Struggling with story ideas? Help your class develop their story building skills. You can play this animation, which is just one in a writing series, in class or at home to help children write a gripping story.
My story is about a princess who doesn't want to be a princess. That's the idea. But I also need a plot, a series of events that lead through the story. One thing on top of another, like building a wall! The first few layers of bricks are the foundations of the story: the characters and the setting. The Princess lived in a world of kings and castles, and her destiny was to marry a handsome prince. But she didn't want to get married. And definitely not to Prince Vulpine. No, she wanted to see the world!
On top of the foundations go the problems that the Princess has to deal with. When Prince Vulpine got down on one knee and proposed, the Princess refused: "You'd have to lock me up in the Tower of Doom before I married you!" And the Prince who hadn't thought of that, locked her up in the Tower of Doom.
I've got the characters, the setting, the problem. What's next? The Princess was fine. She'd built a treadmill to keep her fit, and it also generated electricity, which she had just discovered. It's all building up to the Princess finding a solution. After a few weeks, the Prince thought, "She must have changed her mind by now," and proposed again. But the Princess said, "You can brick me up behind a wall for ever because I'm never going to marry you!", and the Prince, who hadn't thought of that, began tobuild a wall across the door to her room. "If I cannot marry you, then no one ever will!", he howled. And now the big finish, which builds on everything that's gone before.
The Princess was fine. She used the other door, which led to the stairs. But the Prince had bricked himself into the attic at the top of the tower. The Princess invented the airship and explored the world! But that's a story to build another day.
Next up...
We have up to five animations to develop childrens' 500 Words stories, why not use one a day? Coming up next is 'Wonderful Words and Phrases'.
Teacher Notes
This video could be used to highlight examples of different ‘problems’ or dilemmas in books or well-known stories, pupils are familiar with.
Work around this could be based on finding solutions to the characters dilemmas.
For less able pupils’ access 5-7 version.
Curriculum Notes
This video is suitable for use with pupils aged 7-11. It is designed primarily for support with the BBC 500 Words competition but could also support the teaching of English and Literacy for this age range.
This links directly to the English Programmes of Study at KS2 (England and Wales), 2nd Level (Scotland) and KS1/KS2 (Northern Ireland).
Need more inspiration?
Back to 500 Words
Click here for more information on 500 Words.
What makes a brilliant 500 Words story?
Watch judges Charlie Higson. Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Sir Lenny Henry share what they think makes a brilliant 500 Words story.
The top 50 finalists of 2024/25. audio
Read or listen to the top 50 stories that made it to the 2024/25 final.
