

Why I love this: It’s a poetic fairy tale, and it’s great for teaching theme. Expect that short stories like this one will make middle schoolers get mad at you, though.

7. “ The Necklace ” by Guy de Maupassant

“the sight of the little breton girl who came to do the work in her little house aroused heart-broken regrets and hopeless dreams in her mind.”.

Why I love this: It’s great for honors students and for teaching how to write compelling characterization.

8. “ The Story of an Hour ” by Kate Chopin

“knowing that mrs. mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”.

Why I love this: It’s a perfect anchor text for a discussion assignment.

9. “ The Library of Babel ” Jorge Luis Borges

“like all men of the library, i have traveled in my youth; i have wandered in search of a book, perhaps the catalogue of catalogues; now that my eyes can hardly decipher what i write, i am preparing to die just a few leagues from the hexagon in which i was born.”.

Why I love this: Read it with the students, and then dive into magical realism or fantasy.

10. “ The Circuit ” by Francisco Jiménez

“it was that time of year again. ito, the strawberry sharecropper, did not smile. it was natural. the peak of the strawberry season was over and the last few days the workers, most of them braceros, were not picking as many boxes as they had during the months of june and july.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: We enjoy doing this as a read-aloud, to lead into reflective writing or discussion.

11. “ The Paper Menagerie ” by Ken Liu

“i didn’t know this at the time, but mom’s breath was special. she breathed into her paper animals so that they shared her breath, and thus moved with her life. this was her magic.”.

Why I love this: It’s subtle, which makes it exciting for students to discover elements of craft.

12. “ Flipped ” by Wendelin Van Draanen

“all i’ve ever wanted is for juli baker to leave me alone. for her to back off—you know, just give me some space.”, “the first day i met bryce loski, i flipped. honestly, one look at him and i became a lunatic. it’s his eyes. something in his eyes. they’re blue, and framed in the blackness of his lashes, they’re dazzling. absolutely breathtaking.”.

Why I love this: We can explore how different points of view affect our understanding, and it’s a very accessible text for middle school students.

13. “ The Open Window ” by H.H. Munro (Saki)

“framton shivered slightly and turned towards the niece with a look intended to convey sympathetic comprehension. the child was staring out through the open window with dazed horror in her eyes.”.

Why I love this: It’s flexible enough for everything from a Halloween read-aloud or a close reading for setting, theme, and characterization.

14. “ The Masque of the Red Death ” by Edgar Allan Poe

“before the clock was quiet again, many in the crowd saw that in the first room, the blue room, there was a masquerader who had not been seen before.”.

Why I love this: Because Poe should be included in every list of short stories for middle schoolers. Also, Death is a character, and it’s a wonderful example of descriptive writing.

15. “ The Ransom of Red Chief ” by O. Henry

“we chose for our victim the only child of an influential citizen named ebenezer dorset. … the kid was a boy of ten, with bas-relief freckles, and hair the colour of the cover of the magazine you buy at the new-stand. … bill and me figured that ebenezer would melt down for a ransom of two thousand dollars to a cent. but wait till i tell you.”.

Why I love this: It’s hilarious, because it’s basically Home Alone set in the Old West.

16. “ Fixed Income ” by Sherman Alexie

“these are desperate times, and i’m not as desperate as a lot of people, but i’m desperate enough to need this job.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: Filled with Alexie’s trademark style, it’s a quick look at the generation gap and perfect for a read-aloud or studying characterization. Like his other story on this list, the text we chose is edited to be more school-appropriate.

17. “ The Wife’s Story ” by Ursula K. Le Guin

“he was a good husband, a good father. i don’t understand it. i don’t believe in it. i don’t believe that it happened. i saw it happen but it isn’t true. it can’t be.”.

Why I love this: We savor the slow realization that the people in the story might not be exactly what they seem.

18. “ First-Day Fly ” by Jason Reynolds

“how were you supposed to know geometry is apparently more important than your drip how are you supposed to hear anything mrs. montgomery had to say about triangles and diameters and whatever a hypotenuse is when your sneakers are practically bleeding to death”.

Why I love this: It’s an adventurous reflection, rich with details and style.

19. “ On the Sidewalk Bleeding ” by Evan Hunter

“he lay on the sidewalk, bleeding, and he thought only: that was a fierce rumble. they got me good that time , but he did not know he was dying.”.

Why I love this: We learn how it ends right in the beginning. This piques students’ curiosity so they continue to read with attention and curiosity.

20. “ The Bet ” by Anton Chekhov

“execution kills instantly, life-imprisonment kills by degrees. who is the more humane executioner, one who kills you in a few seconds or one who draws the life out of you incessantly, for years”.

Why I love this: It has all the ethical questions of the best Russian novels.

21. “ My Favorite Chaperone ” by Jean Davies Okimoto

“it’s like that in america. it’s a place where things can change for people, and many people always seem to have hope. at least that’s how it seems to me. maybe i was beginning to think this way, too, although my hope was very small.”.

Why I love this: It’s long enough for a mini-unit, and it’s great for teaching the basics of storytelling and style.

22. “ The Treasure of Lemon Brown ” by Walter Dean Myers

“greg thought he heard the noise again. his stomach tightened as he held himself still and listened intently. there weren’t any more scraping noises, but he was sure he had heard something in the darkness—something breathing”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: WDM’s universe is immediately accessible for many middle school kids, and this story gives us a chance to expand the unit into a study of the blues and all the musical genres it inspired, unleashing all kinds of creative project possibilities.

23. “ Seventh Grade ” by Gary Soto

“on the way to his homeroom, victor tried a scowl. he felt foolish, until out of the corner of his eye he saw a girl looking at him. umm, he thought, maybe it does work. he scowled with greater conviction.”.

Why I love this: This story captures the middle school experience so well, and Soto always does such a great job integrating diverse voices into his work.

24. “ Flowers for Algernon ” by Daniel Keyes

“then i said if i had my glases i coud see better i usally only ware my glases in the movies or tv but i said they are in the closit in the hall. i got them. then i said let me see that card agen i bet ill find it now.”.

Why I love this: The story of an intellectually disabled man who is temporarily able to blend into “normal” society brings out great questions, even for today’s students.

25. “ Everyday Use ” by Alice Walker

“in real life i am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands. in the winter i wear flannel nightgowns to bed and overalls during the day. i can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man.”.

Why I love this: If you’re looking for short stories for middle schoolers to teach descriptive characterizations, Walker’s text serves as a wonderful model.

26. “ Lamb to the Slaughter ” by Roald Dahl

“the room was warm and clean, the curtains drawn, the two table lamps alight. … on the sideboard behind her, two tall glasses, soda water, whiskey. … mary maloney was waiting for her husband to come home from work.”.

Why I love this: It shakes up kids’ perceptions of Dahl, whom they know from “James and the Giant Peach” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

27. “ One Friday Morning ” by Langston Hughes

“casually, one day, miss dietrich asked nancy lee what color frame she thought would be best on her picture. that had been the first inkling.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: It’s a compelling and troubling story that ends with a note of inspiration, which is what all our students need right now.

28. “ A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings ” by Gabriel García Márquez

“the light was so weak at noon that when pelayo was coming back to the house after throwing away the crabs, it was hard for him to see what it was that was moving and groaning in the rear of the courtyard. he had to go very close to see that it was an old man, a very old man, lying face down in the mud, who, in spite of his tremendous efforts, couldn’t get up, impeded by his enormous wings.”.

Why I love this: Exploring Márquez’s magical realism is an exciting, eye-opening experience for students.

29. “ Charles ” by Shirley Jackson

“‘why did charles hit the teacher’ i asked quickly., ‘because she tried to make him color with red crayons,’ laurie said. ‘charles wanted to color with green crayons so he hit the teacher and she spanked him and said nobody play with charles but everybody did.’”.

Why I love this: It validates the experience of students who don’t play by the rules, and it’s still got the perfect twist ending.

30. “ Click Clack the Rattlebag ” by Neil Gaiman

“we walked along the upper corridor in the shadows, walking from patch of moonlight to patch of moonlight. it really was a big house. i wished i had a flashlight.”.

Why I love this: Students simply love it. Period. Gaiman knows how to write for today’s kids, and this story never fails to hold their attention from the drop.

31. “ Names/Nombres ” by Julia Alvarez

“at the hotel my mother was missus alburest, and i was little girl , as in, ‘hey, little girl, stop riding the elevator up and down. it’s not a toy.’”.

Why I love this: It’s less a short story than an anecdotal essay about the words we use to identify one another, especially our loved ones. It’s one of those short stories for middle schoolers that’s perfect for starting the school year.

32. “ To Build a Fire ” by Jack London

“that was because the sun was absent from the sky. this fact did not worry the man. he was not alarmed by the lack of sun. it had been days since he had seen the sun.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: It remains engaging, the pace is perfect for studying plot, and the style is a fun model for narratives.

33. “ The Fly ” by Katherine Mansfield

“the door shut, the firm heavy steps recrossed the bright carpet, the fat body plumped down in the spring chair, and leaning forward, the boss covered his face with his hands. he wanted, he intended, he had arranged to weep …”.

Why I love this: It’s a skillfully written riddle of a short story.

34. “ Geraldo No Last Name ” by Sandra Cisneros

“she met him at a dance. pretty too, and young. said he worked in a restaurant, but she can’t remember which one. geraldo.”.

Why I love this: It’s a great model to show students how to use words both economically and effectively.

35. “ Rules of the Game ” by Amy Tan

“i was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. it was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games.”.

Why I love this: We use it early in the school year as a subliminal recruitment tool for our chess team.

36. “ Liars Don’t Qualify ” by Junius Edwards

“will harris sat on the bench in the waiting room for another hour. his pride was not the only thing that hurt. he wanted them to call him in and get him registered so he could get out of there.”.

Why I love this: It’s a small story about a very big issue, and it’s driven by compelling dialogue.

37. “ The Sniper ” by Liam O’Flaherty

“on a rooftop near o’connell bridge, a republican sniper lay watching. beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulders was slung a pair of field glasses. his face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic.”.

Why I love this: The video game generation connects quickly to the setting, and the moral questions are worth talking about.

38. “ Civil Peace ” by Chinua Achebe

“he had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings—his head, his wife maria’s head, and the heads of three out of their four children. as a bonus he also had his old bicycle—a miracle too but naturally not to be compared to the safety of five human heads.”.

He had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings—his head, his wife Maria’s head, and the heads of three out of their four children. As a bonus he also had his old bicycle—a miracle too but naturally not to be compared to the safety of five human heads.- short stories for middle schoolers

Why I love this: There are opportunities to discuss point of view and theme and to explore countless research topics.

39. “ The Friday Everything Changed ” by Anne Hart

“tradition. in miss ralston’s class the boys have always carried the water bucket. until one day, the girls decide it’s time to challenge the rule.”.

Why I love this: What better way to empower young world-changers than a short story for middle schoolers about gender roles?

40. “ The Scholarship Jacket ” by Marta Salinas

“the next day when the principal called me into his office i knew what it would be about. he looked uncomfortable and unhappy. i decided i wasn’t going to make it any easier for him, so i looked him straight in the eyes. he looked away and fidgeted with the papers on his desk.”.

Why I love this: The limited first-person perspective of the young narrator provides an interesting window on racial and social politics.

41. “ Amigo Brothers ” by Piri Thomas

“antonio was fair, lean, and lanky, while felix was dark, short, and husky. antonio’s hair was always falling over his eyes, while felix wore his black hair in a natural afro style.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: It works as a great extension text if you’re examining sports fiction, buddy stories, ethical questions, or characterization.

42. “ And of Clay Are We Created ” by Isabel Allende

“in that vast cemetery where the odor of death was already attracting vultures from far away, and where the weeping of orphans and wails of the injured filled the air, the little girl obstinately clinging to life became the symbol of the tragedy.”.

Why I love this: Allende does historical fiction like no other.

43. “ Hills Like White Elephants ” by Ernest Hemingway

“it was very hot and the express from barcelona would come in forty minutes. it stopped at this junction for two minutes and went on to madrid.”.

Why I love this: Students can analyze craft, bias, and character development.

44. “ The Veldt ” by Ray Bradbury

“they walked down the hall of their happylife home, which had cost them thirty thousand dollars with everything included. this house which clothed and fed and rocked them to sleep and played and sang and was good to them.”.

Why I love this: Every student enjoys reading a story about getting revenge on their parents.

45. “ The Fun They Had ” by Isaac Asimov

“‘gee,’ said tommy, ‘what a waste. when you’re through with the book, you just throw it away, i guess. our television screen must have had a million books on it and it’s good for plenty more. i wouldn’t throw it away.’”.

Why I love it: This science-fiction story works wonderfully as a compare-and-contrast text or as a model for students’ own speculative narratives.

46. “ Harrison Bergeron ” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

“george and hazel were watching television. there were tears on hazel’s cheeks, but she’d forgotten for the moment what they were about. on the television screen were ballerinas.”.

Why I love this: The subversive genius of Kurt Vonnegut always provides essential lessons in style and critical thinking.

47. “ A Good Man Is Hard To Find ” by Flannery O’Connor

“‘in my time,’ said the grandmother, folding her thin veined fingers, ‘children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. people did right then.’”.

‘In my time,’ said the grandmother, folding her thin veined fingers, ‘children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. People did right then.’- short stories for middle schoolers

Why I love this: It really freaks out the kids when the grandmother meets her match in a twist that we see coming just in time to really feel the horror. If you’re looking for short stories that are engaging and rich for character study, this is the one for middle schoolers.

48. “ Eleven ” by Sandra Cisneros

“you open your eyes and everything’s just like yesterday, only it’s today. and you don’t feel eleven at all. you feel like you’re still ten. and you are—underneath the year that makes you eleven.”.

Why I love this: It’s an elegant work of fiction with poetic devices. And it’s adorable.

49. “ Thank You, Ma’am ” by Langston Hughes

“it was about eleven o’clock at night, and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse. the strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind.”.

Why I love this: It’s an example of an important lesson taught with firm grace and compassion. The beautiful characterization makes it a great text to study for technique.

50. “ Valediction ” by Sherman Alexie

“the next morning, we met up before school, and vowed to never do it again. one time was kind of innocent, but more than that would be criminal. but after practice that night, we did it again. then again the day after that. we shoplifted for a week.”.

Why I love this: Few writers do coming-of-age stories these days better than Alexie, and this has a solid lesson.

51. “ Girl ” by Jamaica Kincaid

“wash the white clothes on monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on tuesday and put them on the clothesline to dry; don’t walk bare-head in the hot sun; cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil …”.

Why I love this: It’s unconventional and accessible at the same time. I love exposing students to different types of narratives, because it really helps them extend their creative ideas.

52. “ When I Lay My Burden Down ” by Maya Angelou

“i remember never believing that whites were really real.”.

Why I love this: The narrative takes the ordinary American perspective and turns it on its head like only Ms. Angelou could do.

53. “ All Summer in a Day ” by Ray Bradbury

“it had been raining for seven years; thousands upon thousands of days compounded and filled from one end to the other with rain, with the drum and gush of water, with the sweet crystal fall of showers and the concussion of storms so heavy they were tidal waves come over the islands.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: You can align it to events in American history when it was written. In addition, you can use it to help students imagine their own versions of the future.

54. “ The Medicine Bag ” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

“i watched the group as it slowly came closer and saw that in the center of the strange procession was a man wearing a tall black hat. he’d pause now and then to peer at something in his hand and then at the houses on either side of the street. i felt cold and hot at the same time as i recognized the man. ‘oh, no’ i whispered. ‘it’s grandpa’”.

Why I love this: Short stories for middle schoolers that highlight the wisdom and experience of elders are always welcome in my classroom.

55. “ St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves ” by Karen Russell

“we’d arrived at st. lucy’s this morning, part of a pack fifteen-strong. we were accompanied by a mousy, nervous-smelling social worker, the baby-faced deacon, bartholomew the blue wolfhound, and four burly woodsmen.”.

Why I love this: Great literature about werewolves is a joy to teach.

56. “ Sweat ” by Zora Neale Hurston

“delia’s habitual meekness seemed to slip from her shoulders like a blown scarf. she was on her feet; her poor little body, her bare knuckly hands bravely defying the strapping hulk before her.”.

Why I love this: It’s for more advanced readers, and the dialect means it’s for culturally sensitive teachers in positive learning environments. But it’s an essential text.

57. “ Mother and Daughter ” by Gary Soto

“yollie’s mother, mrs. moreno, was a large woman who wore a muu-muu and butterfly-shaped glasses. she liked to water her lawn in the evening and wave at low-riders, who would stare at her behind their smoky sunglasses and laugh.”.

Why I love this: It causes students to examine their relationships with family.

58. “ The Tell-Tale Heart ” by Edgar Allan Poe

“if still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when i describe the wise precautions i took for the concealment of the body. the night waned, and i worked hastily, but in silence. first of all i dismembered the corpse. i cut off the head and the arms and the legs.”.

Why I love this: It has a ghost story with an unreliable narrator, terrifying action, and no ghost.

59. “ The Hitchhiker ” by Lucille Fletcher

“i was born in brooklyn. all this i know. i know i’m at this moment perfectly sane, that it is not me that’s gone mad, but something else, something utterly beyond my control.”.

"I was born in Brooklyn. All this I know. I know I'm at this moment perfectly sane, that it is not me that's gone mad, but something else, something utterly beyond my control."

Why I love this: It’s fun to perform in class. Also, you can pair this with the Twilight Zone version to analyze craft and perspective.

60. “ The Landlady ” by Roald Dahl

“he walked briskly down the street. he was trying to do everything briskly these days. briskness, he had decided, was the one common characteristic of all successful businessmen.”.

Why I love this: I get the chills just thinking about this story. Students love that too.

61. “ The Smallest Dragonboy ” by Anne McCaffrey

“dragonriders, even if they were still only hopeful candidates for the glowing eggs which were hardening on the hot sands of the hatching ground cavern, were expected to be punctual and prepared.”.

Why I love this: It’s simply a beautiful story, and kids love the fantasy/sci-fi motifs.

62. “ The Scarlet Ibis ” by James Hurst

“it was i who renamed him. when he crawled, he crawled backwards, as if he were in reverse and couldn’t change gears. if you called him, he’d turn around as if he were going in the other direction, then he’d back right up to you to be picked up. crawling backward made him look like a doodlebug, so i began to call him doodle.”.

Why I love this: It’s one of those short stories for middle schoolers that’s straight-up heartbreaking, so be prepared for that, but it’s also rich with symbolism and character development.

63. “ My First Free Summer ” by Julia Alvarez

“i never had summer—i had summer school. first grade, summer school. second grade, summer school. thirdgradesummerschoolfourthgradesummerschool. in fifth grade, i vowed i would get interested in fractions, the presidents of the united states, mesopotamia; i would learn my english.”.

Why I love this: It’s Julia Alvarez, which means the kids don’t even realize they’re reading. In fact, they’re just experiencing her point of view, which is always engaging.

64. “ The Lottery ” by Shirley Jackson

“the lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen club, the halloween program—by mr. summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities. he was a round-faced, jovial man and he ran the coal business, and people were sorry for him because he had no children and his wife was a scold.”.

Why I love this: It connects to familiar dystopian stories, and it sharpens reading skills.

65. “ The Gift of the Magi ” by O. Henry

“one dollar and eighty-seven cents. that was all. and sixty cents of it was in pennies. pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. three times della counted it. one dollar and eighty-seven cents. and the next day would be christmas.”.

short story assignment grade 8

Why I love this: It’s a classic story students can rewrite their own updates for.

66. “ The Gold Cadillac ” by Mildred Taylor

“‘we got us a cadillac we got us a cadillac’ wilma and i proclaimed in unison.”.

Why I love this: The idea of cars as status symbols is immediately familiar to today’s students.

67. “ Fish Cheeks ” by Amy Tan

“when i found out that my parents had invited the minister’s family over for christmas eve dinner, i cried. what would robert think of our shabby chinese christmas what would he think of our noisy chinese relatives who lacked proper american manners”.

Why I love this: Point of view matters in short stories for middle schoolers.

68. “ The Most Dangerous Game ” by Richard Connell

“an abrupt sound startled him. off to the right he heard it, and his ears, expert in such matters, could not be mistaken. again he heard the sound, and again. somewhere, off in the blackness, someone had fired a gun three times.”.

Why I love this: You know the story. Aside from its twisted morals, it offers an example in building plot tension.

69. “ Sol Painting, Inc. ” by Meg Medina

“papi and i have a long-term business plan. i’m going to take over his company one day and turn it into an empire. home depot will eat my dust. i’ve already designed my business cards. they’ve got a sun rising and fancy gold letters: merci suarez, ceo, sol painting, inc.”.

Why I love this: It appeals to many students for whom so much of our content lacks relevance. In addition, the narrator’s voice is so compelling.

70. “ Main Street ” by Jacqueline Woodson

“as i watched (the plow), pressing against the window, i said to my father, ‘i want to move through the world that quietly, that powerfully.’”.

As I watched (the plow), pressing against the window, I said to my father, 'I want to move through the world that quietly, that powerfully.’

Why I love this: It works as a close-read text. In addition, it’s a profoundly well-developed story.

71. “ Raymond’s Run ” by Toni Cade Bambara

“i don’t have much work to do around the house like some girls. my mother does that. and i don’t have to earn my pocket money by hustling; george runs errands for the big boys and sells christmas cards. and anything else that’s got to get done, my father does. all i have to do in life is mind my brother raymond, which is enough.”.

Why I love this: Middle school students know what it means to stand by your family, and this story leads to great conversations about theme.

72. “ The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas ” by Ursula Le Guin

“do you believe do you accept the festival, the city, the joy no then let me describe one more thing.”.

Why I love this: It’s more of a proposition than a story. As a result, students can explore meaning and consider the ethical questions Le Guin raises.

73. “ What’s the Worst That Could Happen? ” by Bruce Coville

“if thirteen is supposed to be an unlucky number, what does it mean that we are forced to go through an entire year with that as our age i mean, you would think a civilized society could just come up with a way for us to skip it.”.

Why I love this: What’s not to love about awkward teenage experiences?

74. “ The Monkey’s Paw ” by William Wymark Jacobs

“he took something out of his pocket and held it out for them. mrs. white drew back with a look of disgust, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.”.

He took something out of his pocket and held it out for them. Mrs. White drew back with a look of disgust, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously. short stories for middle schoolers

Why I love this: It’s an important lesson, and the dialogue-driven text is engaging for students.

75. “ The Boo Hag ” by Veronica Byrd

“but emmet had his eyes set on a beautifully mysterious young woman who lived alone in a small cabin deep in the marsh. she was incredibly beautiful, with long dark hair, smooth skin and piercing green eyes. but word around town was that she was a little strange, and it was best to stay away from her.”.

Why I love this: It connects short stories with the tradition of oral storytelling.

Searching for more short stories for middle schoolers?

Check out these recommendations for short stories middle schoolers will love compiled by the Seattle Public Library , the  Short Story Guide , and  Barnes & Noble.

Plus, we love these anthologies that include short stories for middle schoolers: A Thousand Beginnings and Endings compiled by We Need Diverse Books’ Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, and Meet Cute: Some People Are Destined To Meet by Jennifer Armentrout, Nicola Yoon, Ibi Zoboi, et al.

If you like these short stories for middle schoolers, don’t miss our list of favorite middle school poems too.

Want more articles like this be sure to subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted.

The best short stories for middle schoolers to hold their attention and encourage them to read more. Recommended by teachers!

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Literacy Ideas

Short Story Writing for Students and Teachers

short story writing guide

What Is a Short Story?

The clue is in the title!

Short stories are like novels only…well…shorter! They contain all the crucial elements of fully developed stories except on a smaller scale.

In short story writing, you’ll find the key story elements such as characterization, plot development, themes explored, etc., but all within a word count that can usually be comfortably read in one sitting.

Short stories are just one of many storytelling methods; like the others, they help us derive meaning from our world.

Visual Writing Prompts

How Do Short Stories Differ From Novels?

The reduced scale of a short story explains most of the differences the form has with longer forms such as novels.

Short stories usually have a tighter focus on a single main character and rarely shift between perspectives the way we often find in longer works of fiction.

Space is of the essence in this form, so long passages of exposition are usually avoided and the story starting at the last possible moment.

In purely numerical terms, short stories can be anywhere between about 1,000 to around 20,000 words or so, though many would consider even 10,000 too long.

A short novel clocks in at around 60,000 words, with word counts between 20-60,000 words being taken up by that red-headed stepchild of prose, the novella.

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

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A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

How to Write a Short Story

Good storytelling is an art. But, luckily it’s a craft too and, like any craft, the skills and techniques can be learned by anyone.

In this article, we’ll first take a look at some ways to kickstart the short story writing process, before taking a look at some of the structural considerations essential for students to understand before they write their short stories.

We’ll also explore some simple practical activities that will help students to draw on their creative resources and personal experiences to help bring their stories to life.

Finally, we’ll look at some general tips to help students put a final polish on their masterpieces before they share them with the world.

How t o begin a story

short story writing | short story writing guide | Short Story Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

Create a Dramatic Question

The first thing a student needs to do when writing a short story is to create a dramatic question. Without a dramatic question, readers will have no motivation to read on as there will be no story .

This dramatic question can take many forms, but as it will be the driver of the plot, it will be the single most important element of the story.

Take the movie Rocky as an example. In it, an aging journeyman boxer, Rocky Balboa, answers two dramatic questions:

1. Will Rocky find love?

2. Can he become the Heavyweight Champion of the World?

Often the dramatic question is of this will she/won’t she type. But, whatever form it takes, there must be some obstacles put in the way of answering it.

These obstacles can come in the form of an external obstacle, such as an antagonist or a negative environment, or the form of an internal obstacle, such as heartbreak or grief.

This is the conflict that creates the crucial element of suspense necessary to engage the reader’s interest.

Whatever form a student’s dramatic question takes, it will provide the plot impetus and how the student will explore their story’s theme.

Practice Activity: Identify the Dramatic Question

It is good practice for students to attempt to identify the dramatic question any time they read a book or watch a movie. Ask the students to think of some classic or popular books and movies that they are already familiar with. Can they extract the major dramatic question from each?

Find Inspiration in the World Around

One of the most common complaints from students, when asked to write a short story, is that they don’t know what to write about. This is the age-old curse of writer’s block.

Figuring out what to write about is the first hurdle students will need to overcome. Luckily, the inspiration for stories lies everywhere. We just need to help students to know where to look.

As writers, students must learn to see the world around them with the freshness of the eyes of a young child. This requires them to pay close attention to the world around them; to slow things down enough to catch the endless possibilities for stories that exist all around.

Luckily, we have the perfect activity to help our students to do this.

Practice Activity: Breathe Life into the Story

We can find stories and the details for our stories everywhere.

Students need to tune their ear to the fragments of stories in snatches of overheard daily conversations. They need to pay enough attention to catch their own daydreaming what-ifs on the bus to school or to keep an eye out for all those little human interest stories in the local newspaper.

Once the living details of life are noticed, students need to capture them quickly by recording them in a journal. This journal will become a great resource for the student to dip into for inspiration while writing their stories.

Those half-heard conversations, those anecdotes of street life witnessed through a bus window, the half-remembered dreams scribbled down while gulping down a rushed breakfast. All these can provide jumping-off points and rich detail for a student’s short story.

Outline and Prepare

Preparation is important when writing a short story. Without a doubt. There is, however, a very real danger of preparation becoming procrastination for our student writers.

Students must learn to make their preparation time count. The writing process is much more productive if students invest some time in brainstorming and organizing their ideas at the start.

To organize their short story, students will need to understand the basic elements of structure described in the next section, but the following activity will first help them to access some of the creative gold in their imaginations. The discipline of structure can be applied afterward.

Practice Activity: Dig for Nuggets

For this activity, give each student a large piece of paper, such as a leaf from an artist’s sketchbook, to brainstorm their ideas. Employing a large canvas like this encourages more expansive thinking.

Instruct students to use colored pens to write sentences, phrases, and fragments, even doodles. Anything that helps them to dump the contents of their mind onto the paper. This is all about sifting through the rubble for those nuggets of gold. Students shouldn’t censor themselves, but instead, allow their mind’s free reign.

To help your students get started, you can provide them with some prompts or questions as jumping-off points. For example:

  • What is your basic premise?
  • What is the story about?
  • Who are your main characters?
  • Where is your story set?  

Encourage students to generate their own questions too by allowing their minds ample room to roam. Generating new questions in this way will help them gather momentum for the telling of their tale.

SHORT STORY WRITING STRUCTURE

Even getting off to a great start, students often find themselves in difficulties by the middle of their story, especially if they haven’t achieved a firm grasp of structure yet.

The main elements students will need to master are plot, theme, and character development.

In this section, we’ll take a look at each of these in turn.

short story writing | structuring a short story 1 | Short Story Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

Plot refers to the events of the story. This is the what of the tale. It’s useful for students to understand the arc of the plot in five sections: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Exposition: This is the introductory part of your story. It should introduce the reader to the central characters and orientate them to the setting.

Rising Action: Here the student begins by introducing the central dramatic question which will be the engine of the story. A series of obstacles must be placed in the way of the main character that will increase suspense and tension as the story moves forward toward the climax.

Climax: The climax is the dramatic high point of the story. This is where interest peaks and the emotions rise to their most intense.

Falling Action: Now the conflict is resolving and we are being led out to the story’s end.

Resolution: The central dramatic question has been answered, usually in either a happy or tragic manner, and many loose ends are tied up.

Practice Activity: Instruct students to use the five-part plot structure above to map an outline for their tale before writing .

If the plot consists of the series of events that constitute the story, then the theme refers to what those events mean.

The theme of a story is the underlying message of the story.

What is the ‘big idea’ behind all the action of the plot? This is open to a certain amount of interpretation on the part of the reader, but usually, a little reflection by the student writer will reveal what the events of the plot mean to them.

If, as described in the introduction, stories are how we derive meaning from the world, the theme will reveal the writer’s perspective on things.

Practice Activity: Organize students into groups and ask them to list their Top 5 movies or books of all time. Instruct them to briefly outline the main plot points using the plot structure above. When they’ve completed that, instruct the students to discuss what they think the main themes of each of the works of fiction were.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING STORY ELEMENTS

short story writing | Story Elements Teaching Unit | Short Story Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

☀️This HUGE resource provides you with all the TOOLS, RESOURCES , and CONTENT to teach students about characters and story elements.

⭐ 75+ PAGES of INTERACTIVE READING, WRITING and COMPREHENSION content and NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

Character Development IN SHORT STORY WRITING

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No doubt about it, characterization is essential to the success of any short story. Just how important characterization is will depend on whether the story is plot-driven or action-driven.

In the best writing, regardless of genre or length, the characters will be at least plausible. There is a lot that students can do to ensure their stories are populated with more than just cardboard cutouts.

One effective way to do this is to reveal a character through their actions. This is the old show, don’t tell trick at work.

A good short story writer will allow the character to reveal their temperament and personality through their actions.

For example, instead of merely describing a character as putting a mug on the table, perhaps they bring it down with a thud that betrays their anger.

Another great way to reveal character is in the use of dialogue. How characters speak to each other in a story can reveal a lot about their status, mood, and intent, etc.

Our students must learn to draw complex characters. Archetypes may serve us well in some contexts, but archetypes are not real people. They are caricatures. If our students want to people their fictional world with real people, they need to create complex, even contradictory characters, just like you and I are.

If their characters are too consistent, they are too predictable. Predictability kills suspense, which in turn kills the reader’s interest.

Practice Activity: Reveal Mood through Action

For this simple activity, provide the students with a list of emotions. Now, challenge the students to concoct a short scene where a character performs an action or actions that reveal the chosen mood.

To start, you might allow the students a paragraph in which to reveal the emotion. You might reduce this to just a sentence or two as they get better at it. Remind students that they need to show the emotion, not tell it!

HOW TO POLISH AND REFINE A SHORT STORY

Now students have already had a look at how to begin and how to structure a story, we’ll take a look at a few quick tips on how they can polish their stories generally – especially during the editing process.

Write Convincing Dialogue:

For students, investing time in learning how to write great dialogue is time well spent.

Not only is well-written dialogue great for revealing character, but it will break up intimidating walls of text too.

Dialogue is a great way to move the story forward and to provide subtle exposition.

 As mentioned earlier, journals are the perfect place to dump interesting snatches of conversation that become a valuable resource for writing convincing dialogue – except, of course, if you are passing through North Korea or the like!

Vary Sentence Length:

 When finished with their first drafts, encourage students to read their work out loud when editing and rewriting.

Often, students will be surprised to realize just how regular the rhythm of their sentences has become.

Like musicians, writers have chops. It’s easy to fall back on the same few favored structures time and again. Students can do a lot to spice up their writing simply by varying sentence lengths.

Shorter sentences are pacier and punchier while longer sentences can slow things down, calming the reader, then, boom!

Varying sentence length throughout a story prevents the writing from becoming stale and monotonous.

Punctuation:

As with varying sentence length above, the rhythm of a story can be altered through the choice of punctuation.

Students can think of punctuation as musical notation marks. It’s designed to help the reader understand the composer’s intention for how it is to be read and interpreted.

Students should understand punctuation as an imperfect but effective tool. Its use affects not only the work’s rhythm but also the meaning.

It is well worth the student’s time to perfect their use of punctuation.

To Conclude                                                  

There are a lot of moving parts to short stories.

From the nuts and bolts of grammar and punctuation to crafting a plot and exploring big thematic ideas, mastering the art of short story writing takes time and lots of practice.

With so much ground to cover, it’s impossible to address every aspect in a single unit of work on short story writing.

Be sure to offer students opportunities to see the short story in action in the work of accomplished writers, as well as opportunities to practice the various aspects of short story writing mentioned above.

Draw attention to writing best practices when they appear even in work unrelated to the short story.

Lots of time and plenty of practice might just reveal a latter-day O. Henry or Edgar Allen Poe sat in one of the desks right in front of you.

SHORT STORY WRITING CHECKLIST BUNDLE

writing checklists

SHORT STORY WRITING VIDEO TUTORIAL

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The content for this page has been written by Shane Mac Donnchaidh.  A former principal of an international school and English university lecturer with 15 years of teaching and administration experience. Shane’s latest Book, The Complete Guide to Nonfiction Writing , can be found here.  Editing and support for this article have been provided by the literacyideas team.

Free Printable Analyzing Story Structure Worksheets for 8th Grade

Analyzing Story Structure: Discover a collection of free printable worksheets for Grade 8 Reading & Writing teachers, designed to help students delve into the intricacies of story structure and enhance their comprehension skills.

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Explore printable Analyzing Story Structure worksheets for 8th Grade

Analyzing Story Structure worksheets for Grade 8 are essential tools for teachers looking to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets are specifically designed to help students in Grade 8 understand the various elements of a story, such as plot, characters, setting, and theme. By breaking down stories into their core components, students can better grasp the intricacies of storytelling and improve their own writing abilities. Teachers can incorporate these worksheets into their lesson plans, using them as a means to engage students in group discussions, individual assignments, or even as a basis for creative writing exercises. Reading comprehension strategies are also an integral part of these worksheets, as they help students to not only understand the story but also to analyze and interpret the author's intentions. Overall, Analyzing Story Structure worksheets for Grade 8 are an invaluable resource for teachers looking to foster a love of reading and writing in their students.

Quizizz is an innovative platform that offers a wide range of educational resources, including Analyzing Story Structure worksheets for Grade 8, to help teachers create engaging and interactive learning experiences. In addition to worksheets, Quizizz provides teachers with access to thousands of quizzes, games, and other activities that can be easily integrated into lesson plans. These resources are designed to support students' reading and writing skills, as well as their overall comprehension and critical thinking abilities. Teachers can use Quizizz to track their students' progress, identify areas for improvement, and even create personalized learning paths to ensure each student receives the support they need. With its vast library of content and user-friendly interface, Quizizz is an invaluable tool for teachers looking to enhance their Grade 8 students' reading and writing abilities while making learning fun and engaging.

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  2. 2nd Grade CKLA Skills

  3. Kisi greeb ke sath aisa mat kro upar wala sb dekhta hai 🙏😭|| #emotional #shorts #story #viral

  4. Grade 4 Story Thursday 8 10

  5. He Says that he Has the Safest Helmet In the World🥺❤️#shorts

  6. ЭТОТ РЕЦЕПТ ВЗОРВАЛ ИНТЕРНЕТ (@kilic_story)

COMMENTS

  1. Grade 8

    Grade 8 Short Story - Overview ... The assignment of writing a short story was a major goal of this block, was assigned after having read the first story, and was worked on throughout the block in conjunction with other homework and reading. In class, I helped each student develop a plot or theme. Use the ideas below to get them going.

  2. Free 8th grade short stories projects

    Free 8th grade short stories projects 66 results Sort by: Relevance View: List Sponsored Reading Comprehension Strategies MEGA Bundle + Differentiated Reading Passages! Educircles-org 21st Century Skills $24.99 $70.00 ESL Newcomers Curriculum Activities & Vocabulary ESL Reading, Writing, Speaking Inspiring Young Learners --- Beth Vaucher

  3. Short Stories with Questions

    This page features 22 of my favorite short stories with questions. These reading activities are perfect for classroom use. Written by some of the greatest authors in history, these stories are short enough to cover in a single class period, and rich enough to warrant study. I tried to select stories that students would find highly interesting.

  4. Short stories 8

    Short Stories 8 Study Guide: Literary Terms Study the terms in the handout at right. Part of your unit test will assess your understanding of them. The better prepared you are in grade 8, the easier your English studies will be from grade 9-12. Short Stories Study Guide Download File Parts of a Plot Line Download File Lesson One: Character

  5. Grade 8 ELA

    Short Stories The first unit will embark on is a Short Story Unit. Students will read, analyze, and engage with short stories and then complete a variety of assessment activities. Assessments include short in class writing tasks, formal writing tasks, quizzes, projects, and a test. Short Story Resources Literary Terms and Techniques Plot Diagram

  6. 8EFG LA

    Week 33: May 8 - May 11, 2018. Tuesday + Wednesday: Work on novel project. Figurative Language - personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia. HOMEWORK: Read section 5 of your novel. Your final novel assignment, week 5, is due Thursday. Elements of Fiction Unit test May 16.

  7. Best Short Stories for Middle Schoolers

    Short stories are a perfect teaching tool for middle schoolers. Because they require less time to read, they're an easy way to expose your students to new authors and genres. Also, between stylistic intricacies and plot twists, short stories hook readers and hold middle schoolers' attention like nothing else.

  8. Short Story Writing for Students and Teachers

    In purely numerical terms, short stories can be anywhere between about 1,000 to around 20,000 words or so, though many would consider even 10,000 too long. A short novel clocks in at around 60,000 words, with word counts between 20-60,000 words being taken up by that red-headed stepchild of prose, the novella.

  9. Short Stories For 8th Grade Teaching Resources

    8th Grade Short Stories & Common Core Aligned Units for the 8th Grade Short Story of the Month ClubGrab this collection of popular short story units tailored for Grade 8! I am creating these units specifically around the CCSS for grade 8, but they can absolutely be used in grades 6-10 - please check the preview file to verify this. Try the first month (August!) free!

  10. Short Stories Grade 8 Teaching Resources

    Short Stories Grade 8 Teaching Resources | TPT Results for short stories grade 8 3,200 + results Sort by: Best Match View: List Grade 6-My Perspectives-8 Short Stories/Prereading Resources/Vocab Study & Tests Created by KIWI-OUS ABOUT VOCAB

  11. Grade 8 Short Story Collection

    Grade 8 Short Stories Below are the copies of the short stories and the related worksheets that we will be using in this unit. If you misplace, lose, or was absent for the class, you can download a copy of the work here. storyanhour.pdf Download File k2.dreams_reality.pdf Download File the.monarch.pdf Download File

  12. Grade 8 Short Stories Unit

    Short Stories Unit WEEK ONE [Feb.1 - Feb.5] Feb.2 Lesson Topic: Elements of Short Stories & "Yeh-Shen" and "Cinderella" In-Class Activity: -Read "Yeh-Shen" -Complete a Venn Diagram comparing "Yeh-Shen" and "Cinderella" Homework: Complete Venn Diagram for Yeh-Shen Class Handouts: venn_diagram.pdf Download File Feb.3

  13. PDF Grade 8: Short Story Writing Assignment

    Short Story Writing Assignment Task: Write a short story containing as many literary elements as possible. Criteria: Your story must contain a protagonist and an antagonist; The setting must be clear in the first three paragraphs of the story; You must included all the elements of plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and

  14. SHORT STORY ASSIGNMENTS

    To complete this short story unit, you will do the following: 1. Pick 4 of the stories below to read on Actively Learn. *If you read and answer the questions on more than 4 stories, you can earn up to 15 points of extra credit. Each story you read (and answer questions about) will be worth 10 points in the grade book (40 points total).

  15. 100 Interesting 8th Grade Writing Prompts

    These prompts will get them writing: Imagine you could go back in time and give some advice to someone. What would you say? How would it change things? Pick an older relative, like a grandparent. What is the most important lesson you've learned from that person? Did he or she use any unconventional methods to teach you?

  16. Free 8th grade short stories rubrics

    Free 8th grade short stories rubrics 27 results Sort by: Relevance Relevance Rating Rating Count Price (Ascending) Price (Descending) Most Recent View: List List Grid Sponsored ,Reading Comprehension Strategies MEGA Bundle + Differentiated Reading Passages! Educircles-org 21st Century Skills $28.00 $70.00 Black History Month Bingo Game {30 Cards}

  17. Free Printable Analyzing Story Structure Worksheets for 8th Grade

    Analyzing Story Structure: Discover a collection of free printable worksheets for Grade 8 Reading & Writing teachers, designed to help students delve into the intricacies of story structure and enhance their comprehension skills. grade 8 Analyzing Story Structure Recommended Topics for you Analyzing Character Analyzing Point of View

  18. Story Writing for Class 8 CBSE Format, Topics Exercises, and Examples

    Story Writing for Class 8 CBSE Format, Topics Exercises, and Examples Story writing is an art. It is the oldest form of written composition. It is a work of imagination that is written in easily understandable grammatical structure. A short story is meant to be read in a single sitting and therefore it should be as direct and brief as possible.

  19. Grade 8 Short Story Bundle

    Explore dystopia, analyze literary conflict, and teach descriptive writing with this short story bundle for Grade 8 English! Includes units for Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," Sandra Cisneros' "Eleven," and Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks." Suitable for online learning with digital worksheets for Google Cl...

  20. Grade 8 Short Story Assignment

    1 Grade 8 Short Story Assignment Short Story Creative Writing Assignment TASK: Using what you have learned about short stories over the past month, you will write a short story of your own. You must write the story independently and complete the brainstorming activities independently.

  21. short story grade 8

    Reading Comprehension Open Ended Questions for the Short Story, "Eleven" by Sandra CisnerosGrade 8 Common Core Standards listed for each question. Ready to Print and Teach!8 Quest

  22. Grade 8 Short Story Assignment

    Short Story Assignment Short Story Creative Writing Assignment TASK: Using what you have learned about short stories over the past few weeks, you will write a short story of your own. DATE DUE: The final good copy will be due on Monday, November 2nd. However, there will be numerous points leading up to this deadline in which you will be expected to have portions of the assignment done and ...

  23. Results for short story assignment

    This short story or novel creative assignment is an excellent final project that has students turn a story into a video game! Students will explore story elements like characterization, setting, plot, conflict, and more with these 8 engaging assignments that can either be used individually or as a final short story or novel creative project!