Creating Suspense – KS2 Writing Features Challenge Mat Worksheets

Using these worksheets – divided into understand, explain, challenge, test and apply – children will be able to develop techniques to build up suspense in a piece of writing. Short suspense extracts are included for them to annotate, identifying features of suspense writing.

Also included are a variety of written and visual writing prompts for their own suspense writing.

Perfect for home learning, as an exercise before an independent writing task, and as a way to challenge more able learners in lower year groups, the worksheets are bright and engaging, using eye-catching images to fire children’s imaginations, and giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge in creative writing activities.

This primary resource is divided into five sections:

• Understand
  Tick which of the sentences listed are “promise” sentences, then read the two texts and look for techniques the writer has used to create suspense.
• Explain
  Look at the different writing techniques provided and create a suspenseful sentence for each one, using the picture for inspiration. Then rewrite the passage so that there is more suspense for the reader.
• Challenge
  Write the next paragraph in the tale provided, making sure you build up the tension, so the story is even more scary!
• Test
  Use the four ‘hook’ sentences, designed to grab the reader’s attention, and add extra sentences to each ‘hook’ to turn them into paragraphs. Make sure that you use some suspense techniques to build on that sentence.
• Apply
  Use the picture to create a story that is filled with suspense, and try to use each of the techniques listed in your writing.

National Curriculum English programme of study links

Draft and write in narratives by describing settings, characters and atmosphere and integrating dialogue to convey character and advance the action

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