story starters for creative writing ks2

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32 good story starters for KS2 and free writing

We’ve put together some good story starters for KS2 to help your pupils with writer’s block. We’ve also got KS1 story starters covered too, if you have some younger pupils.

Read past the story starters and you’ll also find a guide to free writing that you can use alongside the story starters. Jump start your story writing lessons in KS2 today!

What are story starters?

A word or words that begins a story. Intentionally opened ended, they point children towards a particular theme or situation and can remove the tricky initial phase of story writing.

Ideal story starters for KS2

• The three of them peered into the dark cave.
• Suddenly, it turned around and faced her.
• Time stopped. People stopped. Cars stopped. Everything around me paused, frozen in time.
• The creature screamed and ran towards them.
• Her stomach dropped.
• I had never seen an alien. But I guess there’s a first time for everything.
• Am I in hell?
• As he walked along the cold, dark night, a rustling began from the trees…
• Then, a flash.
• Ben is 8, but in his world, that means something very different.
• This time she woke up early to try and catch it out. The clock struck 7. It was time…
• A hot, tingling sensation worked it’s way up my spine. It couldn’t be, could it?
• It was exactly as I feared.
• “We’ve been waiting a long time” Mum said. “Where on earth has he got to?”
• I sat on the grass and watched as it flailed in the wind.
• It was the smell that hit her first. She knew, long before she could see it, exactly what was next.
• He dashed down the stairs, as fast as his legs could carry him. The post had arrived, but was it what he’d hoped for?
• “Help!” A frightened shriek came from inside. I crept towards the door…
• “Can you see that?” He asked. I could barely believe it, but…
• It was a cold and miserable morning. The clouds were low and chill and setting in. But still, we couldn’t stop due to the weather.
• “Welcome.” We all looked round in awe. “This is the future.”
• That familiar feeling returned, as if I was being watched. What was out there?
• The rumours were true. The warnings were real and the time has come. Were we ready for what was about to happen?
• The three friends set out on their journey, with nothing but each other to help them for what lied ahead.
• The car lurched down the road when suddenly a thud came from below.
• The tap on my shoulder woke me. “Shhh” she said with a finger pressed to her lips. “Follow me”.
• Outside, the sun was shining, with children and adults alike basking in its warm glow. For Caroline, she could only watch on with her nose pressed against the window.
• Sally looked around the spaceship, eyes widening with each step. She had never seen anything like it.
• “Will you keep it down!” Grandpa thudded from downstairs with his walking stick. But of course, it wasn’t me making all the noise.
• It was the first time I’d been on holiday. I stood for a moment and took it all in. The first thing I noticed was…
• Outside, the leaves were falling and the grass was turning into a murky brown. Out went summer barbecues and in came Autumn dew.
• I felt an odd sensation in my shoe.

All children need is a tiny prod in the right direction and they will come back with the most amazing tales for you to laugh, cringe, wince or cry at! Feel free to expand upon and adapt our examples; we are only prodding you to get the creative juices flowing.

Free writing to help with story writing

If after you have given children story starters, they are still struggling, it could be a confidence issue. Free writing is a fantastic way of freeing children of their own worries over their own writing.

Principles of free writing

Free writing is pretty much what it says on the tin. But there are some principles to stand by to ensure free writing has the desired effect of kick-starting creative juices. Children are given a writing implement (whatever they feel most comfortable with) and something to write on and told to write. Just write. Here’s a few pointers to make clear to children before they begin.

• Don’t stop writing during the allotted time.
• You’re going to time the free write and encourage those who stop to think to keep going.
• If that means writing the same word or letters over and over until a new thought comes into the writer’s head, then so be it.
• The work won’t be marked, or even looked at if the writer doesn’t want it to.
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar doesn’t matter.

Last tip: if your class are adhering to the rules okay, have a go yourself! It’s really good practice to have a go at the activity you expect your pupils to have a go at, plus it’s really enjoyable!

It’s good to start off with short one-minute bursts of free writing in the beginning. Demonstrate you mean what you say with marking, SPaG and reading out: it’s an unusual experience for pupils for their work not to be scrutinised. This activity will help pupils empty their head of worries, ruminating thoughts and distractions from their writing. It might also provide them with inspiration for story writing. Have a go at free writing before beginning any creative writing session, or even use it to begin a story. Provide them with the story starter and then get them to continue the story writing during the free write. It’s only a minute or two and could make all the difference to their writing.

Amber Vaccianna

Hope Education writer

Ideas for Teaching & Learning | Primary

23 september 2020.

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Mighty Writer Blog

How to use story starters to improve writing skills for ks2 pupils.

We know that encouraging children to write creatively is an essential part of their learning. However, it can be challenging to inspire children to write interesting and engaging stories. This is where story starters come in. Story starters are a fantastic way to help children get their creative juices flowing and improve their writing skills. Here's how to use them effectively in your classroom. 

What is a Story Starter? 

A story starter is a sentence or phrase that provides the beginning of a story. It's designed to get children thinking about the story they want to write and to provide them with a starting point. Story starters can be anything from "Once upon a time, there was a magical forest" to "The door creaked open, revealing a dark and mysterious room..." 

Story starters can be used in a variety of ways. For example, you might use them as a prompt for a creative writing task or to generate ideas for a longer piece of writing. They can be used in any genre, from fantasy to historical fiction. 

Using Story Starters in the Classroom 

One way to use story starters in the classroom is to provide each child with a different one and ask them to write a short story based on it. This is a great way to give children the opportunity to be creative and explore different genres and writing styles. It's also a great way to encourage children to work independently, as they'll be coming up with their own ideas and using their imagination. 

You could also use story starters to generate ideas for a longer piece of writing. For example, you might ask children to choose one of the story starters and use it as the beginning of a longer story. This is a great way to encourage children to think about character development, plot, and structure. 

Another way to use story starters is to ask children to work in pairs or small groups to create their own story starters. This is a great way to get children thinking creatively and to encourage them to work collaboratively. You might ask each group to come up with several story starters and then share them with the class. 

Choosing the Right Story Starters 

When choosing story starters to use with your pupils, it's important to consider their interests and abilities. You want to choose story starters that will engage your pupils and challenge them, but not overwhelm them. 

It can also be helpful to choose story starters that are relevant to the topics you're studying in class. For example, if you're studying the Romans, you might choose story starters that are set in Ancient Rome. 

It's a good idea to have a range of story starters available to your pupils, so they can choose one that resonates with them. You might have story starters that are funny, scary, adventurous, or mysterious. 

Using story starters is a fantastic way to improve your pupils' writing skills and encourage them to be creative. By providing them with a starting point, you'll be helping them to overcome writer's block and to explore different genres and writing styles. When choosing story starters, it's important to consider your pupils' interests and abilities and to have a range of starters available. Give it a try in your classroom and see how your pupils respond! 

Ready to learn more? Download our Free Teachers Guide by clicking the link below!

If you’re looking to inspire your students’ writing and creativity, turn to these fun and exciting writing prompts. Perfect for overcoming writer’s block or even starting a brand-new short story in a different narrative, creative writing prompts can help students begin a new piece with confidence.

Plus, these story starters can also encourage students to explore different genres while honing their writing skills. There are a lot of ways you can use writing prompts in your classroom. Try: 

Reading a book in a genre, then having students use a story starter in that same genre. 

Starting off class with 10 minutes of writing, using one of the prompts below. If you'd like, you can ask a volunteer to share their story! Students may be surprised by the variety of stories that are written based on the same prompt. 

Using these prompts as an introduction to a creative writing unit. 

Providing fast finishers with a way to stay busy — and have fun. 

Using story starters to encourage students to write at home.

Adventure Story Starters 

Take inspiration from classics like Treasure Island and newer popular series like The Bad Guys to explore how to write thrilling adventure stories. And to encourage students to begin writing their own adventure-focused stories, share these creative story starters: 

You’re part of a pirate crew in search of a long-lost storied treasure trove. What is happening on the ship and where do you find the treasure? 

You get the chance to use a time machine to meet one historical figure of your choice. Who do you go meet, and what will you do to explore that time period?

You receive a fortune in a fortune cookie that changes the course of your life. What does the fortune say, and what happens when it comes true?

Get students excited about adventure stories with these great books: 

Fantasy Story Starters 

Have fans of dragons, unicorns, wizards, and other mythical creatures in class? Encourage them to give fantasy writing a shot. 

You’re on a quest through a hidden underground world that no one else has ever seen. What magical creatures do you come across? What do they look like, and how do they act? 

There is a witch who lives in a nearby legendary haunted house. She puts a hex on you that needed to be broken by the time the clock struck midnight the next night. What kind of hex is it, and how do you break it? 

You stumble into an enchanted forest. How did you find it, and what do you discover in it?

Check out these fun fantasy titles for more inspiration:

Sci-Fi Story Starters 

Kids interested in STEM concepts will love science fiction! Try these prompts to see how your students combine science with their wildest imaginations. 

• You’re the first person to ever set foot on Mars. What is it like? What do you explore first? 
• You and your friend have the same dream in the middle of the night about a prophecy that involves another dimension. What is the prophecy, and what is this other dimension? What do you and your friend have to do to reach and alter this dimension?
• After NASA discovers a whole new world of giants in a nearby nebula, they send a team of scientists through a wormhole to study them. You are one of the scientists on board. What does the journey feel like? What do the giants look like in this world? 

Plus, find great kid-friendly sci-fi here:

Genre Scrambler Story Starters 

Have some fun with genre studies by combining them! Try these prompts to get started:

• You are on an expedition in the Arctic and discover a new species of animals living in the harsh climate that no one has ever seen before. What kind of species is it, and what characteristics do they have? 
• You’re walking home from school and notice that the front door of a neighbor’s house is wide open, and no one is in sight. The old man who normally lives there is nowhere to be found. Curious, you go into the house and find that everything is fake: the furniture, the food, the technology, etc. In fact, the whole property is made of plastic, even the grass and trees! What happened to the old man who lives here? Why does this house exist, and why is everything fake? 
• You are a child living in the early 1800s in an unnamed country when an asteroid hits, releasing aliens that want to make contact with your leaders. What do these aliens want? How does everyone react?

Shop popular books of all genres that will inspire young writers below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store .

• Writing Prompts

150+ Story Starters: Creative Sentences To Start A Story

The most important thing about writing is finding a good idea . You have to have a great idea to write a story. You have to be able to see the whole picture before you can start to write it. Sometimes, you might need help with that. Story starters are a great way to get the story rolling. You can use them to kick off a story, start a character in a story or even start a scene in a story.

When you start writing a story, you need to have a hook. A hook can be a character or a plot device. It can also be a setting, something like “A young man came into a bar with a horse.” or a setting like “It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.” The first sentence of a story is often the hook. It can also be a premise or a situation, such as, “A strange old man in a black cloak was sitting on the train platform.”

Story starters are a way to quickly get the story going. They give the reader a place to start reading your story. Some story starters are obvious, and some are not. The best story starters are the ones that give the reader a glimpse into the story. They can be a part of a story or a part of a scene. They can be a way to show the reader the mood of a story. If you want to start a story, you can use a simple sentence. You can also use a question or an inspirational quote. In this post, we have listed over 150 story starters to get your story started with a bang! A great way to use these story starters is at the start of the Finish The Story game .

If you want more story starters, check out this video on some creative story starter sentences to use in your stories:

150+ Creative Story Starters

Here is a list of good sentences to start a story with:

• I’ve read about a million stories about princesses but never thought I could ever be one.
• There was once a man who was very old, but he was wise. He lived for a very long time, and he was very happy.
• What is the difference between a man and a cat? A cat has nine lives.
• In the middle of the night, a boy is running through the woods.
• It is the end of the world.
• He knew he was not allowed to look into the eyes of the princess, but he couldn’t help himself.
• The year is 1893. A young boy was running away from home.
• What if the Forest was actually a magical portal to another dimension, the Forest was a portal to the Otherworld?
• In the Forest, you will find a vast number of magical beings of all sorts. 
• It was the middle of the night, and the forest was quiet. No bugs or animals disturbed the silence. There were no birds, no chirping. 
• If you wish to stay in the Forest, you will need to follow these rules: No one shall leave the Forest. No one shall enter. No one shall take anything from the Forest.
• “It was a terrible day,” said the old man in a raspy voice.
• A cat is flying through the air, higher and higher, when it happens, and the cat doesn’t know how it got there, how it got to be in the sky.
• I was lying in the woods, and I was daydreaming.
• The Earth is a world of wonders. 
• The fairy is the most amazing creature I have ever met.
• A young girl was sitting on a tree stump at the edge of a river when she noticed a magical tree growing in the water.
• My dancing rat is dressed in a jacket, a tie and glasses, which make him look like a person. 
• In the darkness of the night, I am alone, but I know that I am not. 
• Owls are the oldest, and most intelligent, of all birds.
• My name is Reyna, and I am a fox. 
• The woman was drowning.
• One day, he was walking in the forest.
• It was a dark and stormy night…
• There was a young girl who could not sleep…
• A boy in a black cape rode on a white horse…
• A crazy old man in a black cloak was sitting in the middle of the street…
• The sun was setting on a beautiful summer day…
• The dog was restless…”
• There was a young boy in a brown coat…
• I met a young man in the woods…
• In the middle of a dark forest…
• The young girl was at home with her family…
• There was a young man who was sitting on a …
• A young man came into a bar with a horse…
• I have had a lot of bad dreams…
• He was a man who wanted to be king…
• It was the summer of 1969, and there were no cell phones.
• I know what you’re thinking. But no, I don’t want to be a vegetarian. The worst part is I don’t like the taste.
• She looked at the boy and decided to ask him why he wasn’t eating. She didn’t want to look mean, but she was going to ask him anyway.
• The song played on the radio, as Samual wiped away his tears.
• This was the part when everything was about to go downhill. But it didn’t…
• “Why make life harder for yourself?” asked Claire, as she bit into her apple.
• She made a promise to herself that she would never do it.
• I was able to escape.
• I was reading a book when the accident happened.
• “I can’t stand up for people who lie and cheat.” I cried.
• You look at me and I feel beautiful.
• I know what I want to be when I grow up.
• We didn’t have much money. But we knew how to throw a good party.
• The wind blew on the silent streets of London.
• What do you get when you cross an angry bee and my sister?
• The flight was slow and bumpy. I was half asleep when the captain announced we were going down.
• At the far end of the city was a river that was overgrown with weeds. 
• It was a quiet night in the middle of a busy week.
• One afternoon, I was eating a sandwich in the park when I spotted a stranger.
• In the late afternoon, a few students sat on the lawn reading.
• The fireflies were dancing in the twilight as the sunset.
• In the early evening, the children played in the park.
• The sun was setting and the moon was rising.
• A crowd gathered in the square as the band played.
• The top of the water tower shone in the moonlight.
• The light in the living room was on, but the light in the kitchen was off.
•  When I was a little boy, I used to make up stories about the adventures of these amazing animals, creatures, and so on. 
• All of the sudden, I realized I was standing in the middle of an open field surrounded by nothing but wildflowers, and the only thing I remembered about it was that I’d never seen a tree before.
• It’s the kind of thing that’s only happened to me once before in my life, but it’s so cool to see it.
• They gave him a little wave as they drove away.
• The car had left the parking lot, and a few hours later we arrived home.
• They were going to play a game of bingo.
• He’d made up his mind to do it. He’d have to tell her soon, though. He was waiting for a moment when they were alone and he could say it without feeling like an idiot. But when that moment came, he couldn’t think of anything to say.
• Jamie always wanted to own a plane, but his parents were a little tight on the budget. So he’d been saving up to buy one of his own. 
• The night was getting colder, and the wind was blowing in from the west.
• The doctor stared down at the small, withered corpse.
• She’d never been in the woods before, but she wasn’t afraid.
• The kids were having a great time in the playground.
• The police caught the thieves red-handed.
• The world needs a hero more than ever.
• Mother always said, “Be good and nice things will happen…”
• There is a difference between what you see and what you think you see.
• The sun was low in the sky and the air was warm.
• “It’s time to go home,” she said, “I’m getting a headache.”
• It was a cold winter’s day, and the snow had come early.
• I found a wounded bird in my garden.
• “You should have seen the look on my face.”
• He opened the door and stepped back.
• My father used to say, “All good things come to an end.”
• The problem with fast cars is that they break so easily.
• “What do you think of this one?” asked Mindy.
• “If I asked you to do something, would you do it?” asked Jacob.
• I was surprised to see her on the bus.
• I was never the most popular one in my class.
• We had a bad fight that day.
• The coffee machine had stopped working, so I went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.
• It was a muggy night, and the air-conditioning unit was so loud it hurt my ears.
• I had a sleepless night because I couldn’t get my head to turn off.
• I woke up at dawn and heard a horrible noise.
• I was so tired I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep that night.
• I put on the light and looked at myself in the mirror.
• I decided to go in, but the door was locked.
• A man in a red sweater stood staring at a little kitten as if it was on fire.
• “It’s so beautiful,” he said, “I’m going to take a picture.”
• “I think we’re lost,” he said, “It’s all your fault.”
• It’s hard to imagine what a better life might be like
• He was a tall, lanky man, with a long face, a nose like a pin, and a thin, sandy moustache.
• He had a face like a lion’s and an eye like a hawk’s.
• The man was so broad and strong that it was as if a mountain had been folded up and carried in his belly.
• I opened the door. I didn’t see her, but I knew she was there.
• I walked down the street. I couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.
• I arrived at my parents’ home at 8:00 AM.
• The nurse had been very helpful.
• On the table was an array of desserts.
• I had just finished putting the last of my books in the trunk.
• A car horn honked, startling me.
• The kitchen was full of pots and pans.
• There are too many things to remember.
• The world was my oyster. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
•  “My grandfather was a World War II veteran. He was a decorated hero who’d earned himself a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart.
• Beneath the menacing, skeletal shadow of the mountain, a hermit sat on his ledge. His gnarled hands folded on his gnarled knees. His eyes stared blankly into the fog. 
• I heard a story about a dragon, who was said to be the size of a house, that lived on the top of the tallest mountain in the world.
•  I was told a story about a man who found a golden treasure, which was buried in this very park.
• He stood alone in the middle of a dark and silent room, his head cocked to one side, the brown locks of his hair, which were parted in the middle, falling down over his eyes.
•  Growing up, I was the black sheep of the family. I had my father’s eyes, but my mother’s smile.
• Once upon a time, there was a woman named Miss Muffett, and she lived in a big house with many rooms.
• When I was a child, my mother told me that the water looked so bright because the sun was shining on it. I did not understand what she meant at the time.    
•  The man in the boat took the water bottle and drank from it as he paddled away.
• The man looked at the child with a mixture of pity and contempt.
• An old man and his grandson sat in their garden. The old man told his grandson to dig a hole. 
• An old woman was taking a walk on the beach. The tide was high and she had to wade through the water to get to the other side.
• She looked up at the clock and saw that it was five minutes past seven.
• The man looked up from the map he was studying. “How’s it going, mate?”
• I was in my room on the third floor, staring out of the window.
• A dark silhouette of a woman stood in the doorway.
• The church bells began to ring.
• The moon rose above the horizon.
• A bright light shone over the road.
• The night sky began to glow.
• I could hear my mother cooking in the kitchen.
• The fog began to roll in.
• He came in late to the class and sat at the back.
• A young boy picked up a penny and put it in his pocket.
• He went to the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror.
• It was the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness. We once had everything and now we have nothing.
• A young man died yesterday, and no one knows why.
• The boy was a little boy. He was not yet a man. He lived in a house in a big city.
• They had just returned from the theatre when the phone rang.
• I walked up to the front of the store and noticed the neon sign was out.
• I always wondered what happened to Mary.
• I stopped to say hello and then walked on.
• The boy’s mother didn’t want him to play outside…
• The lights suddenly went out…
• After 10 years in prison, he was finally out.
• The raindrops pelted the window, which was set high up on the wall, and I could see it was a clear day outside.
• My friend and I had just finished a large pizza, and we were about to open our second.
• I love the smell of the ocean, but it never smells as good as it does when the waves are crashing.
• They just stood there, staring at each other.
• A party was in full swing until the music stopped.

For more ideas on how to start your story, check out these first-line writing prompts . Did you find this list of creative story starters useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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• Teaching and Learning

Writing prompts and story starters for every genre

• by: Anna from Pobble
• On: 19, Jan 2021
• Teaching and Learning (98)
• Pobble Power (31)
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We all have an innate love of stories. They spark magical thoughts and improve willingness to communicate feelings, thoughts and experiences. A good story stays with you and can shape understanding, language development and writing motivation.

When writing stories, the difficult part is often getting started. That's where story starters or writing prompts come in. Story starters spark children's imagination, helping them to imagine the plot, the setting, or the characters and then build their own story around them.

When we launched  Pobble , we didn’t know just how popular it would become. Now, we have a community of hundreds of thousands of teachers around the world logging on to find our free, daily writing lesson ideas to inspire their young writers.

Every day, we give teachers access to a free engaging image, with a story starter, questions and writing activities for your class. You can save these lessons to use later, edit t best suit your needs and easily share in a number of ways.

Here are some of our favourites for your class, whatever genre you’re looking to teach:

Adventure  

Can your class continue the story?

See all 6 writing activities that accompany this image. 

“ She had been following the trail of clues for days, and she had finally reached her destination. Were the stories true? ”

Can your class continue the story? 

“ This beach was cursed, no one knew why. For years now, whenever the sun glowed orange, a wreckage of a ship would wash up along the isolated stretch of sand... ”

Science fiction

“They had arrived out of the blue, catching everyone completely unaware... ”

Myths and legends

" Ulrik grew up to be the best blacksmith in the whole country. Anything you wanted making, he could make it! That was until a fateful evening on a snowy night when he was visited by a darkly-cloaked, mysterious man… ”

Can your class continue the story of The Blacksmith?

Looking for a different genre? You'll find it on Pobble! 

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KS2 English: Write a poem

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > English KS2 > Creative art, design and writing skills

Naomi: Hi, I’m trying to pick a card for my friend’s birthday.

Naomi: Its so hard! I can't decide if I prefer this one...

Naomi: 'Your birthday is a day to do exactly as you please, its your day, you call the shots so spend it at your ease.'

Naomi: Or maybe this one, Flappy birthday! Its funny, but its not really what I need!

Naomi: I'm looking for a card that puts into words how I feel about my friend, and lots of these cards use poems to express feelings.

Naomi: Poetry is a really great way of putting into words the things that we hardly ever say in everyday life.

Naomi: For example, when was the last time you said to your Mum...

Naomi: 'I thank my lucky stars for you and all the caring things you do.'

Naomi: Other cards use playful poetry...

Naomi: 'You really are fantastic, its something you can't stop, in the awesomeness awards, you always come out top!'

Naomi: You might not have thought about it before, but there are people whose job is to write poems for cards.

Naomi: They use their creativity to dream up all the words that the rest of us want to say.

Naomi: Wish I could do that today... well here is someone who will definitely be able to help me out!

Naomi: Joseph Coelho is an award winning performance poet!

Joseph: Writing poems can be a fantastic way to play words, language and to have a bit of fun.

Joseph: There are loads of ways that language to enhance your writing.

Joseph: You can use language for effect with poetic devices like onomatopoeia, rhyme, assonance, alliteration.

Joseph: These devices are also fantastic ways of expressing your emotions, how you feel inside.

Joseph: When the sun is bright, I feel alright.

Joseph: But when the baking clouds are loud, they make my tears fall down.

Joseph: My challenge for you is to write a poem for a greetings card. It can be for anyone so you can get as creative as you like.

Joseph: Just remember to have fun.

Joseph: Alright, get creative!

Naomi: Playing with language! Sounds like fun! So who’s going to be taking on this challenge then?

Naomi: First up, its Tori and her super powered imagination makes her feel like she can fly!

Naomi: Next, its Jess who is super stretchy! How does she get her leg up there?

Naomi: Finally, we've got Pearce, who has an amazing painting finger!

Naomi: Right guys what do you think of this challenge then?

Pearce: Does it have to be a serious poem or can it be funny?

Naomi: Well, that’s up to you – it depends who your card is for and what you might like to say.

Naomi: I've brought along a few cards here. Read the poems in there and that might give you some inspiration.

Naomi: And while you have a look at those, here are some things you'll need...

Naomi: A pen or pencil...

Naomi: Some paper...

Naomi: And some cards for inspiration!

Naomi: Right then, are you ready to start your challenge?

Children: YEAH!

Pearce: Okay then! Let’s get creating!

Naomi: Oi! That’s my line!

Naomi: Ok then! Let’s get... well I don't need to say it now, you've said it.

Naomi: Do you all have an idea of what you want to do for your greetings cards?

Naomi: What's your plan, Jess?

Jess: I'm going to do an acrostic poem.

Naomi: What's an acrostic poem?

Jess: Say you were doing friend, you put down the word friend, for 'F' you would do 'fun', for 'R' you would do respectful...

Naomi: I see, so you do a word for every letter you've written in that column.

Naomi: Good idea! Alright, what are you going to do?

Pearce: I'm going to write a silly and sarcastic poem for my mum!

Naomi: Does that sum you up?

Pearce: Yep!

Naomi: And Tori?

Tori: A silly poem for my sister!

Naomi: Nice! OK, should we get started then? Lets do it!

Naomi: Try using words that have similar sounds, or start with the same letter!

Naomi: Use an image to describe a thought or feeling. Don't forget that the rhythm of the poem is important too!

Naomi: Are we all done? I think we are. Who would like to share their poem with us?

Naomi: All of you? Who would like to start?

Pearce: My mum plays piano and I like to sing along when I do something bad she tells me I'm in the wrong.

Pearce: I think you're really fun, especially when you run, there's nothing better than a day out with you in the sun!

Naomi: If you enjoyed this challenge there are loads more over on the BBC Teach website.

Naomi: You can write a script, tell a story or design a costume.

Naomi: So go on, get creative!

Video summary

Presenter Naomi Wilkinson and a group of children gather in a greetings card shop and, using the cards for inspiration, are challenged to write a poem for someone they know.

Our ‘Master’ poet, Joseph Coelho, adds another level to the challenge by inviting children to incorporate language used for effect (i.e. rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance).

Working as a group, the children create their poems and perform excerpts at the end of the film.

This short film is from the BBC series, Get Creative.

Teacher Notes

Before watching

Bring into class a selection of greetings cards with poems in them (or have the children collect them in as part of homework).

Talk to your pipils about when they receive cards and ask if they’ve ever had one with a poem in it.

Read from the cards and try to guess what occasion/family member they are for. Have pupils read poems from a selection of cards.

They might want to share their favourites by reading aloud (reading poetry aloud is a great way to develop an ear for language).

After watching

Tell the children they are going to write a poem for a greetings card for someone they know, like in the video.

Give them a moment to decide who to write to.

Then give them five - ten minutes to note down some ideas for their card. (You may want to use some or all of the Thinking Questions below to help guide them).

Give the children some time to write their poems.

Depending on the ability and age of your pupils, go for 5-20 lines of poetry. For a further challenge – you can include the ‘Master Skill’.

Master Skill

• Using language for effect – possible language to include: rhyme, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, puns.

Find examples of each to share with children and encourage them to pick one to try out in their own poems.

You may want to plan a focused skills lesson to incorporate this, or just challenge the children to the task.

Show them how to turn a normal line or two into a rhyming line… You’re always there for me when I come home. I love you mum, you’re beautiful, wise and funny.

I love you mum, You’re always there, You’re wise and fun, You always share!

Or how to add alliteration:

You’re a merry mummy, mirthful and mischievous. Pretty as a petal of a pink petunia.

Onomatopoeia:

You’re always there when I get home You listen when I want a moan And whisper reassuring words That ring with love and real concern.

Mum, you really are great at everything – you’re Opti-mum! Mum, thank you for these fabulous jeans.

Thinking Questions

• What reaction do you want from the person who reads the card (make them smile, laugh, feel good about themselves)?
• What details can you include to make the card/poem really personal?
• What do I like most about this person?
• What is special about this person?
• What is funny about this person?
• What does this person make me feel?
• What do I want to make this person feel?

Supported Learning and SEN

Poetry can be a daunting prospect for children who struggle with the written word. There are many ways you could adapt this project to make it more accessible, here are a few ideas:

Give support

• Complete this task as a piece of shared writing
• Have an adult or more abled peer support the writing

Adjust challenge level

• Reduce the amount of lines
• Remind children that poems don’t have to rhyme
• Suggest an acrostic poem as an easier introduction to poetry

Use the example cards

• As a template to work from, children could change a few words to suit their purpose
• Students could choose lines they like and copy or cut them out to create their own compositions

Make it oral

• Have the children compose the work orally, in a pair, a group or individually
• Use technology to record the poems – a voice card/video card
• Or have an adult/peer write down their words

Extend this Activity

• Turn this into an art and design lesson, by creating illustrations for the cards.
• Create a class anthology of poems.
• Publish your poems on the school website.
• Perform the poems in an assembly or for a school event.
• Record your poems and make short films to accompany them.

Curriculum Notes

This short film is designed to support the teaching of creative writing for KS2 in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and for 2nd level in Scotland.

In England the video offers a chance for pupils to write with purpose in context, using the skills of notation and editing whilst also providing the opportunity to read work aloud and work towards mastery through developing specific key skills.

In Wales the video provides an opportunity for pupils to write creatively with chances to adapt their writing for purpose, use a range of language skills, note ideas and plan their writing then reflect, redraft and improve their work.

In Northern Ireland the video gives pupils the opportunity to participate in independent or group writing, select, plan and adapt their writing for purpose, express thoughts and feelings through their imaginative compositions, experiment with language and practise the skills of revising and redrafting their compositions.

In Scotland the video presents pupils with an example of contextual writing to explore, from which they can create their own pieces of writing from notes, use appropriate vocabulary, language and style to engage their reader and check their writing for sense and purpose.

More from creative art, design and writing skills

Write a script

Naomi Wilkinson challenges a group of children to write a short script for a TV show.

Create a story

A visit to the Newsround studio presents real-life context for telling a story and a challenge for children to tell a story as a short news report.

Write song lyrics

Karim Zeroual and a group of children take on the challenge of writing their own song lyrics.

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Winter Story Prompts Creative Writing

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

28 October 2023

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20 winter themed Key Stage 2 (KS2) or early KS3 imaginative / creative writing story starters cards, featuring high quality photo prompts, vocabulary banks with descriptive words, prompt questions and more. Ideal for the winter months, with ideas for cold and snowy day stories, winter holidays and wintry setting descriptions. There is no reference to Christmas so you can use them with students who don’t celebrate Christmas and use in January and February as well as in November and December. These full-page story generators can be used across a range of abilities and ages, especially in Year 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Y4 / Y5 /Y6/ Y7), to spark ideas for stories. They’re great for reluctant writers and they have a dyslexia friendly format. PDF format (not editable for licensing reasons).

You can purchase this as part of this Creative Writing Story Prompts BIG BUNDLE 100 Prompts!

• Use as warm ups , early finishers activities and as a framework for free writing sessions
• Each of the 20 A4 cards features a visual element ( photo / picture stimulus ), a starter sentence or part-sentence to help launch children into their fiction / narrative writing
• Prompt questions to get ideas going
• A word bank and suggested openers to add variety to their writing
• A box at the bottom reminds students to read their work aloud, check for full stops and capital letters and common spellings
• UK and US English versions included, with spellings and references to ‘full stops’ and ‘periods’ etc amended as appropriate
• Designed to offer maximum support for dyslexic learners and those with similar barriers to learning. Verdana font and spacing used are both dyslexia-friendly and the background colours are designed to reduce glare. Both the UK and US cards are also included with the background colours removed and could be used if printing on dyslexia friendly paper or card.
• Could be used to support the writing of a full story
• Could also work well as a regular tool to support struggling writers in one-to-one or small group sessions, where students write a few sentences inspired by the prompts, without worrying about completing a story

  MORE LITERACY RESOURCES… KS2 Writing Writing and Grammar Activities Complex Sentences Cards Full Stops and Capital Letters Cards Improving Sentences Worksheets

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Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 31%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

100 Creative Writing Picture Prompts BUNDLE

A big bundle of 100 Key Stage 2 or early KS3 imaginative / descriptive writing story starters cards, featuring high quality photo prompts, vocabulary banks, prompt questions and more. These full-page story generators can be used across a range of abilities and ages, especially in Year 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Y4 / Y5 / Y6 / Y7) to spark ideas for stories. In Scotland, they're great for Primary 5, 6, 7 and S1. They're great for reluctant writers and they have a dyslexia friendly format too. *This BUNDLE includes 5 packs of 20 prompts: 2 packs of general prompts (featuring a range of subjects and genres), a pack of scary / mystery story prompts, a pack of winter story prompts and a pack of summer story writing prompts. All can be purchased separately if you prefer.* **[Creative Writing Story Prompts](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/creative-writing-story-prompts-11648009) (MY MOST POPULAR RESOURCE ON TES) [Creative Writing Story Prompts 2 ](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12530007) [Scary Story Creative Writing Story Prompts](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12745015) [Winter Stories Creative Writing Story Prompts](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/winter-story-prompts-creative-writing-12745880) [Summer Story Creative Writing Prompts](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/summer-story-prompts-creative-writing-12746959)** * Use as **warm ups**, **early finishers** activities and as a **framework for free writing sessions** * Each of the **100** A4 cards features a visual element (**photo / picture stimulus**), a **starter sentence** or part-sentence to help launch children into their fiction / narrative writing * **Prompt questions** to get ideas going * A **word bank** and some **suggested openers** to add variety to their writing * A box at the bottom **reminds students to read their work aloud, check for full stops and capital letters and common spellings** * **Range of subjects and genres** including mystery, sport, humour, fantasy, family and historical. Lots of settings too. Plenty of variety so children can choose ones that appeal to them. * **UK and US English versions** included, with spellings and references to 'full stops' and 'periods' etc amended as appropriate * **Designed to offer maximum support for dyslexic learners** and those with similar barriers to learning. Verdana font and spacing used are both dyslexia-friendly and the background colours are designed to reduce glare. Both the UK and US cards are **also included with the background colours removed** and could be used if printing on dyslexia friendly paper or card. * Could be used to support the writing of a full story * Could also work well as a regular tool to support struggling writers in one-to-one or small group sessions, where students write a few sentences inspired by the prompts, without worrying about completing a story.   ***YOU MIGHT LIKE...*** **[Complex Sentences Activity Cards](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/complex-sentences-writing-super-sentences-11534472)** **[Editing SPaG Puzzles Worksheets](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/editing-proofreading-spag-year-5-6-11880677)** **[Full Stops and Capital Letters Cards](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/full-stops-and-capital-letters-11692728)** **[Improving Sentences Writing Worksheets](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/improving-sentence-structure-11651717)**

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