Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Writing My Own Story Starter: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Writing My Own Story Starter is a free printable English worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children pick a story opening, then write what happens next in simple sentences. It takes about 20 minutes, needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
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
Page 1 gives children four story starters on cards to cut out. Each one begins an adventure, from a tiny dragon to a toy robot that talks. Children read the starters aloud with a grown up, choose the one they like best, then use the lines to write a short beginning, middle and end. There is no right answer, only their own ideas.
- One sunny morning, a tiny dragon woke up in my garden.
- I opened the old red door and I saw a light.
- My toy robot started to talk to me.
- On the beach, I found a very big shell.
Building a story in three parts
Choose a starter
The cards give children a first sentence, so they never face a blank page. Choosing one is the first act of an author. Ask why they picked it and what they already imagine.
Say it before writing it
Children tell the story aloud first. Hearing a sentence in their head and mouth makes it much easier to hold on to while they write it down.
Beginning, middle and end
Each part can be one sentence. The beginning sets the scene, the middle is where something happens and the end tells how it finishes.
Check and share
Read the story back together. Look for a capital letter at the start of each sentence and a full stop at the end. Then let the child read it to someone else.
Why story starters help young writers
Many five and six year olds have plenty of ideas but find it hard to begin. A story starter removes that first hurdle. The opening sentence is already there, so a child can put all their energy into thinking about what happens next. It also shows what a story opening looks like, which they can borrow when they write on their own.
In Year 1, writing is about getting ideas into sentences. Children are encouraged to say a sentence aloud, hold it in their memory, write it down and read it back. A short story with a beginning, middle and end gives a clear purpose for that practice. It also keeps writing playful, because the child is the one in charge of the story.
Skills and curriculum link
- Story ideas
- Writing sentences
- Capital letters
- Beginning, middle and end
- Reading back their own writing
Ideas that help young writers
- Say it firstChildren write better when they have said the sentence aloud. Let them tell you the idea, then say it again slowly as they write each word.
- Who, where, what happenedThese three questions turn a starter into a story. Ask them one at a time and let the child answer aloud before any writing begins.
- Capital letters and full stopsA sentence starts with a capital letter and usually ends with a full stop. Point to these on a sentence in a favourite book, then look for them in the child's own work.
- Finger spacesA finger placed after each word helps children leave a gap. It makes writing easier to read, for them and for others.
Key words
- Story starterThe first sentence or two of a story. It gets the story going.
- BeginningThe part of a story that tells us who is in it and where we are.
- MiddleThe part where something happens.
- EndThe part that tells how the story finishes.
- Capital letterThe big letter we use at the start of a sentence and for names.
- Full stopThe small dot at the end of a sentence.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes.
- Cut out the cards and read the four starters aloud together. Let your child choose one. The sheet takes about 20 minutes.
- Talk through the first go together. Ask who is in the story, where they are and what happened. Let your child say each answer aloud before writing.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Read the story back and look for capital letters and full stops. Praise the ideas first.
- Come back to it another day with a different starter. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Ask 'who', 'where' and 'what happened?' and let your child say each answer aloud before writing it. Write only one or two sentences the first time. Sit beside them and tap out each word on your fingers as they write.
To stretch confident children
Add the words 'but' or 'then' to make the story turn in a new direction. Write a different ending on the back of the sheet. Then read both endings aloud and decide together which one is the better surprise.
Make it a game
Take turns telling a story one sentence at a time. Start from a starter card and pass it round the family. Each person adds one sentence. When everyone has had a go, someone finishes it, and you all clap.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forWords run together with no gaps, or the sentence has no full stop.
Try thisSay the sentence aloud, then write it one word at a time with a finger space after each. Find the end of the sentence together and add the full stop.
Watch forCapital letters are missing at the start of a sentence, or appear in the middle of words.
Try thisCircle the first letter of each sentence and ask, 'Is this a big letter?' Keep capitals for sentence starts and names, and check lower case for the rest.
Watch forThe child copies the starter and then says they do not know what happens next.
Try thisAsk 'who', 'where' and 'what happened?'. Let them draw a quick picture or tell you the idea first. Then write just one sentence.
Talk about it
- Which starter did you choose, and why?
- Who is in your story, and where are they?
- What happens in the middle that is surprising or funny?
- How could your story end? Is there another way it could finish?
- What do you want to happen to the main character?
- Which sentence is your favourite? Read it in a special voice.
Take it off the page
Story cards
Make your own story starter cards on small pieces of paper. Mix them up, pick one and tell a story aloud with a grown up.
Draw the middle
Draw the exciting moment from your story. Write one sentence underneath that says what is happening.
Puppet show
Make simple puppets from paper or socks for the people in your story. Act it out for family or a toy audience.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. About 20 minutes is plenty, and a few sentences is a good result. Praise their ideas and effort, and keep the mood light.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs only printing. The four cards give choice, and page 2 offers support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with picture books and everyday talk. Read a story aloud first and point out how it begins. Reuse the sheet with brothers and sisters, or return to it later with a new starter.
Where this fits in learning to write
Before Year 1, children learn to speak in sentences, to make marks and draw to tell a story, and to match sounds to letters in phonics. This sheet builds on that by asking them to put a whole idea into written sentences, with a beginning, a middle and an end.
In Year 1, children also learn to join words and sentences using 'and'. As they move into Year 2, writing grows longer and uses a wider range of joining words, including 'or' and 'but'. They also begin to use words like 'because', 'when' and 'if'. The stretch idea on this sheet gives a first taste of that.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Writing My Own Story Starter for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Confident children in Reception and children in Year 2 who need relaxed writing practice may enjoy it too, with a little adjustment.
- What will children practise?
They practise choosing a story idea, saying a sentence aloud and writing it down. They write a short beginning, middle and end using capital letters and full stops, then read their story back.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 20 minutes. Some children will want to write more and some less. Page 2 has ideas to make it shorter with the help section, or longer with the stretch idea.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Ask 'who', 'where' and 'what happened?' and let them say each answer aloud first. One or two sentences is a good start. Drawing a picture of the idea first can also help.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can colour the cards if they like, but it is not needed for the activity.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, homework or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards.
- Is it free, and can I use it for home education?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider plan, and print it again for brothers and sisters.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.