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Story cubes are dice with special topics on each side, such as setting, characters, or theme. Students are meant to roll these dice at random and to write a story using the information from the roll. The faces of the dice can be simple pictures, words, complex scenes, or a mix of everything.
Writing can be very challenging for many people. Story cubes are very useful because teachers can provide six pre-selected ideas for each element, and the rolling of the dice makes the student more engaged, as in a game.
Use the dice to piece together a quick oral story, or have students craft more involved written assignments. Story cubes are a great way to provide both assistance for struggling storytellers, and also can challenge more accomplished writers with creative constraints! Looking for other ways to engage your students with fun activities? Make a game online with Storyboard That today!
Use a free printable story cubes template above to create extraordinary dice! Each side of the die can be whatever you want, such as different characters, and can include words, pictures, or both. Alternatively, have all students create dice so you will have a large collection of ideas to choose from throughout the year.
Make your own printable story cubes in the Storyboard Creator using the many image assets available, or print out a blank cube template and have students draw their own story ideas.
Note that not every printable cube template folds into actual cubes. There are a variety of nets available, including tetrahedron, rectangular prism, triangular prism, hexagonal prism, and even icosahedron! Just a little bit of math for your English language arts class. Cubes are more like traditional six-sided dice that many students will already be familiar with.
We've come up with some great story cube templates for you to use, but you can also make your own printable story cubes from scratch. Simply follow these steps:
Making a worksheet from scratch is fun, but remember, we have tons of premade templates to get you started. We’ve done all the formatting so that you don’t have to! Read how to use a template below.
For more activity ideas, check out back to school activities and homeschool activities Text!
Happy Creating!
Story cubes are dice with pictures, words, or scenes on each face. When rolled, they give students random prompts to inspire stories. They help boost creativity, reduce writer’s block, and make storytelling feel like a game.
Have students roll one or more cubes to generate elements like character, setting, or conflict. They can then write or orally share a story using the results. You can use cubes in solo writing time, group storytelling, or as warm-ups.
Include story elements like character types, settings, moods, or themes. You can also add story starters, conflicts, or writing challenges. Use words, symbols, or images depending on your students’ reading level.
Use a story cube template from the page or the Storyboard Creator to design your own. Print on cardstock, cut out, fold, and tape or glue together. Let students decorate their own for a personalized touch.
Start with simple cubes using familiar images or characters. Roll just one or two cubes at a time and model a short oral story before asking students to create their own. Keep it playful and low-pressure!
They provide built-in inspiration and remove the pressure of “coming up with an idea.” Rolling a cube turns writing into a fun challenge rather than a blank page problem.
Try partner storytelling, “pass the cube” group tales, drawing scenes based on cube rolls, or turning rolls into comic strips. Story cubes are great for center activities, warm-ups, and creative brain breaks.
Yes! Let students brainstorm story elements, design their own faces, and assemble cubes. This adds ownership, creativity, and a layer of meta-cognition to the writing process.