In this activity, students will be challenged to write a story about the given prompt, using vivid verbs and descriptive language.
Students will be given a prompt to use as a jumping off point about a hamster who escapes from its cage and has a plan in mind for how it wants to spend its day.
Teachers can use the given four-cell storyboard format, or teachers can choose to have students write a more detailed story using a 6-cell plot diagram.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
The hamster escaped his cage again, and this time he had a plan…
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard with four cells to describe what kind of adventure your hamster goes on that day.
Instructions:
Be sure to use complete sentences, proper spelling and punctuation, and check your work!
Need help getting started? Watch our instructional video!
Break down the story into manageable parts and provide sentence starters or prompts for each cell. This helps hesitant students organize ideas and gain confidence as they fill in one section at a time.
Lead a group brainstorm about possible hamster adventures and escape methods. Shared discussion sparks creativity and gives all students a bank of ideas to draw from.
Pair students to share storyboards and suggest one vivid verb or detail for each other. Peer feedback encourages collaboration and helps students add depth to their writing.
Display completed storyboards around the classroom and have students walk around to read and comment. This boosts motivation by giving students an audience and recognizing creative effort.
Hamster’s Day Out is a creative writing lesson where students imagine and write a story about a hamster escaping its cage and going on an adventure, using vivid verbs and descriptive language. The activity encourages storytelling, creativity, and proper grammar.
To use the four-cell storyboard template, students describe the hamster, its escape, and its adventure in four illustrated sections. The first cell introduces the hamster, while the other three focus on the adventure using detailed sentences and creative drawings.
Encourage students to replace simple verbs with more expressive ones (e.g., 'scurried' instead of 'ran') and add sensory details about what the hamster sees, hears, and feels. Use brainstorming or word banks to inspire descriptive writing.
Yes, teachers can adapt the activity by using a 6-cell plot diagram for a more detailed story, prompting students to explore character development, plot twists, and richer vocabulary suitable for older learners.
An instructional video is available to help teachers and students get started with the activity. Check the lesson page or resource section for the video link and guidance on using the template.