Write a Cliffhanger

What You Need:

• Paper
• Pencils

What You Do:

1. On one sheet of paper, brainstorm “Halloween Words”, such as gloomy, creepy, black cat, goblin, ghost, eerie, dark. Retell some of your favorite ghost stories, too. This will get your child excited about the activity.
2. Explain the meaning of a “cliffhanger”. Talk about movies or books your child has read in which the ending was left off and he was stuck wondering what happened next. Explain that he will write his own cliffhanger using his list of Halloween words to help form ideas. Just as his story reaches the most exciting moment, he should stop writing.
3. Motivate your child to complete the activity by telling him you will be writing a cliffhanger, too. When you are both finished with your stories, you will finish each other’s cliffhangers.
4. Find a cozy spot for each of you to write your cliffhanger. Exchange stories and praise your child for his creativity and hard work. Once you finish the endings, read the stories together.
5. Finally, gather the whole family, turn off the lights and shine a flashlight on the reader. Play some creepy background music while you and your child take turns reading your cliffhangers. Not only will you set the scene for a spooky Halloween, you’ll provide a positive and memorable writing experience for your child!