Get your secondary students into the Halloween spirit with this spooky short story lesson and activity! It's perfect for reluctant writers or students who might experience writer's block. Review 5 important literary devices that can help create a spooky story effect (mood, description, setting, turning point, and cliffhanger). After learning and reviewing the literary devices, students will reivew story options for characters, settings, turning points, and cliffhangers. They may either choose from these options to build the elements for their stories or they may roll the digital die (or tangible die if you have it handy) and let fate decide their story elements for them. After they have gathered their story elements, recorded them in their story map and worksheet, then they will begin writing their own spooky short stories while incorporating all the elements they selected or rolled for. 
 
What I love about this lesson is that the graphics, all the story options they can choose from, and the example short story included towards the end seems to get them excited and sitting on the edge of their seats. The rolling die portion of the lesson is also fun and interactive. They'll definitely be getting into the Halloween spirit while they complete this lesson. They also don't have to spend a lot of time brainstorming because they already have options for characters, side characters, settings, turning points, and cliffhangers to choose from. They also have the option of putting their own spin on any of the options included. The goal is to get their gears turning and give them ideas to start writing a fun spooky short story that they can share with the class, family, friends, or submit to a contest and be proud of!