“I don’t know what to write!” is a very common occurrence in the classroom. When writing fiction, some kids need a very solid start already given to them. Some kids will take whatever topic or prompt you give them and turn it into a masterpiece that you never expected! Use Storyboard That to get students thinking about stories. Give them a prompt to work with, or start a storyboard for them to finish. The prompt for this example is, “Lucy was alone in the woods…"
Depending on the level of your students, you may want to enforce the narrative arc, or you may just want the story to make sense sequentially. This particular activity is good for expanding “quick write” ideas, or boiling down a story idea to its major points. It is also good to get stuck students started. Present several finished stories to see the different directions students took!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a story! Use the starting prompt provided or use your own from your imagination.
Pair students up and have them work together to complete a Halloween-themed storyboard. Collaboration helps spark new ideas and makes writing less intimidating for those who struggle to get started.
Give each student a specific role—such as illustrator, dialogue writer, or plot developer. Clear roles provide focus and ensure everyone contributes meaningfully to the final story.
Demonstrate how to break down a story into beginning, middle, and end using a graphic organizer. Visual planning supports organization and helps students see how their ideas connect.
Set aside time for students to share their storyboards with classmates and offer constructive feedback. Peer review builds confidence and inspires creative revisions.
Host a showcase where students present their completed Halloween stories to the class. Celebrating their work motivates students and reinforces the joy of creative writing.
Easy Halloween writing prompts for elementary students include story starters like “Lucy was alone in the woods…”, “A mysterious pumpkin appeared on my desk…”, and “The classroom ghost left a note!” These prompts spark imagination and can be used for quick writes or longer stories.
To help students who struggle to start writing Halloween stories, provide them with structured prompts or begin a story for them to complete. Using visual aids like storyboards can also inspire ideas and make writing more engaging for reluctant writers.
Story starters encourage creativity, reduce writer’s block, and help students organize their thoughts. For Halloween activities, they make writing fun and engaging, allowing students to explore different narrative directions in a festive context.
To use Storyboard That for Halloween writing, ask students to select or receive a prompt, then create a storyboard illustrating and narrating their story. They can use description boxes and images to bring their ideas to life, either individually or in pairs.
Expand quick writes by encouraging students to add more details, develop characters, and build a clear sequence of events. Using a narrative arc or presenting finished examples can inspire students to turn short ideas into complete Halloween stories.