Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Story Dice Printable: Free Printable Game for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Story Dice Printable is a free printable storytelling game for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children pick cards, such as a Who, a Where and a What, and make up a story from what they choose. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only paper and a pencil, and suits one player or a group.
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. Page 1 is the game for children. Page 2 is for the grown-up and has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children cut out the cards and sort them by their labels: Who, Where and What. The Who cards are characters, such as a shy dragon or a clever fox. The Where cards are places, such as a dark cave or a snowy hill. The What cards are events, such as finding a secret door. Children pick cards, then tell or write a story with a beginning, middle and end.
- Who: a shy dragon
- Who: a tiny mouse
- Who: a clever fox
- Who: a friendly robot
- Where: a dark cave
- Where: a busy market
- Where: a sunny beach
- Where: a snowy hill
- What: loses something precious
- What: makes a new friend
- What: finds a secret door
- What: needs to be brave
Ways to play with the cards
Sort first
Cut out the cards and sort them into Who, Where and What. Turn each group face down. Pick from each group and put the cards in a row before you start talking.
Tell, then write
Tell the story aloud first. When the story sounds right, write it down. Saying it out loud first gives children their sentences ready to write.
Swap a card
If a child gets stuck, let them swap one card for another from the same group. A new Where or a new What can open up a fresh idea.
Change the ending
Tell the story once, then keep the same cards and tell it again with a different ending. Talk about which ending you like better and why.
Why make up stories aloud?
Most stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. At the start we meet a character and a place. In the middle something happens. At the end the problem is solved or the story settles down. Year 2 children are learning to hold that shape in their heads, and picking cards gives them the parts to build with, so they do not face a blank page.
Telling a story aloud comes before writing it. When children say their ideas out loud, they can try them, change them and put them in order. The National Curriculum for England links spoken language and writing for this reason. A game with a few cards makes that practice feel like play, and it lets shy or cautious writers start by talking.
Skills and curriculum link
- Storytelling
- Imagination
- Speaking and listening
- Sequencing events
- Using time words
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: composition | Year 2 |
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Spoken language | Year 2 |
What children will be able to do
- I can use the pictures I roll to make up a story.
- I can tell my story in the right order.
- I can retell my story aloud so others can follow it.
Helping children build a story
- Start with the characterAsk who the story is about and how they feel. A shy character and a brave character will act in different ways, so feelings give children ideas.
- Let the place set the sceneAsk what you can see, hear and feel in the setting. A few describing words make a story richer without needing a long plot.
- Use the event as the problemThe What card gives the story something to happen. Ask what the character does about it, and what happens next.
- Listen before you fixLet the child tell the whole story first. Praise one good idea. Then ask a question to help them improve one part, rather than correcting as they go.
Key words
- CharacterA person, animal or creature in a story.
- SettingThe place where a story happens.
- BeginningThe part of the story where we meet the character and the place.
- MiddleThe part where something happens and the story gets exciting.
- EndThe part where the story finishes and the problem is sorted out.
- Time wordsWords like first, then and finally that tell the reader what order things happen in.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Cut out the cards and sort them by their labels. Read them aloud together so everyone knows what each card says.
- Work through the first story together. Pick cards, talk about each choice, then let your child lead the telling.
- Check the story against the notes on page 2. Ask, "What happens at the start, the middle and the end?"
- Come back to the game another day with different cards. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Before telling the story, draw three quick pictures: one for the beginning, one for the middle and one for the end. Then use the pictures to tell the story, one at a time. Start with a story of just three sentences.
To stretch confident children
Write the story down in at least five sentences. Use time words such as first, then and finally to show the order. Read it aloud to someone and ask whether they could follow what happened.
Make it a game
Pass the story round. Each player adds one sentence, and the next player carries on from it. Try to use every card you picked. When the story feels finished, the last player gives it a title.
Talk about it
- Which card did you like best, and why?
- How does your character feel at the start of the story? Has that changed by the end?
- What can you see and hear in the place you picked?
- What would a different character do in the same place?
- Can you make your story funny, then tell it again to be scary or kind?
- What happens next if the story carries on after your ending?
Take it off the page
Draw the scene
Pick a Who card and a Where card. Draw the character in the place. Add labels or a sentence saying what is happening.
Puppet story
Make a simple puppet from paper or a spare sock for the character. Use it to act out the story for a family member.
Story walk
Tell a story while you walk round the house or garden. Use the rooms or places you pass as your settings.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first story, then let them lead. Keep sessions to about 15 minutes. If they get stuck, ask them to draw the beginning, middle and end first. Praise ideas, not just neat writing.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, a table activity or a speaking and listening task. It needs only printing and cutting. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and pairs can tell stories to each other.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with picture books, outdoor play and everyday talk. Use it again with brothers and sisters, or return to it a few weeks later with new card combinations.
Where this skill fits
Before this game, children practise saying a sentence aloud, joining ideas with words like and, and putting two or three events in order. Hearing and retelling stories at home and in class prepares them for making up their own.
After it, children plan longer stories, use more describing words, and write with clearer beginnings, middles and ends. Telling a story aloud first stays a useful habit. It helps them organise their ideas before they pick up a pencil.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What happens at the start, the middle and the end of your story?
- Why did you decide to put that picture in that part?
- How would your story change if you rolled a different picture?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Story Dice Printable for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in by telling stories aloud, and older children can write longer ones, so it can be shared by brothers and sisters.
- What will children practise?
They practise putting ideas together to tell a story with a beginning, middle and end. They also use their imagination, speak clearly and listen to others. Writing the story down adds practice with sentences and time words.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes. Telling one story aloud is quicker. Writing it down, drawing pictures or playing a few rounds takes longer, so you can shorten or stretch the time to suit your child.
- What if my child gets stuck?
Ask them to draw three pictures for the beginning, middle and end, then tell the story from the pictures. Swapping one card for another from the same group can also give them a fresh idea.
- Can I play with more than one child?
Yes. It works for one player or more. Take turns to pick cards and tell stories, or pass one story round so each player adds a sentence. Listening to each other is part of the practice.
- 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 cutting. It supports writing composition and spoken language at Year 2.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour to the cards or draw their own pictures if they would like to. It is free to print for home and classroom use.
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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.