Creative Writing: Roll a Story (Ongoing / Weekly)

In this class, virtual dice will be used to help us choose from a variety of surprise story elements (a character, the setting, a problem, a specific item, and a specific word, phrase, or sentence) that students should use in the story they will write. 

This class will meet on an ongoing basis, each class with the same structure, but with new story element options to choose from each week. Since the story elements that students will use to write their stories are chosen at random during class each week, there are no pre-determined topics to list in advance.

Class Activities:

- Introduction

- Choose our story elements
          Using virtual dice, we will roll one time for each story element that will be included. The students will use the chosen elements when writing their stories. 
          Here are some examples of story element options students may see in this class: 
         *Character - 1. a farmer, 2. an astronaut, 3. a chef, 4. a monkey, 5. a dentist, 
          6. a talking pencil
         *Setting - 1. a school, 2. a grocery store, 3. a jungle, 4. in the future, 5. in 
          1842, 6. on a rollercoaster
         *Problem/Main event - 1. gets swallowed by a whale, 2. loses their wallet, 3. 
          makes a new friend, 4. is lost, 5. tries to break a world record, 6. wins a 
          competition
         *Item - 1. something blue, 2. a toaster, 3. a toothbrush, 4. something furry, 
          5. a moldy piece of cheese, 6. a flat tire
         *Word/Phrase/Sentence - 1. Help!, 2. Get out of here!, 3. I don't like 
          broccoli., 4. "cooperation," 5. "energetic," 6. He watched in surprise as the 
          tiger sipped a glass of lemonade. 
For example, if we roll the numbers 2, 5, 4, 3, and 5, the students will write stories that include an astronaut in the year 1842 who gets lost,  as well as a toothbrush and the word "energetic" somewhere in their story. 

- Brainstorm ideas: 
          We will answer questions and verbally brainstorm ideas about the character, setting, and problem to help students develop ideas for their stories before writing.

- Writing time: 
          Students will write their stories in a private (just one student) breakout room for 10 to 20 minutes. The time given may be different each week and depends on the number of students in class and how long other activities take.

- Sharing time: 
          Each student is encouraged to read their story aloud, though it is not required. The teacher and students will offer positive comments, emojis, and reactions to each other to show appreciation and encouragement for each other.

*Please note that this class does not focus on helping students to improve spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, or other writing mechanics.