Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 7/14/09

Zillah Middle School Modified: 7/16/09

Unit Title:
Short Story

Time Frame:
19 Days

Grade Level:
8th

Unit Summary:
During this unit students will look at short stories both as a reader
and as a writer. First, students will read a literature selection and
discuss the differences between a novel, an excerpt, and a short
story. Students will use this information to help them write a short
story of their own. We will be looking at elements of fiction as well
(plot, character, setting, theme, and mood) and incorporating these
elements into the writing process.

Essential Question(s):
What defines a short story?
What is a natural disaster?
What are the main elements of fiction?
How can I set a mood in my story?

Core Concept(s):
Reading
Writing

Content Area Standards (GLE’s):

Reading: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4
Writing: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Assessments:
Formative:
As new topics are presented (via PowerPoint presentation) students
will have an opportunity to quiz themselves on the material to see
if they understood it. If some did not, we will go back over the
material to clarify their understanding.

Students will be completing a variety of exercises on worksheets

and out of the textbook. These items will be corrected as a class
and missed concepts will reviewed as needed.

Students will be reading this story and discussing it aloud with the
class. The teacher will ask questions to check for understanding.
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 7/14/09
Zillah Middle School Modified: 7/16/09

Students will be called on at random both to read and to answer

questions to ensure participation.

Summative:
Students will be tested at the end of the unit on the following
concepts: story comprehension (questions will follow Bloom’s
Taxonomy, elements of fiction, subject/verb agreement, and
vocabulary.

Students will be given a spelling test to check their understanding

of the vocabulary words from this unit.

Students will be writing a short story of their own. The focus of

this assignment will be plot organization and development and
mood. Students will write a fictional story revolving around a
natural disaster. Grades will be based on the writing project
rubric.

Key Vocabulary:
Rejuvenated
Ventured
Juvenile
Regime
Conscientious
Scantier
Skepticism
Intensive
Extension
Scientific

Materials/Resources:
Textbooks/Kits/Instructional Guides:
Spotlight on Literature (8th Grade Edition)
Elements of Writing (8th Grade Edition)
Academic Workout Teachers Guide
Academic Workout Overheads
Academic Workout Worksheets
Academic Workout Review (Use for final test)

Print Materials (Books, Articles):

N/A

Multimedia:
Plot Organization PowerPoint Presentation
Setting and Mood PowerPoint Presentation
Character and Theme PowerPoint Presentation
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 7/14/09
Zillah Middle School Modified: 7/16/09

Number Agreement PowerPoint Presentation

Subject Verb Agreement PowerPoint Presentation
Disaster Short Story PowerPoint Presentation

Websites:
YouTube
www.youtube.com
Login: stefani6124@hotmail.com
Password: st0377

Video: Ready to Fall: Natural Disasters (3m 57s)

Handouts:
Plot Organization WS
Setting and Mood WS
Character and Theme WS
Disaster Story Rubric
Spelling List
Unit Assessment
Plot Diagram WS

Other Materials:
Language Arts Journals
Journal Prompts
Dictionaries

Lessons/Activities:
1. Focus on Fiction (Plot Organization)
a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Walk students through AW overhead #26 (follow teachers
manual on pages (130 - 131)
c. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
d. Assign list of spelling words.
2. Focus on Fiction (Setting and Mood)
a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Walk students through AW overhead #27 (follow teachers
manual on pages (132-133)
c. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
3. Focus on Fiction (Character and Theme)
a. PowerPoint Presentation – students take notes in LA
notebook.
b. Walk students through AW overhead #28 (follow teachers
manual on pages (134-135)
c. Give students worksheet to complete on their own.
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 7/14/09
Zillah Middle School Modified: 7/16/09

4. Read Lather and Nothing Else

a. Read “Before Reading” on page 435.
b. Read story and discuss questions in teacher’s edition
throughout the story.
c. After reading, students will use dictionaries to find the
definition of their spelling words.
5. Read Lather and Nothing Else
a. Read story and discuss questions in teacher’s edition
throughout the story.
b. After reading, students will use each of their spelling words
in a sentence.
6. Read Lather and Nothing Else
a. Read story and discuss questions in teacher’s edition
throughout the story.
b. PowerPoint Presentation – Number Agreement
i. Students are to take notes in their LA notebooks
c. Students will read and complete the activity on page 574 of
their Writing textbooks.
7. Read Lather and Nothing Else
a. Read story and discuss questions in teachers edition
throughout story.
b. PowerPoint Presentation – Subject/Verb Agreement
c. Students will read and complete the activity on page 575 -
576 of their Writing textbooks.
8. Comprehension Test
a. Students will be tested on spelling, vocabulary,
comprehension, reading strategies, and subject/verb
agreement.
9. Writing a Short Story
a. Short Story PowerPoint Presentation
i. Hand out rubric
ii. Go over expectations and timeline
b. Natural Disaster Video
i. Class discussion – what is a NATURAL disaster?
c. Thought Cluster Graphic Organizer
d. Begin brainstorming ideas for story
10. Writing a Short Story
a. Continue brainstorming
i. Take cluster web ideas and put them into a plot
organizer
11. Writing a Short Story
a. Write Rough Draft
12. Writing a Short Story
a. Continue Rough Draft (HW for weekend if not done)
13. Writing a Short Story
Stefani Tweedy 8th Grade Language Arts Created: 7/14/09
Zillah Middle School Modified: 7/16/09

a. Type 2nd Draft in computer lab

14. Writing a Short Story
a. Type 2nd Draft in computer lab
15. Writing a Short Story
a. Type 2nd Draft in computer lab
16. Writing a Short Story
a. Type 2nd Draft in computer lab
b. Self and partner edits
c. Teacher edit AFTER 3 peer edits
17. Writing a Short Story
a. Type 2nd Draft in computer lab
b. Self and partner edits
c. Teacher edit AFTER 3 peer edits
18. Writing a Short Story
a. Type Final Draft
19. Writing a Short Story
a. Type Final Draft
b. DUE TODAY