Seventh-grade Advanced English students at J.E.J. Moore Middle School have been exploring the life and literary works of famed American author Edgar Allan Poe through a series of engaging classroom activities, a visit to the Poe Museum, and creative projects that bring his stories to life.

As part of their studies, students began by participating in a virtual scavenger hunt using the Poe Museum's website, discovering interesting facts about the author's life, experiences, and literary contributions.

Students then had the opportunity to visit the Poe Museum in Richmond, where they explored artifacts that helped tell Poe's life story. During their visit, students also participated in a primary source activity, examining how historical artifacts connected to the people, places, and events that shaped the world in which Poe lived.

Back in the classroom, students explored several of Poe's well-known literary works, including The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Fall of the House of Usher.

Building on their reading, students completed plot diagrams identifying key elements of their selected stories, reinforcing their understanding of literary structure and skills aligned with Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL).

To further demonstrate their understanding of Poe's storytelling, students were encouraged to express their creativity through independent projects of their choosing. Project options included writing alternate endings, designing mood boards, developing music playlists inspired by the stories, creating diary entries, and preparing dramatic retellings.

Families will have an opportunity to see the students' hard work during J.E.J. Moore Middle School's Learning Expo on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Among the events planned for the evening, there will be displays of student projects and plot diagrams, along with select dramatic retellings of Poe's stories.

Through this engaging learning experience, students have strengthened their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and creative expression skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for one of America's most recognized literary figures.