This activity can be played with just two children or a classroom full of kids. It might be especially appealing to kids who aren't confident in their writing or story-telling skills, since each participant only adds three to five words to the tale at a time.
Although this game is intended for children in the upper elementary grades, it can be done with adult assistance with kids as young as 3 or 4.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 10 to 45 minutes
Here's How:
- Hang a roll of receipt paper on the wall of your classroom or home. Unravel it so several yards of paper are pinned to the wall.
- Write the following words on the far left side of the receipt paper: "Once upon a time, there were" and then hand each child a pen or pencil.
- One at a time, the kids must add to the story but they can only contribute three to five words at a time. For example, the story might read: Once upon a time there were ... two dogs named Max and ... Sarah, who lived next door ... to each other. Max and ... Sarah were best friends. ... They grew up chasing squirrels ... and fetching sticks together. ... One day, Max's owner said, ...
- The activity ends either after each child has had a turn or when a designated amount of time expires.
- Once the story is complete, read it aloud to the group.
Tips:
- You can either set this up so the children come up to the paper roll one at a time while the rest of the class is working on another activity, or you can keep the group together at the paper roll so that they watch as the story evolves.
- After reading the story, you could have the children draw a picture that represents one scene from it.
- This project could also be done in smaller groups, with four or so children creating one story on their own receipt roll. Then, read all the stories the kids create once the groups have finished.
- In the spirit of Valentine's Day, require or encourage the students to include a bit of romance in their tale.
What You Need
- A roll of receipt paper
- Pens or pencils