Short Stories for Teaching Conflict

In today’s episode of the Teaching ELA Podcast, I discuss several short stories with a focus on conflict: “The Most Dangerous Game,” “To Build a Fire,” “The Monkey’s Paw,” “Through the Tunnel,” and “Harrison Bergeron.” I’ve got an emergency lesson plan you can get on the board right now involving conflict. (Originally Published on September 20, 2021)

Takeaways

1. Everyone can connect with conflict. Use the 2-minute lesson plan involving conflict and point of view to help students internalize literature.
2. Although most stories involve multiple types of conflict, I’ve given you exemplary texts for teaching the five major types of conflict.
3. Teaching the skill of citing textual evidence to support analysis makes teaching all other standards either no longer necessary or easier to teach.

Links and Resources

1. Conflict Lesson Plans/Handouts
2. “To Build A Fire” by Jack London at elacommoncorelessonplans.com
3. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs at elacommoncorelessonplans.com
4. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connel at elacommoncorelessonplans.com
5. “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing at elacommoncorelessonplans.com
6. Short Stories for Teaching Conflict at elacommoncorelessonplans.com