Story Mountain Planner: Free Printable Planner for Year 2

Story Mountain Planner is a free printable planner for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Children plan a story from start to finish in five parts: beginning, build up, problem, solution and ending. It takes about 20 minutes and needs only a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes on how to use the sheet, help ideas, a stretch idea and 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 plan a story in five parts, following the shape of a story mountain. They start with the beginning, saying who is in the story and where they are. Next come the build up, the problem and the solution. The sheet finishes with the ending, where children think about how everyone feels. There is space to answer each question. Children then use their plan to write the full story on separate paper.

• Beginning: who is in it and where are they?
• Build up: what happens first?
• Problem: what goes wrong?
• Solution: how is it fixed?
• Ending: how does everyone feel?

Why plan a story before writing it?

Skills and curriculum link

• Planning
• Story structure
• Sequencing
• Creative writing
• Telling a story out loud

Ideas to help your child plan

• Say it before you write itAsk your child to tell the story out loud first. Spoken stories are easier to fix than written ones, and children hear if a part is missing.
• Keep the notes shortA plan is not the story. A few words or a quick picture for each part is enough. The full sentences come later, on separate paper.
• Think about the problemA story needs something to go wrong. Ask, "What would make your character worried or stuck?" Then ask how they might sort it out.
• Think about feelingsCharacters have feelings, and so do readers. Talk about how someone feels at different moments in a story you both know.

Key words

• PlanA short set of notes or pictures that helps you decide what to write before you start.
• CharacterA person, animal or creature in a story.
• SettingWhere and when a story happens.
• Build upThe part of the story where events begin to happen.
• ProblemSomething that goes wrong in a story and needs to be sorted out.
• SolutionThe way a problem is fixed.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
2. Work through the planner together the first time. Read each part aloud and talk about each choice.
3. Ask your child to tell the story out loud before they write in the planner.
4. Let your child complete page 1 on their own, which takes about 20 minutes. Then they use their plan to write the full story on separate paper.
5. Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• Who is your favourite character in a story you know, and why?
• Where would you most like a story to be set?
• What is the biggest problem you have ever read about in a book?
• How do you think your character feels when the problem happens?
• Can you think of a different way your character could fix the problem?
• How do you want your reader to feel at the end of your story?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in learning to write

Before planning a story, children listen to stories, retell familiar ones and learn that events happen in an order. Talking about characters, places and problems in books they know gives them ideas to draw on when they plan their own.

After planning, children write the full story, choosing words with care and joining ideas into sentences. They then read it back and improve it. As they move through Key Stage 1 and beyond, plans become more detailed and stories grow longer and richer.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Story Mountain Planner for?

It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Older children who find story planning tricky can use it too, and confident younger children may enjoy it with a grown-up beside them.

How long does it take?

The planner on page 1 takes about 20 minutes for one child working alone. Writing the full story from the plan happens on separate paper, so allow extra time for that. Page 2 is for the grown-up and has usage notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.

What will children practise?

Children plan a story in five parts: opening, build up, problem, solution and ending. This builds planning, story structure and sequencing, which are useful before any longer piece of creative writing.

What if my child finds it hard?

Draw one picture for each part before writing, and tell the story out loud first. Work on one part at a time. Page 2 also has help for children who find the planner hard.

Do children write the whole story on this sheet?

No. The sheet is a planner. Children use their finished plan to write the full story on separate paper. This keeps the planning short and gives them room to write at their own pace.

Can teachers and home educators use it?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider writing plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.

Is it free and screen free?

Yes to both. It is free to print for home and classroom use. It needs only paper and a pencil, and it prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so colour ink is not needed.