Aims and objectives
Story Making bridges the gap between shared writing and imitative modelling, and the more open-ended nature of activities such as improvisational drama, and oral storytelling. Pupils use Story Making to develop and enhance their writing by creating and exploring imaginary worlds on the screen, discussing the scene created and then using their work as a basis for extended story writing.

Previous knowledge
In order to create successful narrative, pupils need to understand how to compose and experiment with story components. In moving from KS1 they need to progress from oral language to the written word and be taught to construct sentences and choose appropriate vocabulary which will link their ideas coherently according to the audience and purpose.

In the classroom
This is an activity which enables pupils to develop and enhance their writing by creating and exploring familiar and imaginary worlds on the screen, discussing the scene created and then using their story beginning as a basis for extended story writing.

Story Making allows the pupil to choose the setting for their story from a variety of realistic or imaginary settings (some using actual photographs from local Kingston upon Hull settings). They then choose the characters they want to be included in their story and any props that may be required. Characters and props can be resized to add authenticity. They can even add speech and thought bubbles with text. When they are happy with their final story scene (or at any point during the creative process) they can print out their work and use it as a starting point for extended narrative writing and further drama work.

Pupils can also chose to work with and print characters and bubbles only, by clicking on the Characters option on the opening screen. This will allow further work to be carried out in the classroom on characterisation and dialogue.

Although the Story Making activity has separate sections for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, both can be used with either Key Stage. Story Making has been designed in this way to be compatible with the Literacy Strategy which specifies particular ranges of texts for each Key Stage.

There are six settings, plus appropriate characters and props available at KS1 and an additional four settings available at KS2. This makes a total of ten settings and approximately thirty six characters and thirty six props.

Story Making can be used in several ways:

· It can be used as a stimulus for extended writing

· It can be used for a stimulus for drama work. Pupils often develop more meaningful use of language by drama work or role playing which enables them to write successful stories in the role of a character.

· It allows children to work individually or in a variety of groupings. Over the last few years, writing in KS1 and KS2 has come to be been seen more as a social rather than solitary activity and children benefit from a structured model of peer assisted and collaborative writing.

The story scene prints out in portrait format by default. To print it out in landscape format simply change the printer setting in the Printer dialogue box which appears after you press the Print option in the activity.

Curriculum references
English – KS1:
En3: 1a –f; 2a-d; 7c; 8; 9a-c; 10; 11; 12

English – KS2:
En3: 1a-e; 2a-f; 7d; 8; 9a-d; 11; 12