Three-Card Story

We draw three cards at random (a character, a place and an action) and use them to make up a short story that the whole class acts out; at the end, small groups create and perform their own. Children practice building a story and expressing it with their bodies.

How to play

1. In a circle, show the three piles: characters (witch, dragon, robot, mermaid, giant, hen), places (sea, forest, snow, moon, castle, jungle) and actions (2 min).
2. Draw one of each ("a robot, in the snow, who spins") and tell the story out loud while everyone acts it out (3 min).
3. A child draws the next three and we decide together what happens, then act it out (3 min).
4. In groups of four or five, each group draws three cards and plans its story while the teacher visits each group (4 min).
5. Each group performs without words, and the others guess the character, place and action (3 min).
6. Wrap-up: all together, the favorite character goes to sleep in its place (1 min).

Rules

• Everyone has a part in the story.
• We listen to everyone's ideas in our group.
• When another group performs, we watch quietly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: they can be the group's narrator or a character who acts seated.
• Autism: let them choose their character instead of drawing it.
• Hearing impairment: keep the cards visible to the group while they perform.

Learning goals

• Make up a simple story from pictures.
• Act out characters and actions with the body.
• Work as a group to create a story.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Character cards: 6
• Place cards: 6
• Action picture cards: 6

Teacher tip

Laminate the cards in a different color for each pile (red characters, blue places, green actions). Tell the first story yourself with big, exaggerated moves; it's the model they'll copy.

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