Storytelling cubes are a perfect tool to get kids thinking creatively while practicing reading, writing, and speaking through storytelling.
We love this set of Story Cubes! (Affiliate link). But why not make your own? Storytelling cubes, (or dice, or blocks), are easy and fun to make! The DIY version is especially great because your child can create blocks that reflect his or her favorite themes and topics.
To play with Storytelling cubes, you just need cubes/dice/blocks with images that players can use to tell a story. Players usually roll the cubes like dice and make up a story using whichever images they roll. They can combine the images in any order to tell a story. Stories are usually silly and creative. When we play, the only rule is to follow the basic story structure. (Tell a story with a setting, at least one character, and a beginning, a middle, a problem, and a solution.) You can also throw the rules out the window, or create your own rules depending on the ages and interests of your children.
Storytelling activities like this are a fantastic way to add some literacy to play time at home or at school. Plus, the challenge of making up stories using a set of unrelated images is an effective way to build creative thinking skills.
Here are 10 awesome ways to make storytelling blocks:
- Easy Storytelling Blocks: Use a set of 1-inch craft blocks (affiliate link), and your favorite sticker sets and/or markers to decorate them. Add a sticker or a drawing to each side of the block. Easy-peasy!
- Make some cardboard story dice!
- My older kids would love these Emoji Dice.
- Make Storyblocks to celebrate a favorite book.
- Buy printable Story Dice.
- Or create your own printable dice with this blank dice pattern!
- Use regular dice along with this free printable, and roll-a-story!
- Keep it simple with just two cubes. (One with emotions and one with animals.) Tell a story that starts with the character and emotion that you roll.
- Use words instead of pictures.
- And…of course, there’s an app!
