SPOOKYSTORYWRITING
Fun and interactive creative writing activity that will have
your students rolling story dice to write spooky stories.
Copyright © 2014 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
OVERVIEW
StoryRolling
Creative writing gets rolling as students roll story element dice (setting, character, obstacle, and a story starter) to create a
random set of story components. Once students have their story elements, they’ll plan and write a spooky story as they
combine each of the elements in an entertaining writing piece.
Lesson
Assemble materials: Copy a class set of the ‘Spooky Story Writing Pre-Write’ and the ‘Writing Paper’. Make story element
dice by cutting out each shape, folding along the lines, and taping or gluing the cube together. (You may want to make each
cube a different color. Copy as many as you will need depending on how you will have students complete the story rolling.
Students could roll their story dice independently, with partners, in small groups, or even at stations throughout the room.)
Lesson:
• Explain to students that scary stories have the same elements as other stories (character, problem, setting). Just like
other stories, the main character is faced with a challenge to overcome. However, scary stories add additional elements
of a creepy setting, scary characters, and a twist or surprising element at the end. You may also want to read a scary
story to students – included is “The Pink Jellybean”. It’s most effective if you don’t read the title and you read it aloud in
a very suspenseful manner.
• Explain to students that they will be writing spooky stories. However, they will have a little help determining the story
elements.
• Model rolling the dice and create a mini-story with the class.
• Depending on how students will be rolling the dice in your class, assemble partnerships or groups.
• Distribute the ‘Spooky Story Writing Pre-Write’ for students to record the story elements they roll.
• Once all students have rolled each story element, lead students through the pre-write:
Characters – Students will most likely use the character they rolled as the antagonist. That means that they need
to create a main character. Have students add details about how each looks and acts.
Setting – Have students consider when the story takes place and add descriptive details to amp up the fear factor.
Plot – Encourage students to develop their plot sequence. The key will be the twist in the story. Twists can include
things like a blocked escape route or the bad guy is actually the good guy.
Descriptions – Have students develop sensory descriptions that add to the scariness of the story.
• Give students an opportunity to write their spooky story on the ‘Writing Paper’. They can begin with the story starter they
rolled.
• After students have written their stories have them share with a partner, small group, or the whole class.
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The Pink Jellybean Story(Skip the title and read this aloud in a suspenseful manner to really lay on the scare factor.)
At the end of a long, dark road is a long, dark path.
At the end of the long, dark path is a lone, dark house.
And the lone, dark house has a single, dark door.
Behind the single, dark door is a long, dark hall.
At the end of the long, dark hall are a set of tall, dark stairs.
At the top of the tall, dark stairs is a long dark balcony.
At the end of the long, dark balcony is a big dark room.
In the big, dark room is a big, dark closet.
In the big, dark closet is a big, dark door.
Behind the big, dark door are some steep, dark stairs.
At the top of the steep, dark stairs is a dark, dusty attic.
In the dark, dusty attic is a big, dark chest.
In the big, dark chest is a small, dark box.
And in the small, dark box is a pink jellybean.
Copyright © 2014 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
Spooky Story Writing – Pre-Write
SETTING OBSTACLE CHARACTER STORY STARTER
CH
AR
AC
TE
RS
SE
TTIN
GP
LO
TD
ES
CR
IPTIO
NS
MAIN CHARACTER – Protagonist CHARACTER - Antagonist
Looks Like: Acts Like: Looks Like: Acts Like:
Where does the story take place? _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
When does the story take place? __________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the place. ______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
BEGINNINGThe main character will
encounter an obstacle
or his/her worst fear.
How does this happen?
MIDDLEThe main character will try to overcome the obstacle, but fail.
How will this happen?
Attempt 1:
Attempt 2:
ENDINGThe obstacle is
overcome. This is
where you include a
TWIST.
SOUNDS SIGHTS SMELLS/TASTES TEXTURES
D
Copyright © 2014 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name ___________________________________________
SETTING CUBE
THE WOODS
IN A
CAVE
ADESERTED MUSEUM
OLD, ABANDONED
HOUSE
A RUN-DOWN
CASTLE
A BASEMENT
Copyright © 2014 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
CHARACTER CUBE
MONSTER
GHOST WITCH OLD MAN
MUMMY
MADSCIENTIST
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OBSTACLE CUBE
The main character hears a
strange noise.
The main character has
to save someone.
The main character is
lost and alone.
The main character is
trapped.
The main character is being chased.
The main character is
stranded.
Copyright © 2014 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
STORY STARTER CUBE
The night was black all around me.
I could feel another set
of eyes watching me.
Behind the door, I heard
endless tapping.
Closer and closer it
came, it was getting bigger and bigger.
Cold and wet, I tried to make my way home.
Peeking throughthe window, my curiosity turned to horror.
Copyright © 2014 Brain Waves Instruction All rights reserved by author.For classroom use only by a single teacher. Please purchase one licensure per teacher using this product.
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