Looking to haunt your students' imaginations and get them excited about suspenseful storytelling? This Elements of Suspense lesson is a bone-chilling introduction or review of key suspense techniques that will leave your students on the edge of their seats! Perfect for humanities teachers, this resource brings thrills, chills, and academic skills to the classroom just in time for the fall and Halloween season.

Designed for grades 6-8, this engaging lesson breaks down the five essential elements of suspense—Pacing, Foreshadowing, Uncertainty, Danger, and Red Herrings—with fun, easy-to-understand examples, guided notes, and opportunities for practice using classic literature and media. Whether you're introducing these concepts for the first time or reinforcing them for deeper understanding, this lesson is sure to give your students a frighteningly good grasp of suspense in literature.

What's Included:

• Detailed lesson slides breaking down each element of suspense
• Fill-in-the-blank guided notes to keep students engaged
• Interactive practice with both the Tell-Tale Heart and a suspenseful twist on a popular movie trailer (ELF turned spooky!)
• Step-by-step guidance for identifying suspense in texts and media

Why You'll Love This Resource:

✔️ Engaging, spooky themes that make learning fun and memorable
✔️ Perfect for fall/Halloween, adding an eerie twist to your classroom
✔️ Adaptable for grades 6-9, ensuring a wide range of students benefit
✔️ Easy-to-use format for quick prep and effective teaching
✔️ Great for introduction or review, fitting seamlessly into any unit on suspense, literature, or storytelling

Transform your classroom into a realm of suspense and surprises this fall with this high-quality, student-centered resource. It’s a fang-tastic way to teach the art of suspense while keeping your students engaged in their learning. Don't miss out on this spine-tingling lesson just in time for Halloween!

Perfect for:

• Humanities & ELA teachers
• Fall and Halloween lesson planning
• Review or introduction of suspense techniques in literature

Let the spooky season creep into your classroom with this thrilling lesson on suspense!