Students can be so creative. Lots of times, we just need to let them have a go, get out of the way and that creativity will ooze out. See this nice example!
Story writing is a great way for students to practice and build their English as they build their story. But sometimes, it can be hard to get students started.
Story writing prompts work (examples) but can be a little more than a push at times.
Templates, or story maps or storyboards - they can work to give more structure but at the same time can impale and restrict student creativity.
The key is to find some kind of balance between the two - helping but still keeping that creativity oozing out.
One way I’d like to share is through the introduction of Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey archetype. It’s a story framework that is used by Disney and many popular films, books (think Star Wars, think Holes etc …).
You start with a hero and he or she moves through 3 stages (Departure - Initiation - Return).
Struggle. The hero has a problem. They desire to overcome that problem.
Learning. They try to resolve the problem.
Success. They emerge as a full hero. The problem is overcome.
Get the full worksheet here »>
It’s a simple approach and use this organizer to help students plan out their story. Or even use it for them to summarize a story they read or watch that follows the Hero’s Journey. It’s good to introduce the steps of the Hero’s Journey with a strong example. I might recommend - The Eyebrow Story but there are many others (Piper works well too) - scroll through our video lesson platform, the story category.
Happy writing with students!
P.S. - not a story but a picture book. I just updated this picture book focused on fun language, reduplication. I wrote it myself and think it would be a great read aloud for some more advanced classes.
A Hero's Journey