6h-Grade Focus Standards:

● 6.RL.2.3

● 6.RL.3.1

● 6.RL.2.1

The Big Ideas:

●Plot - story development

●Making inferences

“I can” Statements:

I can identify the elements of a plot of a short story or novel.

I can identify the events in the development of a work of literature.

I can interpret inferences in a work of literature.

7th-Grade Focus Standards:


●	7.RL.3.1
●	7.RL.3.2

The Big Ideas:


●	Plot
●	Character’s perspective (point of view)

“I can” Statements:

I can identify and explain the plot in a given work of literature.

I can analyze a character’s perspective or point of view in a story.

I can compare and contrast the perspectives of different characters in a story.

8th-Grade Focus Standards:

The Big Ideas:


●	Plot
●	Setting

“I can” Statements:

I can evaluate how the setting of a story impacts the plot.

I can identify the major plot elements of a story.

I can analyze how setting affects characters’ actions.

Monday Morning Content PLC Focus:

Current Assessments:


○	Cycle 2A mini-assessments are on our ELA Weekly Focus page on our website.

The Tell-Tale Heart Short Story Unit

This is an extremely thorough, full two-week (twelve days!) unit for the short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. These resources are focused around standards for Grade 8, but they are absolutely still relevant for all middle grades students who are studying this story or horror genre in general.

Skills Focus:
●
Text Evidence
●
TONE
●
Plot Pyramid
●
Analyzing Motivation
●
Literary Elements
●
Arguments (+ Guided Argumentative Essay)
●
Comparing Short Story to Short Film
Full list of Skills and activities:

Activity 1: Tone Interactive Notebook Lesson
Activity 2: Practice Mood and Tone Printables
Activity 3: Journal Question
Activity 4: Comprehension Guide/Obj. Summary
Activity 5: Comprehension Quiz
Activity 6: Plot Diagram Graphic Organizer
Activity 7: Tone Analysis
Activity 8: Vocab Guide: Word Usage
Activity 9: Literary Device Scavenger Hunt
Activity 10: ACE Questions for Text Evidence
Activity 11: Annotation Guide for Text Evidence
Activity 12: Analyze Text Evidence of Insanity
Activity 13: Organize and Classify Evidence
Activity 14: Write an Outline for Argumentative Essay
Activity 15: Rubric for Argumentative Essay
Activity 16: Story vs. Movie Analysis
Activity 17: Comprehension Skills Test
Activity 18: Modified Comprehension Skills Test
Activity 19: Original Article: The Life of Edgar Allan Poe
Activity 20: Poe Text Structure Activity
Activity 21: Essential Question

Resouces for Unit:

1. The Tell-Tale Heart (main file with all activities)
2. The Tell-Tale Heart (text only)
3. The Tell-Tale Heart (text with student comprehension activity)