Once again, Halloween is on a school day. There aren’t many things a teacher dreads more than this kind of day! I have learned that when it comes to these “distracting” days, it’s best to go with the distraction and center my lessons around it! On Halloween, I always read a scary short story. Sometimes it’s part of a unit, and sometimes it’s just for fun (aka listening comprehension, LOL).
I’m actually going to teach this lesson plan this week with my 6th graders when I introduce plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution). On Halloween, I’ll sneak another story from the collection in, but I don’t want to wait until the end of the month to teach this concept. After all, anytime during October is a great time for a scary story, right? My kids LOVE this lesson year after year!
Have you heard of this book by Patrick Carman?
I learned about it three summers ago when I attended the American Library Association Conference and went to his author breakfast. It’s a collection of 9 multimedia short stories. Here’s how it works:
1) Watch and listen to the video introduction online.
2) Read the story.
3) Watch the conclusion of the story online.
Many of my students love this multimedia approach to reading and these books are a great way to persuade reluctant readers to read! The 3:15 stands for 3 components (the three I have above) and 15 for the fact that it takes about 15 minutes to read the story. Of course, it takes up a whole class period when we read/discuss these components together, but I suppose you could read it all in 15 minutes.
This week, I’m going to read one of the short stories, “The Lift,” with my 6th graders. It’s a simple, easy to read story. We’ll make a plot diagram for this story and they’ll have a short comprehension quiz on the story.
Why is this book perfect for teaching plot? It’s got an easy-to-figure-out climax! Actually, the story ends with the climax and leaves the reader in suspense, wondering anxiously what’s happening and having to view the video to see the resolution. The way the climax leaves you hanging and the way the entire resolution is in video format really helps students to differentiate these parts of the plot. Here’s what you’ll need to teach this lesson:
“The Lift” short story (click here for Word document)
“The Lift” comprehension quiz
Video Introduction Link
Video Conclusion Link (enter “shred” into the password prompt)
Plot Diagram template
There’s also a 3:15 app available through the App Store. Show your students how they can download this to their iDevice and Listen, Read, and Watch from there! They can do one story for free and then download additional stories for $.99.
Happy Friday! 🙂
What a great story! I usually do Tell Tale Heart and The Raven with the episode from The Simpsons for Halloween.
What a great idea!
I've not heard of these books. They look like they'd really appeal to my sixers. I can't access the Video Conclusion link, though. Wonder if it could be because I'm in Canada.
Hi,
I'm in Canada, too, yet I was able to access to the link. Maybe it was the connection?!
I usually read Patricia Polacco's The Graves Family to my fifth graders on Halloween. But your 3:15 stories sound like so much fun. I'm going to try one out. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa
Wild About Fifth
We're deep into our horror unit (Poe) in 7th/8th. Just finished House of Usher with Tell-Tale Heart on tap next week. Think the "little kids" (what 8th graders call 6th graders) would really like these books! Thanks for the info!
The 3:15 stories sound awesome! I'm reviewing plot next week, too, so I have it in my Amazon cart! (Thank goodness for free 2-day shipping!) Hope your surgery went well!
~Kristen Doyle
Chalk & Apples
Those 3:15 stories sound really neat! I will have to check them out. Hope everything goes well with the surgery and that recovery is quick and as painless as possible.
Don't Let the Teacher Stay Up Late
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I hope your surgery went well! I appreciate you taking the time for this post first. Thank you for sharing the 3:15 resource. I have never heard of it before so you know I'm heading right over to check it out. Thank you so much for this post, Heather
I'm so glad you posted about this book. I've seen it on Patrick Carman's website but never took the time to read about it. I'm reading Skeleton Creek, also by Patrick Carman to my 6th graders. They LOVE it! It also has a multimedia approach. A lot of the videos have passwords that allude to the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. It's perfect to introduce them to The House of Usher, The Raven, etc.
Mrs. Tretbar’s Library
I'd never heard of this either, so I'm glad you posted. Hope you're resting and recovering well from your surgery!
thanks
I am jealous that everyone gets to do scary, Halloween books. My district has banned Halloween type lessons and activities. I miss it! Have fun with it!!!!
Pam
Rockin Resources Blog
Hi Erin,
How did you get the text version of the story? I'm familiar with the app where you listen to the audio intro, read the text on the iPad and then watch the conclusion. I've intoduced "The Lift" to my grade 6 class following your links and printing out your text version. I would love you do another one before Halloween. Did you type it up yourself? If so, maybe I can do one and swap with you!
Thanks,
Stephanie
Did any kids or parents complain that the stories were too scary? Just curious.
Thanks
Thanks for sharing! I liked the iPhone format the best and place on a iPad. I'm looking forward to the additional stories. I discovered The True Stores. These are great for reluctant readers. You can see on my blog: http://trapthemind.blogspot.com/
Love this idea! Do you happen to have other stories with questions already completed for sale?
I just completed this lesson with my 6th grade class. They loved it! It allowed us to review everything we have learned so far this year, continue to practice making inferences, and even preview some of the things we will be talking about later.
Thank You!
Sarah
Is there a answer key for plot mountain?