ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Teaching Without Frills How to Write an Imaginative Narrative for Kids Episode 2: Brainstorming
Welcome to our fun adventure in writing a fantasy story! Today, we’re going to learn how to use our imagination to create a unique and magical tale. The first step is to brainstorm, which means thinking of lots of different ideas that we can use in our story.
One great way to brainstorm is by using a special tool called a graphic organizer. This is like a big piece of paper where you can write down all your cool ideas. You can use a circle map, which is a big circle where you jot down your thoughts.
Let’s start by thinking about the characters in our story. Characters can be people, animals, or even magical creatures. In a fantasy story, your characters can be anything you dream up! How about a vampire, a witch, a superhero, or a talking dog? The sky’s the limit!
Next, let’s think about the setting. The setting is where and when your story happens. In a fantasy story, the setting can be in the past, present, or future, and it can be a real place or a made-up one. Imagine your story happening on the moon in the future, in a castle from long ago, in a busy city at night, or on a sunny beach in the summertime. These are just some ideas to get you started!
As you brainstorm, you might find that thinking of characters gives you new ideas for settings, and vice versa. Keep adding to your graphic organizer until you have lots of fun options to choose from.
Once you’re done brainstorming, look at all your ideas and see which ones you like the most. Pick the character and setting that you think will make the best story.
Are you excited for the next step in creating your imaginative narrative? Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll start planning our story!
Create Your Own Character: Think about a character you would like to have in your story. Draw a picture of your character and write a few sentences about them. What do they look like? What special powers or abilities do they have? Share your drawing and description with a friend or family member and ask them what they think your character might do in a story.
Build a Setting Diorama: Choose one of the settings you brainstormed and create a small diorama using a shoebox or any small box. Use craft materials like paper, markers, and clay to build your setting. Think about what makes your setting special and try to include those details in your diorama. Once finished, explain your setting to someone and describe what might happen there in your story.
Story Starters Game: With a friend or family member, play a game where you take turns picking a character and a setting from your brainstormed ideas. Once you have both, start telling a story using those elements. You can each add a sentence to the story, taking turns to see where your imagination takes you. This will help you practice thinking creatively and coming up with new ideas on the spot!
**How to Write an Imaginative Narrative for Kids**
**Episode 2: Brainstorming**
In this episode, we’re focusing on how to write an imaginative narrative or fantasy story. The key to starting is to use your imagination to create a story that is unique and fantastical. Before diving in, it’s beneficial to brainstorm ideas. Brainstorming involves generating a variety of concepts that you can later refine and select from.
One effective way to brainstorm is by using a graphic organizer. You can choose a pre-made organizer or create your own. For this session, I’ll be using a circle map, which provides ample space for jotting down my ideas.
First, let’s brainstorm different types of characters. Remember, characters can be people, animals, or even fantastical creatures. In an imaginative narrative, your characters can be anything beyond ordinary, so let your creativity flow! For example, I could consider a vampire, a witch, a superhero, or a talking dog. The possibilities are endless!
Next, it’s helpful to brainstorm potential settings. A setting refers to when and where your story unfolds. A fantasy story can take place in the past, present, or future, and it can be set in a realistic location or a completely imagined one. Some ideas for settings could include the moon in the future, a castle from long ago, a bustling city at night, or a sunny beach in the summertime. I’ll explore the details of my chosen setting later, but these initial ideas are a great starting point.
Remember, brainstorming characters can inspire new setting ideas, and vice versa. I can continue to expand my graphic organizer until I have a wealth of options to choose from.
Once I finish brainstorming, I’ll review all my ideas and identify which ones resonate with me and which might not be as compelling or coherent. After narrowing down my choices, I can select the character and setting that will work best for my story.
Are you ready for the next step in crafting an imaginative narrative? Stay tuned for the next episode, where I’ll begin planning my story!
