What If…Stories
Here's What To Do
After reading a story that your child knows and enjoys, pose a what if scenario to help them create a new story. For example: for a story about The Tortoise and The Hare, say “what if this story was about a ladybug and a grasshopper, what would happen? How would you tell this new story”?
Ask your child to tell you this new story. Write down the story as they tell it to you.
Fold a few pieces of paper in half and staple them so they make a book. Write parts of the "what if" story on different pages.
Tell your child what each page says, and help them draw illustrations to match their story. Read their new book together!
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Sit on the floor with your child in a quiet reading spot.
Engage:
- When your child is telling you their story, say things like “tell me more”, “why is that”, and “what happens next?"
- For each page in the book, help your child think about what they could draw to match the story.
Encourage:
- Your child may not stick to the original inspiration story, and that's okay! This activity is more about helping them practice storytelling skills.
- Your child's drawings may look nothing like what they're supposed to. They are still practicing an important skill: learning to express their ideas through drawing.
Reflect:
- What do we think about the new story we made together?
Not quite ready?
Be the storyteller for your child: write a "what if" story through simple drawings. Ask your child to describe what's happening as you draw the pictures.
Ready for more?
Ask your child to tell you about a factual subject they know a lot about (animals, vehicles, etc.). Write down their words, and ask them to make drawings for this nonfiction book.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to "write" a story by saying it out loud and drawing it.