8th Grade Short Stories Worksheets

This resource should accompany Walter Dean Myers's short story Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push. The story is not included but can be found in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories.

This resource includes 5 worksheet pages in color for posting online and in b/w for easy printing. A presentation aligns with the worksheets and includes an answer key for vocabulary and short answer questions.

This resource has:

- a pre-reading journal prompt

- story vocabulary

- tiered reading questions

- a focus on the standard: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

- answer keys

Immerse your students in the magic of the holidays with this engaging ELA resource, centered on the heartwarming short story The Key to Christmas Hollow. This resource combines reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and creative thinking activities, making it perfect for the festive season.

What’s Included:

The Short Story:

A captivating tale about Liam, a "quiet dreamer" who discovers the true spirit of Christmas in a magical town called Christmas Hollow.

Vocabulary Awareness Activity:

A pre-reading vocabulary chart featuring key terms such as "intricately," "palpable," and "astonishment." Students record their familiarity with each word, look up definitions, and rephrase them in their own words.

Comprehension Questions (with Answer Key):

Questions designed to develop critical thinking, including:

• Setting and Atmosphere
• Character Motivation and Analysis
• Inference and Theme Exploration
• Symbolism and Cause & Effect
• Creative Thinking Prompts

Answer Key for Teachers:
Detailed responses to all comprehension questions, aiding in efficient grading and discussion facilitation.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop vocabulary and reading fluency.
• Analyze characters, themes, and literary elements.
• Encourage creative writing and personal reflection.

Usage:

• Perfect for whole-class reading, independent assignments, or as a holiday-themed ELA activity.
• Designed for upper elementary to middle school students.
• Printable and ready to use!

This social emotional learning lesson uses Amy Tan's short story Fish Cheeks. The short story is not included in this resource, but it can be found online. The focus of this lesson is embracing our own differences.

This resource is a Google File that includes a PDF and Google Slides version of the teaching slides, which can be projected in front of the class, 4 student worksheets in color and 4 in b/w, and a teaching guide.

The lesson includes:

- Pre-reading Journal and Discussion Question

- Reading Questions for Fish Cheeks

- Discussion Questions for Personal Reflection Focused on Embracing our Differences

- An Interview Assignment Related to Embracing our Differences

This resource should accompany the short story Secret Samantha by Tim Federle. This story can be found in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories.

This resource includes five student worksheets in color and in b/w for printing. There is also a presentation to accompany the worksheets. The presentation and worksheets include a pre-reading journal entry, vocabulary from the story, tiered reading questions, and post-reading questions focused on a standard about determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.

This resource should accompany Tim Tingle's short story Choctaw Bigfoot, Midnight in the Mountains. This resource includes 4 student worksheet pages in both color and b/w. There is also a 12 page presentation to accompany the worksheets. The presentation contains answer keys for vocabulary and short answer questions. You will also get an Easel reading quiz with this resource.

This resource includes:

- a pre-reading journal question

- story vocabulary

- tiered reading questions

- questions focused on ELA standard about point of view and its impact on suspense and humor

- an Easel reading quiz

This resource should accompany Meg Medina's short story Sol Painting, Inc. This short story can be found in the book Flying Lessons and Other Stories, which is an amazing compilation of short stories by diverse authors about diverse characters. This resource includes a 12 page presentation and 6 student worksheets. The worksheets and presentation include a pre-reading journal entry, a focus on theme and central idea (which I teach as two separate things), vocabulary using context clues, tiered reading questions, and post-reading questions regarding the story's themes and central idea. The worksheets come in a colored version for posting online and a b/w version for printing.

This resource defines theme as the message, lesson, or moral of the story. Central idea is defined as what the story is all about- a single sentence which unifies all elements of the story.

Your elementary / middle / high school students will be able to complete ELA activities with engagement and no confusion, and they will use this template to help answer text-dependent writing questions or when writing notes. This Plot Diagram Graphic Organizer includes the following: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Please see the preview as it is exactly what you will receive in your download.

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keywords:(not necessarily related to the topic)

• plot diagram
• plot diagram template
• plot diagram with short story
• plot diagram worksheet
• plot diagram notes

This 20-page EDITABLE unit has everything you'll need for profoundly stimulating lessons on Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants." Invite your class to engage in student-driven discussions without compromising on intellectual rigor. The pre-reading handout, reading quiz, and discussion questions will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!!

Hold your students accountable for completing the homework by beginning class with a quick reading quiz. Then facilitate a dynamic discussion that motivates students to become attached to the thrill generating shared knowledge. Challenge students to explicate textual details using a wide range of interpretive lenses: formalist, psychoanalytic, cultural studies, etc.

Here are some highlights from this 20-page unit:

• Pre-Reading Handout: Hemingway's Prose Style: Hemingway was the writer who invented the prose style that we now refer to as "literary minimalism." This handout gives an account of Hemingway's "theory of omission" as well as the specific techniques that he used to make his stories resonate with meanings hidden just beneath the surface. This handout also explains why Hemingway's stories are so great for cultivating skills in close reading. (1 page)

• Reading Quiz: The reading quiz contains 10 questions focused on important details from the plot of "Hills Like White Elephants." Grading this quiz is simple and quick. Answer key included. (2 pages)

• Discussion Question Handout: One double-sided handout featuring 12 discussion questions on Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants." The discussion questions are the divided into 5 sections, each of which focuses on a different literary element or theme: characterization, setting, symbolism, etc. As with all of my resources, the discussion questions are the beating heart of this lesson plan. Every question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! (2 pages)

• Discussion Question Answer Key: This unit features a detailed answer key that's informed by the best scholarly essays on "Hills Like White Elephants." But please note that there is rarely a single "correct" answer for any question. Rather, the discussions questions are designed to foster lively exchanges and interpretive debates among students. They challenge students to build interpretive arguments that require the support of carefully selected textual evidence! (6 pages)

• Quick Write: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paragraph on Hemingway's wonderfully complex story. Let students choose one of the discussion questions and build out paragraph-length interpretation. (1 page)

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the units feature rigorous, content-rich lessons guaranteed to boost your students' close-reading and critical-thinking skills. What distinguishes this unit is how the discussion questions and writing assignment are designed to help student arrive at an abundance of interpretive insights!!

These lesson plans are packaged in a single 20-page EDITABLE Word document which you can CUSTOMIZE to suit your teaching style and/or your students' skill levels. Because I believe that teachers on TeachShare should be able to see what they're buying before they make a purchase, the preview for this resource provides access to 7 actual pages from the lesson. Click on the green “preview” button to see exactly what you’ll get....

Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Don't forget to click “follow” for email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Rigorous Resources is your one-stop shop for resources on American literature. Every unit was designed by a Ph.D. in English with a research specialization in American literature. Feel free to check out these complete units on canonical texts by diverse American authors:

Complete Unit on Tommy Orange's There There

Complete Unit on Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Complete Unit on Frederick Douglass's Narrative

Complete Unit on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Complete Unit on Nella Larsen's Passing

Complete Unit on Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

Complete Unit on J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

Complete Unit on Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

Complete Unit on Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye

This is a 35-page set of worksheets for the story "The Adventure of the Empty House" by Arthur Conan Doyle.

To make these worksheets, I used the original version of the story as written by Arthur Conan Doyle. You can check the version of the story here:

The Return of Sherlock Holmes

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* similes

* metaphors

* clues and facts

* plan analysis

* story reflection

* theme

* motif

* setting

* conflict

* irony

* suspense

* symbolism

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* compare and contrast

* w questions

* illustrations

* characters

* comic strip

* news report

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* interviews

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Discover the timeless charm of The Gift of the Magi with this comprehensive resource, thoughtfully crafted for middle and high school learners.  This resource includes a detailed summary, engaging Q&A activities, and organized note-taking sheets to help students fully appreciate O. Henry’s classic tale of love and selfless sacrifice.

The detailed summary dives into the story’s rich characters, themes, and symbolism, offering students a deeper understanding of its message.  The Q&A section fosters critical thinking, helping students analyze key aspects of the story while promoting meaningful discussions.  Note-taking sheets provide a structured way for students to capture and organize their reflections, enhancing both comprehension and retention.

This resource is versatile, making it a perfect fit for any teaching setting—whether it’s a classroom, homeschool, or independent study.  It simplifies lesson planning for educators while giving students a meaningful and engaging way to explore one of literature’s most beloved short stories.

BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS/HOMESCHOOL PARENTS:

• Time-saving tools:  Ready-to-use summary, Q&A, and note-taking sheets.

• Versatile resource:  Ideal for a variety of teaching methods and environments.

• Engages students:  Promotes discussion and deeper understanding.

• Printable and reusable:  Convenient for ongoing use.

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS:

• Improved comprehension:  Explore key elements like themes and symbolism.

• Critical thinking skills:  Thought-provoking questions encourage analysis.

• Organizational support:  Note-taking sheets guide structured learning.

• Engaging format:  Connect with the story’s universal and relatable themes.

Let this resource enrich your study of The Gift of the Magi, sparking curiosity, thoughtful analysis, and a lasting appreciation for the story’s timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and irony.

This comprehensive resource for The Gift of the Magi provides educators and students with everything they need to delve deeply into O. Henry’s beloved short story.  With its detailed summary, thought-provoking Q&A, and structured note-taking sheets, this package fosters engagement, enhances comprehension, and promotes meaningful discussions.  Whether used in a classroom or homeschool setting, this resource simplifies preparation and ensures a rewarding learning experience, allowing students to connect with the timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and selflessness.

Thank you for your support!

Tina – Big Easy Homeschooling Mom

Social Media Links:  http://linktr.ee/bigeasyhomeschoolingmom

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http://tidewindacademyhomeschool.com

This is a 15-page set of worksheets for the short story "Charles" by Shirley Jackson. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story reflection

* theme

* foreshadowing

* irony

* story elements

* characterization

* critical thinking

* inferences

* interviews

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file for the comprehension questions, vocabulary, and inferences.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This is a 29-page set of worksheets for the short story "Kaleidoscope" by Ray Bradbury. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* similes

* metaphors

* personification

* hyperbole

* story reflection

* theme

* motif

* point of view

* setting

* conflict

* suspense

* symbolism

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* compare and contrast

* w questions

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This is a 31-page set of worksheets for the short story "The Million-Year Picnic" by Ray Bradbury. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* similes

* personification

* metaphors

* story reflection

* theme

* motif

* point of view

* setting

* conflict

* irony

* suspense

* symbolism

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* compare and contrast

* w questions

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This resource features an engaging lesson plan for students to discuss symbols found within Richard Connell's thrilling tale, The Most Dangerous Game. The gallery walk is an ideal technique to achieve 100% student engagement within your classroom in a non-intimidating way. It is a great lesson for administrator observations due to the high level of student engagement, physical movement around the classroom, and deep level of interaction with the text.

Resource Includes:

• Full-length CCSS-aligned lesson plan
• Student worksheet

___________________________________________________________________

Also, check out these great resources to supplement your unit on The Most Dangerous Game by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ The Most Dangerous Game Escape Room

⭐ The Most Dangerous Game Socratic Seminar

⭐ The Most Dangerous Game Reader's Theater Script

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This is a 28-page set of worksheets for the short story "The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* similes

* personification

* story reflection

* theme

* motif

* point of view

* setting

* conflict

* irony

* suspense

* symbolism

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* compare and contrast

* w questions

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This resource features an engaging lesson plan for students to discuss symbols found within Kurt Vonnegut's dystopian short story, Harrison Bergeron. The gallery walk is an ideal technique to achieve 100% student engagement within your classroom in a non-intimidating way. It is a great lesson for administrator observations due to the high level of student engagement, physical movement around the classroom, and deep level of interaction with the text.

Resource Includes:

• Full-length CCSS-aligned lesson plan
• Student worksheet

___________________________________________________________________

Also, check out these great resources to complement your unit on Harrison Bergeron by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Harrison Bergeron Pre-Reading Activity

⭐ Harrison Bergeron ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Introduction to Dystopia Powerpoint

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This is a 28-page set of worksheets for the short story "The Way Up to Heaven" by Roald Dahl. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* story reflection

* similes

* personification

* metaphors

* theme

* motif

* point of view

* setting

* conflict

* foreshadowing

* suspense

* symbols

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* w questions

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This is a 28-page set of worksheets for the short story "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* similes

* personification

* sensory imagery

* story reflection

* theme

* motif

* point of view

* setting

* conflict

* suspense

* symbols

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* w questions

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This is a 28-page set of worksheets for the short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* story analysis

* story reflection

* theme

* motif

* point of view

* setting

* conflict

* suspense

* irony

* symbolism

* quotations

* characterization

* connections

* compare and contrast

* w questions

* story map

* story elements

* critical thinking

* inferences

* summaries

* transformation

* writing

There is also an answer key included at the end of the file.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* Piri Thomas: Amigo Brothers

* ...and more worksheets for short stories

This is a 10-page set of worksheets for the short story "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury. The comprehension questions can be used as a story test or as a learning activity for students as they read the story.

The worksheets include:

* comprehension questions (multiple choice)

* comprehension questions (short answer)

* vocabulary

* personification

* figurative language

* theme

* tragic flaw

* parts of a story

* writing activity

There is an answer key included for the comprehension questions and vocabulary.

Worksheets for Short Stories:

* Toni Cade Bambara: Raymond’s Run

* Ray Bradbury: There Will Come Soft Rains

* Arthur Cavanaugh: Miss Awful

* Richard Connell: The Most Dangerous Game

* Roald Dahl: The Landlady

* Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

* ...and more worksheets for short stories