It’s that SPOOKTACULAR time of year once again when we can engage our students with spooky stories— from real life and fiction! Students LOVE scary stories. Like all of us, they are attracted to the mysterious and the unknown. Like all of us, students love suspense, gothic, and horror, which makes Halloween the perfect time to target essential skills through student interests.
Here are five podcast episodes from one of my personal favorite podcasts called simply, True. These podcast episodes are perfect to use for middle school and high school English Language Arts!
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Ep 84 The Tylenol Murders
Here is the description of this episode:
“In the Fall of 1982, taking something as simple as a pill for your headache could have been fatal. That’s because someone was tampering with Tylenol capsules and filling them with cyanide. When it comes to risky pain relief treatment, taking an over-the-counter pill usually doesn’t rank at the top of the list. For those living in the Chicago area, however, it was gambling with death.”
EP 82 Freak Accidents
Here is the description of this episode:
“There are accidents and then there are freak accidents. The difference is that when it comes to freak accidents, the victim will never see it coming. Whether you’re lying in bed, eating a carrot, sitting on the toilet, or out for a quiet day of fishing, it doesn’t matter how many safety precautions are taken or how simple the activity. In the end, there’s no way to predict when or how it will happen.”
Ep 73 Killer Movies
Here is the description of this episode:
“Who doesn’t love a good movie? Whether it’s a romcom or an action adventure, sometimes there’s no better escape from reality. Behind the scenes, however, the reality is that movie making is a pretty risky business. From crew members being eaten by sharks to actors literally losing their heads for the perfect shot, the industry is not for everyone.”
This episode takes a closer look at films that have led to someone dying (due to prop mishaps, etc.) or being seriously injured.
Ep 57 The Watcher
Yes, this is an episode by the same name as the Netflix drama series— but this episode came out way before they turned this bizarre TRUE story into a show.
Here is the description of this episode:
“When the new homeowners arrived at their dream house, they were touched to find a welcome letter in the mailbox. It was such a thoughtful and old-fashioned custom for 2014. But what they read was terrifying and marked the beginning of a nightmare that lasted for years. "Allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood. My grandfather watched the house in the 1920s and my father watched in the 1960s. It is now my time. Do you know what lies within the walls? You have children. I have seen them. Once I know their names, I will call to them and draw them to me. Welcome my friends, welcome. Let the party begin.” It was signed The Watcher.”
Ep 26 The King Air Incident
Here is the description of this episode:
“It’s scary to hear the question “is there a doctor on board?” when you’re thousands of feet in the air. But it’s terrifying to hear someone ask “is there a pilot on board?”. It doesn't happen often, but when passengers with little to no piloting experience are forced to take the controls, they better stay calm, have a pretty good sense of humor, and, most importantly, figure out where the button for the radio is located. In April 2009, a passenger flying home with his family found out why.”
To be honest, any episode from this podcast is excellent for Halloween time. Consider having students select an episode of their choice from True and summarizing the story to present to the class. Students can even practice pulling quotations from the episode and blending them into their own sentences as textual evidence in their summaries as well as practice MLA format.
There are SO many skills right here with a simple podcast episode that students will ENJOY!
About the Author
Meredith is the founder and creator of Bespoke ELA and TeachWriting.org. She has taught high school English for 15+ years in Dallas, Chicago, and New York City and holds a M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University. She has always had a connection to the written word-- through songwriting, screenplay writing, and essay writing-- and she enjoys the process of teaching students how to express their ideas. Meredith enjoys life with her sweet daughter and Yorkie.