Writing Prompts: Spin-a-Story

Can the mouse find its way home from a strange planet? Will the princess discover the secret passageway through an enchanted forest? Why did the tailor end up at sea, overhearing a mysterious plot? And what twists and turns appear in the character’s path? A predator? A storm? A locked room?

NEW! Spin-a-Story printable spinners help jumpstart a creative writing project by providing children with the basic elements of a story—character, setting, and plot. A spin of the pointer determines the story elements and sets a foundation for a  fun and creative writing experience.

Spin-a-Story gives children opportunities to

• Use their imaginations to create fictional stories
• Express themselves both verbally and in writing
• Practice writing stories that have a beginning, middle, and end
• Incorporate character qualities and emotions into their stories
• Describe a story’s setting

• Exciting Adventures! Spinner
• Animal Adventures Spinner
• Fantasy & Fairy Tales Spinner
• Historical Adventures Spinner

Here’s an example from the “Animal Adventures” spinner:

1st spin for CHARACTER: a jungle animal
2nd spin for SETTING: in an abandoned building
3rd spin for PLOT: hears a cry for help

Spinners may be used by students of various ages. Though they are designed for grades 3-8, younger children and even teens can enjoy them too. (Instructions include ideas for using this activity with pre-writers.)

Spin-a-Story

Interested in a freebie? Keeping A Gratitude Journal is available at WriteShop!

Here's a list of recommended reading for 5th and 6th graders:

• Misadventures of Maude March
• The Castle Corona
• Elijah of Buxton
• The Land of the Silver Apples
• Ghosthunters (series)
• Coraline
• I Am Not Joey Pigza
• Among the Free
• Princess Academy
• The Brooklyn Bridge
• Everything on a Waffle
• The Seekers (series)
• Savvy
• Keeping Score
• Higher Power of Lucky
• Hat Full of Sky
• Esperanza Rising
• Holes
• Invention of Hugo Cabret
• Baseball in April and Other Stories
• Mysterious Benedict Society
• Dragonwings

Looking for more?

• The Loud Silence of Francine Green
• Rangers Apprentice, The Ruins of Gorlan
• Flush
• Alex Rider Adventure (series)
• Sisters of the Sword (series)
• Maximum Ride (series)
• Hush

Suggested Reading for 7th and 8th Grade Books:

• King's Shadow
• True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
• Blackwater
• Face on the Milk Carton
• Voice on the Radio
• Midwife's Apprentice
• Don't Look Behind You
• Johnny Tremain
• When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
• Gentlehands
• Kiss the Dust
• Beauty
• Can of Worms
• Mary Bloody Mary
• Ties that Bind, Ties that Break
• Stones in Water
• Stalker
• The Car
• Library Card
• Shabanu
• Homecoming
• Machine Gunners
• Dealing with Dragons
• Stephen Fair
• Dragon of the Lost Sea
• Devil's Arithmetic
• Armageddon Summer

Happy Reading!

Lady D

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis