Story Cubes

45 minutes

Intended for 25 guests, grades 4-7, grades 8-10

Supplies

Rory's Story Cubes
Rory's Story Cubes: Actions
Paper
Pencils

Program

Rory, who ever and where ever you may be, the invention of the Story Cubes is great!  In this small box, (picture taken next to a stack of post-it notes for size reference) you get 9 cubes.  Each cube face had a different image which means that there are over 10 million combinations that can be created with the roll of the cubes!  

There are a couple of different suggestions for how to play in the box, but the basic premise is, you roll the cubes, and based on what images you get, you create a story. 

For this program, the guests can either work in pairs, teams, or solo!  Roll out the cubes, and start creating.  give them enough time to get creative and funky.  Have them write down their story line, and then at the end of the program, share their imaginative tale with the rest of the group.  It's simple.  It's a blast.  It's creative.  It's literacy.  Rory, you are my hero! 

Here is an example of a little story I came up with...

Once upon a time... on a stormy summer afternoon, a little girl named Lil sat in her room at her house, bored.   She couldn't go outside, because it was storming, she had just finished the stack of books she borrowed from the library, and her sister was at a sleep-away Lacrosse camp.  She was bored!   She wished that something exciting would happen, a fun adventure... 

Just then, Lil heard a bumble bee buzzing very loudly outside of her bedroom door.  The buzzing sounded like a very familiar song.  She opened the door, followed the buzzing bee until she came upon a package, with her name on it.  Very curious!  Inside the package was a die, and a little note that said "Roll the die, if you dare!  Adventures await, so beware!"  Lil didn't even hesitate!  She rolled the die. 

Just then, there was a tap on her bedroom window.  She turned around to see who was there, but saw no one.  Only another package!  She opened the window quickly so the package didn't get too wet.  Inside the package was a flashlight and another note that read "Inside your closet you will find, a curious creature's been confined".  This puzzled Lil, because she had been in her closer many times, and never seen a 'curious creature'.  She turned on the flashlight, and walked into her closet.  Suddenly, Lil realized she had been walking in her closet for quite some time now, and hadn't reached the back. 

She walked a bit more until she saw two yellow eyes looking back at her.  Lil could have run away, but she was brave!  She walked towards the yellow eyes, towards the curious creature, and with each step, her heart went "thump, thump thump". 

As she got closer though, she realized that the curious creature was crying, big heaving sobs.  She walked over and asked "Why are you crying sir?"  The curious creature said "I'm cold and sad and hungry too, I wish I had some warm fish stew".  Now, Lil, being a very kind girl said to the curious creature, I will help you. 

Being a girl scout, Lil knew how to get a nice safe fire started, so she built one for him.  She walked a bit further into her closet and found a fountain.  In the fountain, there were some fish.  Lil was able to catch one, and the cooked up a nice fish stew for the creature over the fire she made.  The creature was so grateful.  He felt much better, and he and Lil were both glad they had made a new friend.  What an adventure the day turned out to be!