scary short story assignment

9 Scary Short Stories for Middle and High School English

Oct 17, 2023

In the midst of the Halloween season, scary short stories are my go-to for teaching fun, rigorous, and engaging literature! I do NOT want to sacrifice learning for the sake of entertainment, but I love the idea of killing two birds with one stone.

I mean who really doesn’t like being scared a little in the month of October? Frightening experiences kind of go with the “monthly” territory; am I right?

So if you enjoy reading scary short stories and helping your students grow in their knowledge of literature, consider adding some horror into the mix!

Keep reading below for “9 Scary Short Stories for Middle and High School English!”

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Table of Contents

1. “The Tell-Tale Heart”

The ultimate horror-filled story, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” literally has it all! We have physical gruesomeness and psychological mania all wrapped up in a perfect package only Edgar Allan Poe could create! This infamous tale is the most taught short story in secondary classrooms!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: The narrator, a young man, lives with an old man. Over the course of the story, he plans the old man’s murder because of his “vulture eye.” After scheming for a while, he commits the murder and hides the body underneath the floor. Racked with guilt, the narrator ultimately confesses to the old man’s murder when police officers stop by to investigate after hearing about a neighbor’s concern.

If you need help with teaching character traits, character development, and/or literary analysis, check out this lesson bundle !

2. “Click Clack the Rattle Bag”

Although “Click Clack the Rattle Bag” by Neil Gaiman is typically taught in middle school, your high schoolers will love this short story as well. It is a quick, easy read for most students, and it is a fun addition to any Halloween-based literature unit!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: A young male is watching his girlfriend’s younger brother at their home when the little boy tells the tale of the Click Clacks. Let’s just say that by the end of the story, the young man who was supposed to watch the younger boy, has not REALLY paid attention to the boy and the story he relates during the time at the house…

Standards-based reading comprehension questions will help to make teaching this short story, like most scary short stories, well worth your while!

scary short stories click clack the rattle bag

3. “The Veldt”

I absolutely love anything dystopian. From 1984 to Brave New World to The Matrix , I am a sucker for futuristic worlds bent on their own destruction! When considering scary short stories, I try to include stories that go beyond the typical horror genre. That is where Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt” comes in.

QUICK SYNOPSIS: A pair of siblings become consumed with technology. Their parents attempt to gain back control over their own children, which leads to the parents’ demise.

Visualization, characterization, and writing activities have never been easier while teaching scary short stories with “The Veldt” Lesson BUNDLE!

If you teach 9th graders, check out this post for short story ideas throughout the year!

4. “A Vendetta”

Vengeance is truly sweet for some people, although I am not a proponent of it 😉 Guy de Maupassant’s “A Vendetta” relays a tale of revenge that makes it a perfect complement to any scary short stories unit!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: After her son is murdered, an aged mother trains her dog over many months to attack at her command. In the end, she fulfills her objective unbeknownst to others who would never suspect her of committing a foul deed.

Trust me! Your students will LOVE this short story! See it HERE !

5. “The Monkey’s Paw”

This story by W.W. Jacobs personifies the saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” Everyone who loves scary short stories will NOT want to miss out on this spooky tale!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: When a family receives the chance to make three wishes, they encounter a series of awful events they could not have foreseen and later on cannot escape. By the end of this horrific tale, the mother and father realize they cannot escape their son’s inevitable death.

“The Monkey’s Paw” BUNDLE contains lessons and activities focused on reading comprehension, characterization, visualization, writing, and more!

Click below to read about more ideas for teaching “The Monkey’s Paw!”

6. “The Cask of Amontillado”

Edgar Allan Poe shows he is once again THE epitome of a short story master with the classic “The Cask of Amontillado!” Your students will find the characters, themes, and language engaging, right from the start! (Because of the higher level language, you may want to read it with them.)

QUICK SYNOPSIS: During a carnival celebration, a man bent on revenge for some unknown reason lures his unsuspecting victim into the catacombs. He then seals his victim’s fate without any real explanation! The reader as well as the victim is left wondering “Why?”

To teach irony within “The Cask of Amontillado,” check out this activity HERE !

7. “Lamb to the Slaughter”

Alfred Hitchcock’s episode “Lamb to the Slaughter” beautifully captures the essence of Roald Dahl’s short story of the same name! Middle and high school students alike will gleefully read and watch this story for many reasons: the plot, the characters, and the quite humorous twist!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: When a husband returns home from work after a long day, he tells his pregnant wife that he wants a divorce. His wife kills him in response and cleverly gets rid of the evidence!

You can help your students examine the evidence and write about it in this ACTIVITY BUNDLE for “Lamb to the Slaughter!”

scary short stories lamb to the slaughter

8. “The Most Dangerous Game”

“The Most Dangerous Game” personifies scary short stories, purely for the story’s psychological horror! It is one of my favorite short stories to teach because of its setting, two main characters, and well-developed plot!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: Marooned on an island, an infamous hunter becomes the hunted. He shrewdly plays the game and eventually overcomes his adversary!

If you need easy-to-teach plot activities, click this LINK !

Want help with teaching reading? Go here—> 19 Reading Intervention Strategies that WORK in Middle and High School Classrooms

9. “The Masque of the Red Death”

In this current era, teaching Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death” is VITAL! Everyone, to some degree, fears death, which makes this story a perfect addition to your scary short stories unit!

QUICK SYNOPSIS: During a rampant plague, the wealthy hide out in a fortress in an attempt to avoid death. Clearly, one cannot escape a ubiquitous plague, and these upper-crust partygoers succumb like everyone else in the land!

As you prepare to teach setting, imagery, characterization, and summarizing for this short story, check out this lesson BUNDLE or quiz pack !

Why Teach Scary Short Stories?

They are engaging from the start!
They utilize interesting language and vocabulary!
They connect to themes in other texts !
They link perfectly to the month of October!
They usually contain fantastic characterization!

Don’t forget to incorporate these short stories this year!!

This Short Story ULTIMATE BUNDLE with Lessons, Quizzes, and Activities uses the Common Core standards with reading comprehension QUESTIONS and ANSWERS for 18 short stories such as “The Most Dangerous Game,” “The Monkey’s Paw,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “After Twenty Years,” “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Veldt,” “The Lottery,” “The Pedestrian,” etc. modeled after various state reading exams.

Make teaching short stories SIMPLE & EASY!

Just PRINT & TEACH!!

Want more ideas for teaching scary short stories and other interesting tales? Check out my store Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !

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I primarily focus on integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!

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10 Scary Short Stories Your Middle Schoolers Will Love

Teaching Reading

Bringing scary short stories into your classroom can be a great way to engage students during the spooky season – or any time of year! Using suspense is a powerful tool to get students hooked while teaching them about important literary elements along the way. Teaching suspenseful short stories can be a great time to showcase many literary devices such as mood, foreshadowing, and imagery. Here is a rundown of five ten of my favorite scary short stories for middle school students, along with some ideas for using them in your own classroom. Check it out!

10) The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

The Veldt is a dystopian science fiction tale crafted by a serious master of suspense… Ray Bradbury. The Veldt includes the familiar societal warnings Bradbury is known for, with an interesting look at how life might be if technology were to parent. (I mean, does this sound that far-fetched at this point?) The story weaves an overlying tone of anticipation with a jaw-dropping conclusion. Your students will love this story and will talk about it long after they’ve finished reading!

Invite your students to create a sales brochure for the HappyLife Home and include features and benefits along with common issues and warnings. Another crowd favorite is to have them rewrite a scene from the house’s point of view. I love to conclude this one with a Veldt-themed literary element escape room . Dim the lights, pop on a scenic playlis t, and watch them get to work!

Looking for a new Ray Bradbury favorite? Check out the next story!

9) Zero Hour by Ray Bradbury

In Ray Bradbury’s Zero Hour , your students will be taken on a wild ride as children all across the country play a game they call “Invasion” — but what if the game is more real than it seems? The suspense builds as young Mink leads the charge, all while her mother dismisses the game as mere innocent play. Like many other eerie Bradbury stories, Zero Hour ends with a chilling final line that leaves readers questioning who the real villain is: the children, their manipulating friend Drill, or perhaps the parents who weren’t paying attention.

Invite your students to analyze Mink with a body biography . Let them hone their artistic abilities by turning the short story into a comic strip (a sneaky plot/sequence activity) or take part in a Who’s the Real Villain? Activity, where they argue their case with evidence from the text. For an added twist, compare the short story to the Old Time Radio production or the Ray Bradbury Theater film adaptation. Head over here to see more.

8) The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

One of the most iconic short stories in American literature, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson never fails to leave students with their jaws on the floor. This unsettling tale of tradition and sacrifice in a small town has a haunting ending that will have your students thinking critically about societal norms and “herd mentality.” Jackson’s powerful storytelling offers plenty of suspense, building tension right up to the horrific conclusion.

This story is a perfect opportunity to engage students in a bit of literary analysis combined with real-world connections: sacrificial offerings, stoning, mob mentality, and so on. Then, give students a bit of creative leeway, such as imagining what social media would look like if Jackson were to publish this today, or have students reflect on the story and write their own Dear Shirley letter, much like what flooded the New York Times more than 70 years ago! If you’re ready for some eerie discussions, this one won’t disappoint. Check out my 5-day unit here !

7) The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Sterling will give your students a look at a different writing medium by exploring the transcript of an episode of The Twilight Zone . Up the ante by having your students get into character and read different parts of the teleplay! This text offers a solid opportunity to discuss several different types of conflict and the impact of the setting on other elements.

I love to pair this one with that sticky RI.6.8 standard by watching the episode after reading and comparing the two experiences. You can also have students debate who the real monster of Maple Street is with a creative writing activity , pair the teleplay with a nonfiction text on the herd mentality, or send them through another escape room (do they ever get old?! For my classroom, that answer is no!). Your students have a blast with this one. If you want more gripping teleplays, check out Sorry, Wrong Number or The Hitchhiker !

the monsters are due on maple street by rod serling

6) The Elevator by William Sleator

The Elevator by William Sleator tells the tale of a young boy, Martin, and his fear of elevators, especially the creaky one in his old apartment building. Martin repeatedly encounters a woman in the elevator who does nothing but stare intensely at him. Sleator builds a classic tale of suspense as readers are gripped by the short story, wondering what will happen between the two. Teach your students about the magic of foreshadowing with this story, as Sleator provides plenty of excellent examples! Your students will feel like they’re right there with Martin as he faces his fear in “The Elevator.”

This scary short story offers unique opportunities to learn more about phobias (like Martin’s agoraphobia), and I like to pair this short story with an NPR podcast about the science of fear. Check out those activities here.

Side note: The original version uses a body-insensitive term that may make some of your students uncomfortable. I’ve linked an adapted version here .

5) Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl’s Lamb to the Slaughter serves up a deliciously dark tale that your students either love or hate! The story follows Mary Maloney, a devoted wife who, upon receiving shocking news from her husband, Patrick, takes an unexpected {and sinister} turn. Dahl’s use of irony makes this short story stand out as students explore how appearances can be deceiving.

There are plenty of ways to bring this story to life in your classroom. I love putting a fun visual twist on character analysis of both Mary and Patrick. Interested in exploring irony? Lead your students through an irony scavenger hunt, identifying verbal, situational, and dramatic irony throughout the story. Finally, get creative with a Wanted Poster activity for Mary Maloney—your students will love it! See more here .

4) Click Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman

Looking for a spine-chilling tale that will keep your students on the edge of their seats? Click Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman is the perfect scary short story to bring an eerie atmosphere into your classroom. This story builds suspense with every line as a young boy tells a seemingly innocent bedtime story that takes a terrifying turn. Gaiman masterfully uses subtle details to create an unsettling feeling, leaving readers wondering what will happen next.

One of my favorite ways to use this story is with a finish the story activity . After the suspenseful ending, let your students take over and write their own version of what happens next. To really set the mood, dim the lights, give them flashlights to read their version aloud, and watch as their creativity takes off! Writing by candlelight adds an extra level of suspense, and it’s always a crowd favorite. Get ready for goosebumps!

3) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Bring a classic into the modern era with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving! This eerie tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman has been chilling readers for over a century. Even though it was written in the 1820s, the suspense and mystery still resonate with students today. Gen-Z Media published a podcast in 2020 called The Hollow in which the Headless Horseman returns… it’s a great way to make this old classic feel fresh!

I love using these podcast listening sheets and BINGO boards to help students follow along with the podcast. Your students will be hooked on this spooky story all over again! Head here to see more details.

2) The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs

The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs is a twisted tale carrying a familiar “be careful what you wish for!” warning. Mr. and Mrs. White and their adult son, Herbert, are taken on quite a ride when a friend who served in the British army brings them a mummified monkey’s paw when he joins them for dinner. Your students will be at the edge of their seats as they follow the White family’s journey until the very end.

This short story offers many opportunities to discuss ways in which Jacobs builds suspense with his audience. Students have a blast considering what their three wishes would be – along with the potential consequences of each wish. I also love to pair this short story with a bit of superstition research. Does a rabbit’s foot really bring good luck? What about a broken mirror? There are endless opportunities to expand on this scary short story! Read more about how I teach “The Monkey’s Paw” her e !

1) The Landlady by Roald Dahl

Last but certainly not least is The Landlady by Roald Dahl. This is my absolute favorite of all the suspenseful stories, and I think your students will agree. Though they are all engaging stories, “The Landlady” brings forth a new level of suspense. Billy Weaver is 17 years old and, upon recommendation from a porter, visits a bed and breakfast run by a landlady with a secret.

Irony is an excellent device to teach when reading this short story, along with mood, foreshadowing, and more. I love asking students to either write up a press release on the Landlady or create a “MOST WANTED” poster . This is my favorite scary story to conclude the spooking season with. Dim the lights, offer your students some “tea,” and set them to work with a Landlady escape room . Check out more ideas on making this lesson an absolute homerun here .

For more scary short stories by Roald Dahl, be sure to visit this post .

I hope you incorporate at least one of these scary short stories in your classroom this year! I guarantee your students will love learning about suspense while being taken on a fun (and scary) ride using any of these short stories. If you’re looking for a way to launch your scary short story season, don’t miss my Elements of Horror intro.

Don’t forget to pop back here and let me know how it goes. Happy Teaching!

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