Grade 8 Short Story Unit

All prices are in Canadian dollars.

Total Pages: 172 pages
Answer Key: Included with rubric
Teaching Duration: 3 Weeks
File Size: 5 MB
File Type: PDF

Bring depth, drama, and high-level thinking to your 8th-grade ELA classroom with this comprehensive Grade 8 Short Story Unit. Students will explore rich texts while mastering key literary elements and devices, including plot, character, setting, theme, conflict, symbolism, foreshadowing, simile, and metaphor.

Perfect for reinforcing essential reading and writing standards, this unit offers 7 engaging short stories, scaffolded support, and opportunities for student creativity, including a drama-based final task that brings literature to life!

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Short Stories Featured:

1. The Scholarship Jacket by Marta Salinas
2. Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl
3. The Chaser by John Collier
4. The Lady or The Tiger by Frank R. Stockton
5. The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty
6. Thank You, Ma’am by Langston Hughes
7. Test by Theodore Thomas

What’s Included:

• 8 Complete Lessons 
• Student Assignments & Grading Rubrics
• Detailed Teacher Instructions
• Anchor Charts & Graphic Organizers
• Comprehension Questions for Every Story
• Literary Elements Slideshow & Note-Taking Tools
• Short Story Vocabulary Quiz
• Final Application Test
• Optional Drama Extension Task
• Student Choice Boards for Final Activity
• Answer Keys 
• PDF & Google Slides™ Formats for Flexibility

Skills & Concepts Covered:

• Literary Elements: Plot, Character, Setting, Theme, Conflict
• Literary Devices: Simile, Metaphor, Symbolism, Foreshadowing
• Reading Comprehension & Literary Analysis
• Vocabulary
• Creative Thinking & Collaborative Work
  

8th Grade Short Story Unit Lesson Outline

1. Activating Prior Knowledge Graffiti Activity
2. Elements of a Short Story Lesson (Slideshow and Graphic Organizer)
3. Whole-Class Short Story Analysis Modelling & Practice using "Thank You Ma'am" by Langston Hughes
4. Short Story Vocabulary Quiz
5. Short Story Analysis Whole Class or Group Options
6. Final Task: Short Story Choice Board
7. Short Story Drama Task (Optional)
8. Short Story Application Test using Test by Theodore Thomas

Ideal For:

• Whole-Class ELA Instruction
• Literature Circles or Group Work
• Substitute Plans 
• Independent Learning
• Reading & Writing Workshops

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

• Ready to Use – Clear plans, answer keys, and digital access save you time.
• Engaging & Rigorous – Students connect with high-interest stories that spark meaningful discussion.
• Differentiated & Flexible – Choice boards, scaffolds, and group/solo options support all learners.
• Creative & Memorable – The drama activity helps students understand the story in a fun, impactful way.

Teacher Feedback

1. "This resource (like all by this seller) is practical and ready to use. I'm always looking for a new way to work with short stories, and this fits the bill."
2. "This short story unit will help create a much smoother unit for my students. Thank you!"
3. "I really feel in love with this and other version. I will continue to use this with my students as the years go on because it's such a great technical piece."
4. "What a great resource. I used it in Summer School and it got my students excited to work."

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.

Give your 8th-grade students the tools to think critically, analyze deeply, and create meaningfully, with a ready-to-use short story unit that’s engaging and packed with high-interest texts and creative learning opportunities. This resource makes planning easy and learning memorable. Don’t miss the chance to bring literature to life in your classroom!