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Generating Story Ideas

Free Play with Character Puppets

Structure:

(in Pairs, Generate Story Elements)

1/2 groups

40 minutes

3 adults

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Materials:

Implementation:

1. On the carpet, hand out the kids’ puppets - Pairs should have time to play with puppets

 

2. Ask the children to pull out their booklets and reread what they wrote about their individual characters (My Button’s Journey p 2-4)

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3. Tell the kids that they will be collaborating with a partner to create a story together

 

4. Explain that you will give the kids time to play with their puppet characters and that they should start to create a “skeleton” for their story as they play

 

5. Explain that they should have a rough idea of the setting (when/where) the story takes place, what the problem is and how the characters solve the problem together

 

 (In order to connect their story to our theme, the resolution should include an invention!)

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6. Pairs can begin to populate Story Maps

 

Teacher Role:

Teachers model pair play
Teachers pair the kids up
Observe and support/facilitate process between pairs as needed

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Possible Prompts Include:           

Introduce your characters to each other           

Think about how they might know each other or how they meet up...

Story Maps: Record Story Elements

Structure:

1/2 groups 
40 minute sessions

4 adults

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Materials:

  • Puppets

  • Pairs

  • Story Map graphic organizers

  • Writing folder

  • Pencils

  • Pencil crayons

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Implementation:

1. Review important instructions from last time

 

2. Remind students to reread what they wrote in the last session before continuing

 

3. Give pairs time to play and/or complete their Story Map

 

4. Record complete sentences, use invented spelling strategies, spell word wall words correctly

 

5. Add pictures

 

Story Maps: Complete Story Map cont'd

Structure:

1/2 groups
40 minute sessions

3 adults

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Materials:

  • Puppets

  • Pairs

  • Story Map graphic organizers

  • Writing folder

  • Pencils

  • Pencil crayons

Implementation:

1. Students complete Story Maps using full sentences and then illustrate

 

2. Adults conference with students and help to revise and edit Story Maps

 

Adding Details: Developing the Characters and Narrative

Structure:

1/2 groups (paired off)
40 minute sessions

4 adults

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Materials:

  • iPads (assign iPad to each pair)

  • Clip boards,

  • Index cards

  • Pencils

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Implementation:

1. Explain that it is time to start adding more details to their story in order to make it more interesting

 

Pairs spend 10 minutes to play with puppets in order to develop the narrative of their stories (based on the Story Map as a ‘skeleton’)

 

2. Gather all kids on the carpet. Explain that each person has a job or role, introducing the “Performer Role & Watcher Role” Model what each pair’s role is.

  • Performers: Act out story once through without stopping while being filmed

  • Watchers: Help performers to create a detailed story, watch and listen carefully, think of questions or comments to help the performers write a better story...

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One pair performs at a time while the rest of half group watches

 

Possible prompts include:

Tell me more about ...
I’m wondering how/why/what ...?

Have you thought of...

 

Kids (watchers) jot down a word or two to remind them of their comment as they are watching

 

3. Critical Feedback: Teachers & students give feedback

*Questions and feedback session to apply to their story

 

Prompts include: 
I liked....
I wondered... etc.

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