October Homework Project
Create a Haunted House!
Due: Wednesday, Oct. 31
This month’s homework project is theme-based for Halloween. Each student will create a
three-dimensional haunted house, with both writing and math included as separate
elements.
To make this project manageable, it’s best to complete one element each week. The
following format is suggested:
Week 1(Oct. 7-13): Plan and build the haunted house. It
must be three-dimensional! No drawings on paper will be
accepted (unless those drawings are used as part of the
scenery in the house itself). I suggest using some type of
box to start with (such as a shoe box), or use a piece of
cardboard for the base. It must not exceed 16” x 16”, and it
must be easy enough for the student to carry alone. No
violent scenes, please! Think of scary creatures and scenes
that do not include weapons or violence (mummies,
vampires, monsters, etc. are all acceptable). Use what you
have at home to creatively make this project—don’t add
expenses by purchasing unnecessary “extras” just to make
it fancy. Grades are not based on perfection, but rather on
creative, imaginative use of resources!
Week 2 (14-20): Write a short story about your haunted house using the organizer and
flow map attached to this information. The story must be written by the student, not by
family members or friends! The finished product must be written neatly on lined paper.
Remember to use complex, descriptive sentences that make a picture for the reader. You
must turn in the completed story, as well as the organizers, in order to receive full credit.
Week 3 (21-27): Write a multiplication word problem related to your haunted house that
uses a table to help figure out the price for admission on different days of the week. I
suggest that you simply set the prices for admission (you must use three-digit numbers)
and multiply that by a group of friends that wants to visit the haunted house together
(Ex.: 7 friends). You will write the math problem using words, then show the solution.
Here’s an example:
Matthew and his 6 friends want to go to Mama Donna’s Haunted House. The price of
admission is $3.50 on Monday and Tuesday, $3.75 on Wednesday and Friday, and $5.25
on the weekend. How much will it cost them to visit the haunted house if they all go on
Monday? Friday?
Mama Donna’s Haunted House
Mon.
$3.50
Tues.
$3.50
Wed.
$3.75
Thurs.
closed
Fri.
$3.75
Sat.
$5.25
Sun.
$5.25
(You must show the math problem(s) with regrouping!)
This is actually pretty easy and fun to do, as long as you keep it simple. Don’t try to be
really elaborate, but do include details in your haunted house that make it interesting.
Your writing, of course, will benefit from using great description and details, too. And
remember: Do one part each week in order to create a project that is of excellent quality.
Rushed projects are easy to see, and will certainly earn a lower score than one that is
thoughtful and well-made.
Turn in all elements of this project at the same time--due by Wednesday, Oct. 31. No late
projects will be accepted. If a student is going to be absent the day the project is due,
someone must drop off the project at school.
Be responsible, and work diligently to complete this on time!
Have fun, and work hard! I can hardly wait to see what you create!
Note: If your family does not celebrate Halloween, then you can make a fall scene instead
of a haunted house. Your story could be about a trip to the pumpkin patch, a walk
through the woods, or some other fall-related theme.
This project is worth 100 homework points!
Haunted House Narrative Story Organizer
Your narrative should tell a story about at least two characters. A good
story always has a problem and solution! It must include details about your
haunted house. Use this organizer to get started, then create a flow map to
briefly show how the story moves from one event to the next. Your final
piece will be written neatly on lined paper and should include sensory
details (what do the characters, see, feel, hear—show, don’t tell!). You might
want to include dialogue to make it interesting. This organizer must be
turned in with your final project!
Characters (who):___________________________________________
Setting (where):
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Plot (what happens, when, why, how. Remember, this part does not have all
of the details yet! Just give a summary of the problem and solution in your
story): Use the back of this paper to create a flow map showing first, next,
then, and finally.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Halloween Project Rubric
(to be completed by Ms. Gatz)
Haunted House (35 points possible)
___ I completed the Haunted House and turned it in on time (35 points)
___ I did not complete the Haunted House in time. (0 points)
Narrative Story (33 points possible)
___ I completed the narrative, and turned in the graphic organizer that shows the characters,
setting, plot, and flow map. My story shows that I put a lot of effort into making it as good as
possible (33 points possible)
___ I completed the narrative, but something is missing (25 points):
• The organizer showing my planning stages was not included.
• I did not write the final copy neatly on lined paper.
• My story shows that I did not put much effort into making it as good as possible.
___ I only turned in the graphic organizer, or I turned my paperwork in late, or I did not write
the final copy neatly on lined paper (15 points).
___ I didn’t turn in anything—no graphic organizer, no final copy, nothing. This shows that I
put no effort into my project (0 points).
Math Word Problem (32 points possible)
___I completed the math word problem and wrote the table, word problem, and solution neatly.
The solution shows the correct answer (32 points).
___I completed the math word problem, but something might be missing (25 points):
• The table, word problem, or correct solution is not included (only one missing element).
• My word problem doesn’t make sense, but the math is correct.
• My penmanship needs to improve so the word problem can be easily read.
___ I only turned in the sample problem that we did in class, or I copied it instead of doing the
work or making my own word problem, or the work was incomplete. (15 points)
___ I didn’t do the word problem. This shows that I put no effort into my project (0 points).
Final Score: __________