Blogmas day 19

 I love stories, so here is another idea. You can use a story dice online or make one with your students!

Here are some ideas!

Find an online story dice here! 

Step-by-step procedure

1. Roll the dice

You (or the student) click to roll the dice.
Show the icons on screen.

2. Brainstorm vocabulary (1–2 minutes)

Ask students to quickly list words or expressions related to the icons.
Example:

• 🎁 present → “wrap,” “unbox,” “surprise,” “give”

• 🎅 Santa → “deliver,” “chimney,” “get stuck,” “reindeer”

This activates relevant language before producing the story.

3. Build the story

Choose one of these formats:

A. One-sentence-each (group version)

Student 1 starts the story.
Student 2 continues.
Each must include one icon.

B. Solo storyteller

The student tells a whole mini-story using all icons.

C. Timed storytelling

Give them 2 minutes to prepare a short narrative.

D. Puzzle mode

You give the story start and end; students fill in the middle using the icons.

📌 Example student-friendly prompts

A1–A2 Levels

• “First, there was…”

• “Then…”

• “After that…”

• “In the end…”
  Simple phrases, simple past, lots of adjectives.

B1–B2 Levels

• “While Santa was…” (Past Continuous)

• “She had already…” (Past Perfect)

• “Suddenly…”

• “Luckily…”
  More complex sequencing and connectors.

C1 Levels

Ask for a fully developed short narrative with:

• Setting description

• Cause and effect

• Tension and resolution

• Humour or twist ending

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🎅 Fun Variations

1. The Grinch Variation

Every story must include a problem caused by an unexpected “Grinch moment.”

2. Genre Roulette

Roll dice AND roll a genre:

• horror

• comedy

• sci-fi

• fairy tale

• mystery
  Students must adapt the story to the genre.
  (Great for your Star Trek-loving side if you want a “Christmas in space” theme!)

3. Grammar Challenge

Before rolling, assign a tense they MUST use:

• Past Perfect Continuous

• Used to / Would

• Third Conditional

• Passive voice

4. Chaotic Version (very fun)

Roll three more dice halfway through.
Students must suddenly change the story to include new elements.

5. Whole-Class Storyboard

After telling the story, students draw (or make a digital comic strip) of the events.

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🌟 Why this activity works

• Encourages spontaneous speaking

• Helps with narrative coherence

• Makes grammar meaningful, not mechanical

• Boosts creativity

• Reduces anxiety — the dice “decide,” not the student

• Works for any age and any level

• Perfect for holiday lessons with little prep