Micro Lesson Video
Lesson Plan
Level: Basic
Business/Materials
- Video:
The Headless Horseman – Mythology Unleashed - Whiteboard and markers
- Chart with 6 rows (Arthurian, Irish, Scottish, German, American/Sleepy Hollow) and 4 columns (questions)
- Three bags with cut-up square answers for:
- Color of horse
- How the horseman lost his head
- What happens when he catches you
Lesson Objectives
- Students will understand and compare folklore traditions around the Headless Horseman
- Students will discuss Halloween and scary story customs
- Students will create and present their own version of a Headless Horseman story
Warm-Up and Objective Discussion
Show pictures of common Halloween figures:
- 👻 Ghost
- 🧟 Zombie
- 🎃 Jack-o’-lantern
- 🧠 Frankenstein’s Monster
Ask students:
- “Do you know these characters?”
- “Where are they from?”
- “Are there similar figures in your culture?”
Then transition:
“Today we’re going to explore a ghost story found around the world — the Headless Horseman — and make our own version.”
Instruct and Model
Vocabulary and Geography
Introduce key terms:
Horse, Rider, Head, Headless, Dullahan, Axe, Gallop
Show a map with the regions mentioned in the video:
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Germany
- England (Arthurian legends)
- United States (Sleepy Hollow)
Practice pronunciation:
- Ireland (sounds like Ire + land)
- Irving (Washington Irving — soft “i”)
- Arthur vs Urn vs Ear — cover the ER, IR, UR spelling and sound patterns.
Guided Practice
- Hand out the Headless Horseman Comparison Chart (6 rows, 4 columns)
Columns/questions:
- Where is the story from?
- What color is the horse?
- How did the horseman lose his head?
- What happens when he catches you?
- Preview the American Sleepy Hollow story using picture slides or storytelling.
- Play the Mythology Unleashed video (linked above). Students fill out the chart while listening.
- After the video:
- Redraw the chart on the board
- Ask students to help fill it in verbally
- Clarify answers and summarize across regions
Independent Practice
20 Questions Game – Headless Horseman Edition
- Divide students into groups of 3
- One student secretly selects one of the 5 cultural versions of the Headless Horseman
- The other two ask questions from the chart:
- “Is your horse black?”
- “Did you lose your head in battle?”
- “Do you carry your head with you?”
- They try to guess which version the student is thinking of.
Assessment
Frankenstein Folklore Creation
- Use the three bags containing randomized answers (from the last three columns on the chart).
- Each student/group draws:
- A horse color
- A way the horseman lost his head
- A punishment for being caught
Then:
- Students invent a new Headless Horseman character using these parts
- They write and present their short story to the class
- Bonus: Students vote for the scariest, funniest, or most creative version