6th Grade Short Story Unit - Reading Comprehension and Analysis

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Total Pages: 168
Answer Key: Included with rubric
Teaching Duration: 3 Weeks
File Size: 16.6 MB
File Type: Zip

Looking for an engaging and comprehensive 6th Grade Short Story Unit that goes beyond basic comprehension? This differentiated ELA resource is designed to help students master key literary elements and literary devices through five powerful short stories, while also fostering creativity and writing skills.

This 12-lesson short story unit covers essential concepts like plot, character, setting, theme, conflict, similes, metaphors, symbolism, and foreshadowing. With scaffolded support, student choice, and creative tasks, your students will deepen their understanding of fiction and become more confident readers and writers.

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5 Short Stories Covered

• "The Wish" by Roald Dahl
• "The Hockey Sweater" by Roch Carrier
• "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros
• "The Beau Catcher" by Frederick Laing
• "Names/Nombres" by Julia Alvarez

What’s Included:

• 12 Complete Lessons
• Detailed Teacher Instructions
• Printable & Digital Formats (PDF + Google Slides™)
• Anchor Charts & Graphic Organizers
• Comprehension Questions for Each Story
• Literary Elements & Devices Notes + Practice
• Quizzes, Rubrics, and Assessments
• Group Projects & Independent Work
• Student Choice Boards
• Write Your Own Short Story Task
• Answer Keys 

Skills & Standards Covered:

• Analyzing Literary Elements
• Identifying Literary Devices
• Reading Comprehension
• Collaborative & Independent Learning
• Narrative Writing & Storytelling
• Critical Thinking & Creativity

6th Grade Short Story Unit Lesson Outline

1. Activating Prior Knowledge Graffiti Brainstorm
2. What is a short story?
3. Literary Elements Note
4. Literary Elements Practice Stations
5. Literary Elements Quiz
6. Literary Devices Note
7. Literary Devices Practice
8. Literary Devices Quiz
9. Short Story Group Work & Choice Board Project
10. Short Story Application Task (Test)
11. Write Your Own Short Story
12. Short Story Sharing Café

Perfect For:

• 6th Grade ELA Lessons
• Reading & Writing Workshops
• Substitute Plans
• Literacy Stations
• Creative Writing Units

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

• Time-Saving & Ready-to-Use: Everything you need, from lesson plans to answer keys, is included and organized for easy implementation.
• Engaging & High-Interest Texts: The thought-provoking short stories captivate students while promoting deep discussion and analysis.
• Differentiation Made Easy: With choice boards, scaffolded organizers, and multiple formats, this unit meets the needs of diverse learners.
• Builds Real Skills: Students don’t just read, they analyze, collaborate, write, and create, building both comprehension and storytelling abilities.
• Flexible & Versatile: Use it as a full unit, break it up for mini-lessons, or assign parts for sub plans, early finishers, or homework.

Teacher Feedback

1. “I'm so happy with everything I buy from this seller. This is thoughtfully put together and it helped immensely with my short story planning. Thanks!”
2. “I was able to take this unit and use it right away. It follows the Ontario curriculum so well and even fit in with the grade 5 expectations (I have a split class). When we went online it was easy to take this unit and edit a few things to make it accessible online.”
3. “I am currently using this resource online with my Grade 6 students. They are LOVING it.  Thanks for another great product.  I know I can never go wrong with this seller!”

Notes: Due to copyright laws, individual PDFs of each short story are not included. These short stories are available online and in many textbooks. This resource is not editable.

Take your middle school ELA instruction to the next level with this 6th Grade Short Story Unit. Whether you're teaching in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid setting, this resource is ready to use and adaptable for any classroom environment.