Scary Story in Messages
This A2 ESL lesson plan, Scary Story in Messages, helps students explore fear and mystery through sound and storytelling. Learners begin with a “Scary Sounds” listening activity, guessing what they hear and deciding if each sound is scary or not. They then read a short, spooky text message exchange between two friends and discuss what might happen next. The lesson includes vocabulary, a crossword, and creative writing tasks where students imagine their own ghostly endings. It’s perfect for building listening, reading, and speaking skills while enjoying a fun, Halloween-style mystery.
Student's Version (Light/Dark)
Teacher's Version (Answer Keys)
Printable Classroom Version (A4)
| Level | Vocabulary | Lesson Time |
| A2 / Pre-Intermediate | 10 words | 60 min |
Vocabulary
- Window
- Curtain
- Footsteps
- Alone
- Serious
- Move
- Light
- Turn on
- Dark
- Get out
Contents
- Lead-in
- Guessing game
- Vocabulary
- Definitions
- Crossword
- Reading
- Comprehension
- Discussion
- Your ending
- Speaking
- Questions
- Practice
- Pictures
- Homework
Teaching Guide
Lead-in, Guessing game
The lesson opens with a lively discussion designed to activate students’ background knowledge and spark interest in the theme of scary messages. Learners answer short, accessible questions about fear, strange noises, and ghost stories to build engagement and personal connection. This is followed by a “Scary Sounds” guessing game, where students listen to five different noises, decide if each one is scary or not, and try to identify what they hear. The activity encourages active listening and sets a playful yet suspenseful tone for the lesson.
Vocabulary, Definitions
In this stage, students work with ten short, question-style definitions to elicit key vocabulary from context. They are encouraged to guess freely and share ideas before checking the correct answers on the next page. This stage promotes discovery learning and prepares students for upcoming reading tasks by introducing essential language in a meaningful way.
Crossword, Reading, Comprehension
Students complete a crossword puzzle using seven key words, reinforcing vocabulary through form and meaning. They then read a short text message exchange between two friends, Anna and Mia, where something mysterious happens. After reading, students share predictions about how the story might end, then check their understanding by answering five comprehension questions focused on key details. This stage develops reading skills, vocabulary recall, and inference.
Discussion, Your Ending
Learners analyze three different story endings (happy, scary, and funny) and discuss which one fits best. They justify their choice and then move on to a short creative writing task: composing their own 2–3 line text message ending for the story. This transition from guided discussion to free production helps learners personalize the language and practice storytelling in a familiar digital format.
Speaking, Questions
Students discuss several short scenarios and decide whether each one is scary or not scary. The activity encourages full-sentence responses and the use of target vocabulary. Teachers can extend the task into short writing practice or pair interviews, supporting both fluency and accuracy through personal expression.
Practice, Pictures
Students match sentence beginnings and endings to form logical and descriptive sentences, then describe a set of spooky pictures. They explain what they see, what they might hear, and how they would feel in each situation. This stage integrates visual input with emotional vocabulary, developing descriptive and imaginative language.
Homework
For homework, students write their own mini text-message ghost story of 8–10 messages (or longer if they wish). The story can be scary, funny, or mysterious. In the following lesson, students share their stories with the class, providing a fun opportunity for peer feedback and creative fluency practice.
