Not much can happen in a short story due to its limited length. Many short stories, as a result, begin in the middle of a scene, rather than at a more logical beginning point. Have your students think carefully about plot by asking them to imagine what happens before or after the plot that's represented in the short story. Ask them to write their prequels or sequels in a narrative style similar to the original. As an extension activity, you can have students act out their prequels and sequels with classmates.
A short story's setting is also usually limited by length constraints. Fortunately, this makes it easy for students to pick one setting that has an important impact on the story and to do something interesting with it. You can have students draw a picture of the setting. Ask them to read the story carefully and focus on the details of the description of the setting. These should be included in the drawing. You might have students do more of a straight analysis and come up with a few ways in which setting foreshadows action in the story.
Different short stories are told from different perspectives. Make students think about this important element of the short story with a creative writing activity. Have students rewrite the story from the perspective of another character in the story. This can be the antagonist, someone close to the protagonist or even a minor character who barely makes an appearance. Students should think about what this person's voice and speaking style sound like, and how to make his point of view sympathetic to the reader.
The theme of a short story refers simply to its meaning. Teach students to analyze theme by having them relate it to contemporary society. Ask students to write a short paper about how the story's meaning is similar or different to something going on in the world today. They should think about how the lessons that the story teaches applies to our world. Alternatively, have students write a letter to the editor of a fictional newspaper disagreeing with the story's message.