Serafina and the Splintered Heart + Writing a Ghost Story

Scary stories, or horror stories, are one of the favorite genres of middle and high school students, especially this time of year!  Well-written novels in this genre devote a lot of space to crafting the perfect setting, one which lends itself to creepiness....  

The Serafina series follows the adventures of Serafina, an orphan who is taken in by a worker at the Biltmore House, as well as her animal and human friends.  Along the way, Serafina and Braden run into many spooky adventures and have to solve the mysteries that keep popping up around the estate.  Each book features a new antagonist.

Reading scary stories helps students to develop a good sense of setting, and is a great way to encourage new and struggling writers to write.  They'll be so busy mastering the art of suspense, and trying to surprise you, that it won't seem like an assignment!

Our spine read for this unit is Serafina and the Splintered Heart

Access the complete unit in the Fantasy & Fiction Novel Studies Bundle!

Includes eight novel studies covering the fantasy and fiction genre. Each novel addresses a new topic, primarily falling into social studies and language arts categories.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including one featured novel – the spine of the unit.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
• Some units also have cooking projects.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product Sample:  Serafina and the Black Cloak & Appalachian Folklore