Short Story Unit

Timeline
A project-based, multi-sensory look at the literary genre of short stories.

Literature Notes Example Short Story Soundtrack Activity Write Story

Define Short Read Summarize Analyze Soundtrack Short Story

Literary Terms
Story Example Story Example Story Example Story Activity Writing

□ Day 1 Introduce Literary Terms (see Short Story Literary Terms handout).

Define Short Story - elements, compare to other literary genres, discuss oral tradition storytelling and
□ Day 2
connect to short stories (see Literary Genres Short Stories Information handout)

Introduce the author of the chosen example short story. Provided example story – Cask of the Amontillado,
□ Day 3
see Additional Short Stories list for more options.

□ Day 4 Skim through the example story for unfamiliar words and define them, optional pre-made vocabulary list.

Read/Listen to the example short story together. Make notes of important character, setting, & events
□ Day 5
within the story (see Reading Notes Organizer handout)

□ Day 5 Sequencing Quiz

□ Day 6 Discuss the story’s plot structure, setting, and point of view (see Plot Line Diagram handout)

□ Day 7 Analyze the story’s protagonist & antagonist (see Protagonist vs. Antagonist handout)

□ Day 8 Discuss author’s characterization (See Characterization handout, HS extension available).

□ Day 9 Literary Term Scavenger Hunt (see Literary Terms Scavenger Hunt handout).

Use the findings from the scavenger hunter to make literary term posters to put up as reminders for other
□ Day 10 units. *Literary Terms are used in all literary analysis. Regardless of what unit you do after this unit, you will
need to remember these basic terms. (see Literary Term Poster handout, optional extensions included)

Discuss imagery and mood within the example story with the Soundtrack Activity (see Soundtrack Activity
□ Day 11-12 handout). Have students identify images with the story and how the use of imagery allows the readers to
picture the action within their mind’s eye. (additional extensions included)

□ Day 13-17 *Scene/Movie Trailer production (see Soundtrack Activity handout – Optional Project)

Short Scary Story Writing – introduce the Short Scary Story Writing Project (see Short Scary Story Writing
□ Day 18 Project handouts). Reflect on the earlier discussion of the oral tradition of storytelling. View sample scary
stories for inspiration. Then begin brainstorming story ideas and completing writing proposal.

Image: via creative commons PBL School of Thought ©2019

 Begin writing the rough draft.
□ Day 19-20

□ Day 21 Peer edit for story consistencies and to ensure all required elements are included.

□ Day 22-23 Type 2nd draft making edits

□ Day 23 Peer proofreading for grammar mistakes and any additional editing fixes needed.

□ Day 24-25 Create Final Draft

□ Day 26 Present -Read aloud

□ Day 27-30 High School Extension – Short Story Analysis Presentation (see handout)