Reading
Strategy: Story Grid
Appropriate Grade Level: K-5
Procedures/Steps:
1. Students will use their creative writing skills and higher level of thinking skills to
connect unrelated concepts and create a story.
2. As a group, students brainstorm and come up with the main characters, ideas and
elements of the story.
3. Complete the chart to go along with the different ideas that the class comes up
with during their brainstorming.
4. Students will choose one entry from each column based off of rolling of a dice.
For example, group 1 rolls a number 3 for main character. Then they would
choose the third entry in main character. The dice would be rolled for each
column.
5. Groups get together and will create a story based off the entries they have
brainstormed. They should have one entry from each column.
6. Present their story they have created to the class.
Main
Sidekick or Bad Person
Conflict
Setting
Resolution
Character
friend
or Villain
or Ending
Comments and/or tips:
 This strategy allows students to brainstorm the main ideas and elements of the
story, while using their creative writing skills.
 The headings in the chart can be altered so that it fits the appropriate subject level
or grade level. The number of columns and rows will differ depending on the
complexity of the story.
 Another way to use their creative writing skills is to alter the strategy by having
one student in their group begin to individually write the story. Then at a known
time, pass the beginning part of their story to the next member in the group to
continue the story based off their entry selections.
Source:
Kovarik, M. (2006). Meaningful responses to literature. Kappa Delta Pi Record.
42(4), 178-182.
Reading