OCTOBER 16

HALLOWEEN

Today we will learn about the history of halloween and it's traditions. We will also be taking a look at the famous Goosebumps series and working on our listening comprehension.

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

HALLOWEEN

What do people think of when they think of Halloween?

_____________________________________________________________________________

How far back did Halloween originate?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What was the name of the festival?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What day did the festival take place?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What happened on the night before Samhain?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What did people leave for the “dead”?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What did they call Halloween in the 8th century?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What are the names of the other 2 traditions of Halloween in Medieval Britain?

_____________________________________________________________________________

When was all souls day?

_____________________________________________________________________________

What was guising?

_____________________________________________________________________________

When did Halloween take its current family friendly form?

_____________________________________________________________________________

How much money does the U.S spend on Halloween per year?

_____________________________________________________________________________

    

Come up with a word that is “scarier” than each of these:

Strange:______________

Pale:_________________

Gross:________________

Horrible:______________

Spooky:_______________

WELCOME TO CAMP NIGHTMARE

BY: R.L. STEIN

The creatures stopped a few yards from the concrete platform and raised themselves up menacingly on their hind feet. Huddled between Mike and Jay, I could see them clearly now. They were wolves or wildcats of some sort. Standing upright, they were nearly three feet tall. They had slender, almost scrawny bodies, covered with spotty red-brown fur. Their paws had long, silvery nails growing out of them. Their heads were nearly as slender as their bodies. Tiny red weasel eyes stared hungrily at us. Their long mouths snapped open and shut, revealing double rows of silvery, daggerlike teeth.

“No! No! Help!” Mike dropped to his knees. His entire body convulsed in a shudder of terror.

Some of the kids were crying. Others gaped at the advancing creatures in stunned silence. I was too scared to cry out or move or do anything. I stared at the row of creatures, my heart thudding, my mouth as dry as cotton. The creatures grew silent. Standing a few feet from the platform, they eyed us, snapping their jaws loudly, hungrily. White froth began to drop from their mouths.

“They—they’re going to attack!” a boy yelled.

“They look hungry!” I heard one of the girls say.

The white froth poured thickly over their pointed teeth. They continued to snap their jaws. It sounded like a dozen steel traps being snapped shut. Suddenly, one of them leapt onto the edge of the platform.

“No!” several kids cried out in unison.

We huddled closer together, trying to stay behind the pile of trunks and bags. Another creature climbed onto the platform. Then three more. I took a step back. I saw Jay pull back his arm and heave a red rock at one of the frothing creatures. The rock his the platform with a crack and bounced away. The creatures were not frightened. They arched their backs, preparing to attack. They began to make a high-pitched chattering sound. And moved nearer. Nearer. Jay threw another rock. This one hit one of the advancing creatures on he side. It uttered a shrill eek of surprise. But it kept moving steadily forward, its red eyes trained on Jay, its jaws snapping hungrily.

“Go away!” Dori cried in a trembling voice. “Go home! Go away! Go away!”

But her shouts had no effect. The creatures advanced.

“Run!” I urged. “Run!”

“We can’t outrun them!” someone shouted.

The shrill chittering grew louder. Deafening. Until it seemed as if we were surrounded by a wall of sound. The ugly creatures lowered themselves to pounce.

“Run!” I repeated. “Come on – run!”

My legs wouldn’t cooperate. They felt rubbery and weak. Trying to back away from the attacking creatures, I topped over backwards off the platform. I saw flashing stars as the back of my head hit the hard ground. They’re going to get me, I realized. I can’t get away.

QUESTIONS:

What is happening in this passage that might make the reader feel scared or nervous?

What words and phrases in this passage make the reader feel something? How do they make the reader feel?

Mood is a feeling that the author creates by using words that have a certain effect on a reader. What mood does R.L. Stine create with this passage? (Answers may vary but could include: spooky, scary, tense, exciting, etc.)

How do you think the title and the information from the cover we discussed earlier relates to the situation described in this passage?




USEFUL LINKS:

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween/interactives