Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Silly Story Templates: Free Printable Game for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Silly Story Templates is a free printable word game for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children fill in the blanks with the right type of word, then read their silly story aloud. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children answer numbered questions, each asking for one word to fill a gap in a story. The word types include a silly name, a place, an adjective, a food, an animal, a verb, a verb ending in ed and another place. There is space to write each answer. When the blanks are filled, children read the finished story aloud, in the funniest voice they can manage.
- A silly name
- A place
- An adjective
- A food
- An animal
- A verb
- A verb ending in ed
- Another place
Why word types make stories funny
Every sentence is built from different kinds of words. Nouns name people, places, animals and things. Verbs show actions. Adjectives describe nouns. A story needs all three to make sense. When children fill a gap, they must think about which kind of word fits, even though the word itself can be as silly as they like.
Silly stories work because the shape of the sentence stays the same while the words change. The grammar holds the story together, and the surprise word makes people laugh. Reading the finished story aloud adds another skill. Children practise expression and clear speech, and they hear straight away whether a sentence sounds right.
Skills and curriculum link
- Word types
- Nouns, verbs and adjectives
- Imagination
- Reading aloud
- Listening
- Past tense verbs
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation | Year 4 |
What children will be able to do
- I can tell nouns, verbs and adjectives apart.
- I can choose words to fill gaps in a story.
- I can read my funny story aloud.
Ideas for the grown-up helper
- Practise the word types firstBefore starting, say a few quick examples of a noun, a verb and an adjective. Ask your child to add one more of each. This warms up their thinking without touching the sheet.
- Keep the story hiddenIf you are the word asker, ask only for the type of word. Do not say what the story is about. The surprise is what makes the finished story funny.
- Check the word fits the typeSilly is welcome, but the word should still be the right type. Ask, "Is that a doing word or a describing word?" This turns a giggle into a grammar chat.
- Notice the past tenseA verb ending in ed tells us something already happened. Many past tense verbs end this way, but not all of them. Talk about this if your child is unsure.
Key words
- NounA word that names a person, place, animal or thing.
- VerbA word for an action or a state of being, such as run or think.
- AdjectiveA word that describes a noun and tells you more about it.
- Past tenseThe form of a verb that shows something has already happened.
- TemplateA ready made page with gaps that you fill in to finish it.
- BlankA gap in a sentence where a missing word goes.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Decide who is the word asker and who is the story reader. Or play alone and fill in the blanks yourself.
- Ask for each word by its type only. Do not say or show the story yet.
- Write each word in its space, then read the finished silly story aloud. Use funny voices.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Come back another day and play again with new words.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give examples of each word type before starting. Say a few nouns, verbs and adjectives together, and ask your child to add one of their own. Work through the first blanks side by side, and talk about why each word fits.
To stretch confident children
Write your own silly story with eight blanks for a friend to fill in. Label each gap with the word type it needs. Swap stories, fill them in and read them aloud. Then ask which gap changed the story most.
Make it a game
Take turns being the word asker and the story reader. The asker collects words by type only, never saying the story. The reader then performs it aloud. Give each reading a score for silliest voice.
Talk about it
- Which word in your story is a noun, and how do you know?
- How did a different adjective change the story?
- What verb would make the story more exciting?
- Which part made you laugh most, and why?
- Can you think of a sillier word that is still the same type?
- How did your voice change when you read the story aloud?
Take it off the page
Word type hunt
Look around the room or garden. Find five nouns you can see, then think of an adjective for each one. Say them as short silly phrases.
Story in a bag
Write nouns, verbs and adjectives on small scraps of paper and put them in three piles. Pick one from each pile and build a sentence from them.
Pass the story
Sit in a circle. One person starts a story with a sentence, and the next person adds a sentence with a new adjective in it. Keep going until the story ends.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep the mood light. A silly answer is fine as long as it is the right word type. Praise their reading aloud as well as their word choices.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It links to the Year 4 English strand on vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. Pairs can swap roles as word asker and story reader.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with books, poems and everyday talk. Brothers and sisters can take turns, and you can reuse the sheet later by choosing new words.
Where this skill fits
Before this, children learn to sort words into types and to build simple sentences. They read stories aloud and notice how words describe and name things. This sheet turns that knowledge into play, so the word types become a tool rather than a rule.
After this, children can choose words with more care in their own writing. They can use adjectives to add detail and pick stronger verbs. A good next step is Limerick Writing, which asks them to play with words, rhythm and humour in their own verses.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which word in your story is a noun and how do you know?
- How did a different adjective change the story?
- What verb would make the story more exciting?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Silly Story Templates for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2 to write their own templates.
- What will children practise?
They practise using nouns, verbs and adjectives to build a funny story. They also practise past tense verbs, using their imagination and reading aloud with expression. All of this is done through play.
- Can children play it alone?
Yes. A child can fill in the blanks and read the story to themselves or to a grown-up. It is more fun with two players, because one asks for words by type and the other reads the story.
- Do I need to check the answers?
Yes, a quick check helps. Silly words are welcome, but each one should be the right type for its gap. Page 2 has notes and answers to help you check, and you can ask your child to explain their choices.
- Is Silly Story Templates free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and use new words each time to get a different story.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children write by hand, talk about their choices and read aloud, all without a screen.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.