This document provides guidance and examples for creating and structuring stories. It discusses the key elements children need when learning to read like enjoyable stories, rich visual images, play with words and sounds. It also outlines different types of stories and gives tips for finding inspiration. Various structures for stories are presented such as beginning, middle, end and plot points. Examples are given of how to plan stories by outlining characters, challenges, motivations and settings. The document aims to help teachers develop stories and reading materials for students.

3. We all love
stories

4. What are the
characteristi
cs of our
target
audience?

5. cc USAG-Humphreys' photostream

6. stories
folktales, fairy tales,
fables, myths,
legends, adventure,
fantasy, family,
animal, tall tales,
trickster tales,
scary stories… (the
list goes on)

7. Examples of what children need when they are
learning to read (from Sheila Drew)
• Enjoyable stories
• Authentic contexts, not contrived by adults
• Rich visual images that make sense and can support the
reading of the text
• Play with words and sounds
• Not necessarily ‘real’, but logically developed – 'nonsense that
makes sense‘
• Text that has visual qualities
• ‘Matching relations’ – rhyme, rhythm, repetition, similar
elements, different elements, setting rules and breaking them
etc.
• Suspense and danger (can be frightened / take risks within
the safety of the story)
• Beginning, middle and end … always?

8. Finding
inspiration
for a story

9. http://www.meddybemps.com/9.700.html

10. The ‘What If’ method

11. An example
of using
‘free writing’
with a class

12. Our world loves stories. Do you like stories?

13. Catch the story going around in your head!
(Classical music is playing)

14. Concentrate hard until you find the story

15. Who found a story?

16. Let’s discuss our stories in groups

17. Oh, that is a funny story!

18. That’s a very good idea!

19. Now it is time to put your thoughts on to the computer.
Don’t worry about spelling and grammar – just write!

20. The words are done, the story is in
paragraphs and Ihave checked the
spelling. My friend helped me. The pages
are in order. Now it’s time to illustrate my
story.

21. How do you
do this
snipping
thing
again?
We use a snipping tool to get the pictures and
words into PowerPoint.

22. The book binding team at work

23. We created the stories, added
illustrations and put them into
PowerPoint. We then printed them as
A4 booklets.

24. Each class wrote stories made using PowerPoint

25. We created a reading scheme of 77 books
from Grade 1 – Grade 7 for a
disadvantaged primary school in our area

26. One class was selected to deliver them to he
recipient school and read some of the stories to
each grade in their school hall.

27. Thank you
for these
books!

28. Adding
structure to
your story

29. The main
elements of a
story in a simple
form
Plot
Character/s
Conflict and resolution
Theme

30. http://www.storyjumper.com/ http://www.storyjumper.com/main/starter#teacher

31. 1. CHARACTER:
Who is your main character, and what is your character like?
2. CHALLENGE:
What challenge or problem must your character solve?
3. MOTIVATION:
What is motivating your character to solve the
challenge?
4. SETTING:
Where and when does your story take place?
5. OBSTACLES:
What obstacles stand in his/her way?
a)
b)
c)
6. CLIMAX:
How does he/her finally solve the challenge?
7. OUTCOME:
What is the outcome of the story?
An excellent planning guide from StoryJumper

32. Beginning Middle End
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3
The setup The conflict The resolution
• The main
character in
his/her setting
• The character
has a motivation
and a goal
• The hero moves
towards the goal
• Protagonist
introduced
• The hero falls
and hits a major
low point
• This could
happen several
times
The final push
The final fight
There might be a
low point
The hero digs deep
There is a wrap up
Adapted from Eddy Ching’s Story Structure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jBcitU7kBs

33. Putting this all together
http://childrenswritersworld.blogspot.com/2012/11/mgya-webinar.html
Start with a big question (what if?) and then think about how you would turn that question into a
story.
The structure of the story might be:
* an inciting incident
* turning points
* around three attempts to resolve a big problem
* a dark moment
* the climax
* the resolution
Things to consider about the characters:
* The main character needs to undergo a change.
* The main character must have a motivation or goal and obstacles that get in the way of the
goal.
* Secondary characters may bring out other traits of the main character.
* Characters should be allowed to make mistakes.

34. Example from Flat Stanley
The structure of the story might be:
* an inciting incident
* turning points
* around three attempts to
resolve a big problem
* a dark moment
* the climax
* the resolution

35. Thank you!