Nonfiction Article with Questions - Spooky Story - Reading Comprehension Teens

This nonfiction unit includes an engaging article with comprehension questions and uses a structured approach in developing students’ critical thinking, writing, and discussion skills! Students read a spooky story about Pocatello High School (a school that’s allegedly haunted), answer higher-level thinking questions, and make text-to-self and text-to-world connections through writing.

Students will next work in groups to "investigate" their own allegedly haunted place by selecting a location within their state! This research activity requires students to learn the history or backstory of their haunted locations and to evaluate the credibility of any "haunting" evidence or eyewitness testimony. This collaborative activity will ultimately provide students with deeper insight into how local folklore and legends shape a community's identity.

This lesson plan and activities are designed to engage students in critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis of information while addressing core academic standards in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

And who doesn’t love a spooky story?

The topic of a haunted high school will instantly hook your students and increase their levels of engagement! They will love viewing the school's security surveillance video (showing an alleged spectral presence) that went viral!

Watching A & E's Ghost Hunters series trailer featuring Pocatello High School will also leave them wanting to know more!

This nonfiction reading unit targets the following academic skills:

Students will

• Enhance their reading comprehension skills through the analysis of a detailed passage.
• Develop critical thinking and deductive reasoning while answering the multiple-choice questions.
• Self-reflect on their personal beliefs regarding the paranormal.
• Use collaborative and investigative skills through a structured group activity.
• Apply their learned skills and knowledge while investigating a local haunted site.

This resource includes the following materials:

• PDF Teacher’s Guide with Google Drive links, directions for Microsoft Office users, and instructions on how to print handouts
• “Shadows of Pocatello High School: A Haunted Legacy” – A high-interest nonfiction article containing real images and relevant video links. (Word Count is 1868, Lexile range of 950L-1100L, Grades 7-10)
• 20 Higher-Level Multiple Choice Questions using Bloom’s Taxonomy and including vocabulary from the reading passage and the writer’s use of figurative language
• Multiple Choice Answer Key with explanations for the challenging questions and a Google Form Autograding Quiz option
• 2 Self-Reflection Writing Prompts with Sample Essay Responses
• Conducting a Haunted History Investigation Handout to use as a model for the group activity
• Group Activity with Assigned Roles – Investigating the History 0f a Haunted Location In Your State
• Detailed CCSS Chart listing the Reading, Writing, and Speaking/Listening Standards aligned with the specific activities and materials that meets each standard.
• A detailed lesson plan with a list of objectives and complete day-by-day implementation guide

This nonfiction mini-unit for teens and tweens will take 3-4 days (one hour class periods) if all the activities are implemented. The reading comprehension article with questions can be implemented in 1.5 class periods.

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