English · Year 1 · Becoming an Author · Summer Term

Brainstorming Story Ideas

Students will generate ideas for characters, settings, and simple plots for their own stories.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: English - Writing (Composition)

About This Topic

Planning is the vital first step in the writing process, helping Year 1 students organize their thoughts before they begin to draft. At this stage, planning is often visual and oral. We use 'story maps' (drawings with arrows) and 'talk-for-writing' (orally rehearsing the story with actions) to help children internalize the structure of their narrative. This ensures that when they sit down to write, they already know what happens next.

In the UK National Curriculum, students are encouraged to 'plan their writing by noting ideas and new vocabulary'. By focusing on the 'who', 'where', and 'what' during the planning phase, children avoid the frustration of getting stuck mid-sentence. This topic particularly benefits from hands-on, student-centered approaches where children can physically map out their ideas and share them with others to refine their plot.

Key Questions

1. Analyze what makes a character interesting.
2. Compare different ideas for a story's beginning.
3. Construct a list of exciting ideas for a new story.

Learning Objectives

• Generate a list of at least five distinct ideas for story characters, including their main traits.
• Identify and describe at least three potential settings for a story, considering their atmosphere and key features.
• Compare two different plot ideas for a story's beginning, explaining which is more engaging and why.
• Create a simple story outline that includes a main character, a setting, and a basic sequence of events.

Before You Start

Understanding Characters and Settings in Familiar Stories

Why: Students need to have a basic understanding of what characters and settings are from stories they have heard or read before they can generate their own.

Oral Storytelling

Why: The ability to talk about events in a sequence is foundational for creating a simple plot.

Key Vocabulary

Character	A person or animal who takes part in the action of a story. We think about what they look like and what they are like inside.
Setting	The place or time where a story happens. This includes the environment and the mood it creates.
Plot	The sequence of events that make up a story. It is what happens from the beginning to the end.
Brainstorm	To think of many ideas quickly, without judging them at first. This helps us come up with lots of possibilities for our story.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Thinking that a plan has to be written in full sentences.

What to Teach Instead

Students often get tired before they even start the actual writing. Teach them that planning is for 'ideas', using pictures, single words, or arrows is perfectly fine and often more effective at this age.

Common Misconception

Believing they must stick exactly to the plan even if they have a better idea.

What to Teach Instead

Children can feel 'locked in'. Use active discussion to show that a plan is a guide, and it's okay to change a character's name or a detail as they start to write and discover new ideas.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Giant Floor Maps

In small groups, students use large rolls of paper to draw a map of their story's world. They use toy characters to 'walk' through the story, deciding where the problem happens and where it is solved.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The Plot Twist

Pairs are given a basic story start. They must come up with three different 'problems' that could happen to the character and then choose the best one to add to their story map.

20 min·Pairs

Role Play: Oral Storytelling Circle

Students sit in a circle and use a 'story stick'. Each person adds one sentence to a collective story based on a shared visual map, practicing the flow of the narrative before writing.

25 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• Authors like J.K. Rowling brainstormed ideas for characters like Harry Potter and settings like Hogwarts before writing the famous books. They often use notebooks or mind maps to jot down their initial thoughts.
• Game designers think about characters and settings when creating video games. They need to invent interesting people or creatures and exciting places for players to explore.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Ask students to draw one character and one setting they might use in a story. Then, have them write one sentence describing each. Collect these to see if they can generate distinct ideas.

Discussion Prompt

Present two simple story beginnings, for example: 'A lost puppy found a magic bone.' vs. 'A brave knight walked into a dark cave.' Ask students: Which beginning makes you want to know more? Why? Record their reasons.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small card. Ask them to write down two ideas for a story character and one idea for a story setting. This checks their ability to generate specific concepts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a story map?

A story map is a visual path of a story. It uses simple drawings and arrows to show the sequence of events. It helps children remember the beginning, middle, and end without needing to read a lot of notes.

Why do we 'talk' the story before writing it?

If a child can say it, they can write it. Oral rehearsal helps them check if the story makes sense and allows them to practice using new vocabulary before they have to worry about spelling and punctuation.

How can I help my child plan a story at home?

Ask them to draw three pictures: one for the start, one for the middle (the problem), and one for the end. Once they've drawn them, ask them to tell you the story using the pictures as a guide.

How can active learning help students understand planning a story?

Active learning turns planning into a 3D experience. By using 'Giant Floor Maps' or 'Oral Storytelling Circles', students can physically walk through their plot. This movement helps anchor the sequence in their memory. Collaborative planning also allows students to 'borrow' ideas and vocabulary from each other, making the transition to independent drafting much smoother and more confident.