As Halloween approaches, finding engaging, educational activities that capture the spirit of the season can be a challenge. This year, I’ve designed a lesson that taps into middle school students' love for spooky stories through podcasts, paired with a deep dive into the psychology of fear. It’s a blend of literature, science, and, of course, a whole lot of chills—perfect for the Halloween season.

Why Podcasts?

Podcasts are a powerful tool for engaging students in the modern classroom. They allow students to hone their listening skills while exposing them to rich, immersive storytelling that builds suspense and creates vivid mental imagery. For this lesson, I selected three spooky podcasts to explore:

The Hollow – A mystery-thriller where teens wake up in a strange world with no memories, solving puzzles to survive.
GZM Shows: R.L. Stine’s Story Club – From the mind behind Goosebumps, this podcast delivers short, creepy tales designed to unsettle and entertain.
Unspookable – An educational podcast that unpacks the legends and history behind classic horror myths, from Bloody Mary to haunted houses.

These podcasts offer a perfect blend of thrilling suspense and age-appropriate spookiness, making them ideal for middle schoolers craving a scare without going overboard.

Pre-Reading: The Science Behind Why We Love Being Scared

Before diving into the spooky podcasts, I have students read the article “Why We Like Scary Things: The Science of Recreational Fear” by Richard Sima from The Washington Post. The article is fascinating because it explains the brain chemistry behind why people love being scared for fun—something most middle schoolers can relate to.

In the article, Sima explores concepts like dopamine and fight-or-flight responses, shedding light on why we enjoy haunted houses, rollercoasters, and yes, spooky podcasts. By connecting the excitement of being scared to brain science, students can see that their enjoyment of the supernatural isn't just a matter of personal taste—there's science behind it.

Making Connections: From Podcasts to Science

After reading the article, students are encouraged to make connections between what they've learned about recreational fear and the podcasts they’re about to listen to. Some of the key questions they reflect on include:

How do spooky podcasts create a sense of fear or tension?
Why do some people enjoy scary stories more than others?
What elements from the podcasts (like sound effects or music) trigger a “fight-or-flight” response in listeners?

By focusing on how sound and storytelling elements impact the brain, students are encouraged to think critically about the media they consume. This blends the creative, fun side of spooky stories with real-world learning, grounding their experience in the science of how fear works.

Comparing Podcasts to Literature

The fun doesn’t stop at podcasts! After diving into the world of spooky audio, we compare these podcasts to classic literature. For example:

The Hollow is compared to Richard Connell’s "The Most Dangerous Game", both of which explore survival in the face of unknown dangers.
R.L. Stine’s Story Club pairs beautifully with Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”, both stories using unreliable narrators and psychological tension to build fear.
Unspookable connects with informational texts like "The History Behind Halloween", focusing on how spooky myths have evolved over time and the origins of traditions like haunted houses.

This comparison helps students understand how different mediums—audio storytelling and traditional literature—use suspense, characterization, and plot twists to evoke fear.

Why This Lesson Fits Perfectly with Halloween

Halloween is the season of chills and thrills, and what better way to celebrate than by immersing students in a world of spooky stories? This lesson:

Engages students with modern, relevant media: Podcasts are a format that resonates with tech-savvy middle schoolers, making the content fresh and exciting.
Teaches critical thinking and media literacy: Students learn to analyze how podcasts and stories create suspense, use sound, and engage listeners in new ways.
Makes science fun: By exploring the science of fear, students see how their love for spooky things is rooted in biology and psychology, making the lesson both educational and thrilling.
Ties into classic literature: This approach allows students to see connections between their favorite modern media and the traditional stories we study in class.

Plus, with Halloween in the air, there’s nothing quite like a spooky podcast to set the mood. Whether students are sitting at home in the dark or gathering in groups to listen together, they get the chance to experience fear in a safe, controlled, and fun way.

TL;DR

By combining science, spooky stories, and classic literature, this lesson engages students in a meaningful and entertaining way that’s perfect for the Halloween season. They walk away not only having enjoyed a good scare but also understanding the psychology behind why they love it. So, if you’re looking to spark some spooky fun in your classroom, grab your headphones, dive into these podcasts, and let the scares begin!

How to Engage Middle Schoolers with Spooky Podcasts : A Perfect Halloween Lesson