Lesson 2: Horror

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Period 3 - lesson 3

Horror

Period 2 - Lesson 2

Horror 

Planning for today

• Introduction: What makes something scary? 
• Vocab exercise 
• Listening & watching assignments 
• Speaking assignment

1 min

Do you like horror?
Yes: why? / No: Why not?

3 min

What makes a movie a horror movie?
Which elements does it need to be scary?

Activating pre-knowledge (3 - 5 min)

Assignment

Watching horror movies makes you ... scared

Fill the word web on the next slide with synonyms (words that mean the same thing) to work on your vocabulary. Think of words for yourself or have a look at Google.

Example: terrified, freaked out

1 min

Synonyms for scared

7 min (5 min to search/ enter words and 2 to discuss) 

Assignment 

We are going to watch a video about what makes a horror movie scary. The clip covers 5 things that create fright. 

Watch the video and listen well. Answer the questions that pop up in between the video. 

15 min for this assignment 

Disclaimer

The video does show fake blood and shows weapons like knives. There are some very minor jump scares/ scary scenes from movies. 

Looking away is fine if you can't handle seeing these things!

01:19

Opinion question:
Why do you think horror movies are this popular, compared to other genres?

03:05

What does the sound of the popcorn on the stove do in this particular scene?

03:54

So, what does sound/music do to create the feeling of horror?

1. Loud noises scare people when they don't suspect it coming.
2. It adds an extra element that builds suspense.
3. Background music is required to publish a movie
4. Movies without music or noises are too boring

05:07

Why does a scene become scary when something happens that you don't suspect?

06:01

Why is a physical form needed to makes things scary?

06:56

Why is it important to cast the right person when creating a horror movie?

1. It isn't. Everybody that can scream can star in a horror movie.
2. Popular actors are needed to bring people to come see the movie.
3. Their characteristics or appearance adds to their character.
4. The killers are often large men, so they need to cast those.

07:50

Why do we keep watching scary movies, regardless of the way they make us feel?

Assignment

We are going to watch a clip about a real family living in a house haunted by ghosts. The story has been made into a movie. 

Watch the clip. During the video, questions will pop up. 

Disclaimer

The video shows clips from the movie The Conjuring. There are some minor jump scares with loud noises. 

Looking away is fine if you can't handle seeing these things!

00:38

What did the family not know before they moved into the house?

01:02

Which suggestion was made to the family by the former owner of the house?

1. Don't go into the basement at night.
2. Don't burn candles next to open windows.
3. Move somewhere else.
4. Keep your lights on at night.

01:35

What is said about the youngest girl in the family?

1. She had a relationship with the boy.
2. She was the only one that could see him.
3. Her toys kept disappearing.
4. She slept outside because the was scared

02:11

Why did the family agree to make this movie about their experiences?

Discussion questions in MC

Discuss the following questions in your MC

• Do you think that the family's story could                                really have occurred as they say it did? 
• Would the trailer convince you to see the movie? 
• Do you know of any locations or buildings in the Netherlands that are haunted? 

Pitch your own scary movie

Your MC has created a new horror movie and you are pitching it to a company to get it filmed. Write a pitch and add:

- What happens in the story? 

- Who are the characters? What happens to them? 

- Where does the story take place? 

- Discuss the elements to make the film. 

Prepare a 3-minute pitch to present in front of the class. Be creative! Add things like sound effects to add to the scary vibe! 

(25 min total) 

6 min to watch the video

15 min to prepare 

Pick 2 (or more if you have extra time) to present their pitch to the class. 

The rest of the class can vote on if they would go see this movie to keep them engaged as well. 

(lessons duration: 65 minutes)