Every picture tells a story, but which one? Here are 8 curated, visual creative writing prompts. Each image includes a writing prompt designed to inspire your students, or help them to write from the heart. Learning objectives: Generating ideas, planning and drafting Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Writing narratives, considering how authors have developed characters and settings Differentiation opportunities: Ask students to find an image they want to write a story about. You can create your own favourite visual creative writing prompts from headlines. It’s easy to pull up images from pinterest or amazing free image sites like unsplash. All my students enjoy this activity. It can help them generate ideas and write about characters and settings they are interested in.

In an old lighthouse, where a twenty-four-candle lantern lights a sparkling blue-green sea, live a lighthouse keeper and his little companion – a cat called Mackerel. One day, a huge storm comes and the lights go out. Mackerel has an ingenious plan to help…but will it work? Resources included 10 Activities Printables Story Mountain Worksheets Handouts Story planner Online resource links Activities Comprehension, speaking and listening, story & information writing, labeling, drawing /painting, memory game Learning outcomes English • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising • imagining and exploring ideas • listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently • re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense • discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils • develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by: writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional) writing about real events Art • use drawing and imagination to develop their ideas. • Use tone, pattern, line and shape in pictures. These lessons are written by children’s author and tutor Claire Vorster. Enjoy!

Ray Bradbury’s advice on how to write confident and compelling narrative? “Let the world burn through you. Throw the prism light, white hot, on paper.” With the right tools, your students can write narrative pieces that blaze. In these lessons they’ll gain the skills to become highly attuned to the world around them, develop their voices and create their best work. They will learn how to - • Identify and develop strong ideas that add heat to a story. • Use popular song lyrics to find story ideas and create realistic characters. • Beat writer’s block. Discover the technique that award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin uses to make a great start, every time. • Craft compelling stories that are relevant and timeless. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Resources include 5 Activities Story prompts Quotes and song lyrics Story planner for students Online resource links Please contact Claire Vorster with any questions. Many thanks!

Every picture contains a secret story, but which one? Here are 8 curated, visual creative writing prompts. Each image includes a writing prompt designed to inspire your students, or help them to write from the heart. Learning objectives: Generating ideas, planning and drafting Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Writing narratives, considering how authors have developed characters and settings Differentiation opportunities: Ask students to find an image they want to write a story about. You can create your own favourite visual creative writing prompts from headlines. It’s easy to pull up images from pinterest or amazing free image sites like unsplash. All my students enjoy this activity. It can help them generate ideas and write about characters and settings they are interested in.

Looking for a list of character traits? Writers can choose from a comprehensive list of character traits to bring their characters to life in their creative writing. Readers can discover how to describe the characters they are reading about. Your A-Z List of Character Traits comes from the £1 Super Story Starter Kit for any class. Ranging from Easy, through Medium to Advanced, you also get - 36 Character prompts 36 Setting prompts 36 Problem prompts 20 Narrative sentence prompts 3 Act Story Infographic Story planning templates £1 Super Story Starter Kit. One kit = super stories!!

Truth is stranger than fiction. Inspire your students (or make them laugh) with creative writing prompts curated from real news headlines. Learning objectives: Generating ideas, planning and drafting Reading and engaging with a wide and varied range of texts Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Differentiation opportunities: Ask students to find a headline they want to write a story about You can create your own favourite creative writing prompts from headlines. It’s easy to pull up the day’s news and take quick screenshots. All my students enjoy this activity. It can help them write realistic / fiction about a topic they are interested in.

These mini creative writing activities will help students to conquer their first line blues. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will engage your students as they create compelling characters and emotions that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

Fiction often reveals truth. Inspire your students (make them laugh, or empathise) with more creative writing prompts curated from real news headlines. Learning objectives: Generating ideas, planning and drafting Reading and engaging with a wide and varied range of texts Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Differentiation opportunities: Ask students to find a headline they want to write a story about You can create your own favourite creative writing prompts from headlines. It’s easy to pull up the day’s news and take quick screenshots. All my students enjoy this activity. It can help them write realistic / fiction about a topic they are interested in.

With the right tools, your students can write confident and compelling narrative pieces. This adaptable teaching guide applies secrets from a master storyteller to build on existing skills. Your students will learn how to - • Develop a solid plot structure. • Keep their narratives clear and on track. • Craft compelling stories. Resources include Teaching Guide 3 Act Story Infographic Answer Guide Worksheets Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” —Patrick Rothfuss, author Examples of best selling books or movies that were inspired or experienced by the people who lived them: The Imitation Game First Man Adrift Dunkirk Into the Wild Apollo 13 Here are 8 curated examples of real stories – from poignant to silly. Students can take the idea that appeals the most and write their own fictional story. Learning objectives Generating ideas, planning and drafting Reading and engaging with a wide and varied range of texts Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Differentiation opportunities Ask students to find a headline they want to write a story about You can create your own favourite creative writing prompts from headlines. It’s easy to pull up the day’s news and take quick screenshots. All my students enjoy this activity. It can help them write realistic / fiction about a topic they are interested in.

These mini creative writing activities will help students to conquer their first line blues. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will engage your students as they create compelling characters and emotions that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

With the right plot, your students can write confident and realistic narrative pieces. Using these mini and comprehensive writing activities your students will discover techniques to help them write stronger, more authentic stories. They will learn to - • Quickly set themselves up for a successful first draft. • Find great stories in the places they may least expect them. • Understand the importance of having a secret story that drives their characters. • Create tension for the reader by escalating the stakes in their story. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or other questions.

These mini creative writing activities will help students discover how to write effective story endings. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will engage your students as they create compelling characters and emotions that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

These mini creative writing activities help students to explore what informs and motivates their characters’ dialogue. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, They will help your students to create realistic dialogue that elevates and sharpens any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

These mini creative writing activities help students to add authentic details when constructing where their stories takes place. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will help your students to create realistic settings that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

These mini creative writing activities help students to have fun and add authentic details when constructing where their stories takes place. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will help your students to create realistic settings that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

These mini creative writing activities will help students discover how to write effective story endings. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will engage your students as they create compelling characters and emotions that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

Dive into these printables with your class as you head to the beach. You can almost feel the salt spray on your face and smell the wide ocean… Printables include 5 Senses at the beach Memory Game Diary template Yummy lunch template Story planner Simple Mind Map (with prompts) These printables were created by children’s author and tutor Claire Vorster. Enjoy!

These mini creative writing activities help students to explore what informs and motivates their characters’ dialogue. Students will also learn how to punctuate and format correctly, before they start tearing their hair out! You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, They will help your students create realistic dialogue that elevates and sharpens any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

These mini creative writing activities will help students to add authentic details when constructing characters and emotions. You will find a fabulous bundle of creative writing lessons here. They apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, These lessons will engage your students as they create compelling characters and emotions that elevate and sharpen any story. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.