English · Year 2 · The Independent Author · Summer Term

Brainstorming Story Ideas

Using brainstorming techniques to generate creative ideas for original stories.

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

About This Topic

Planning and drafting are the foundational steps of the writing process. In Year 2, students learn that good writing doesn't just happen; it is built through brainstorming and organisation. This aligns with the KS1 Writing standards, where pupils are encouraged to plan their writing by noting down ideas and new vocabulary. Using tools like story maps, 'boxing up,' and spider diagrams helps children manage the cognitive load of writing.

By planning first, students can focus on their creative ideas without worrying about the mechanics of every sentence at once. This stage is highly collaborative, as sharing ideas with peers often sparks new inspiration. Active planning sessions, where students can move ideas around and 'talk their story' before writing, lead to much more coherent and imaginative final drafts.

Key Questions

1. Explain where the best ideas for new characters come from.
2. Design a brainstorming strategy for generating story ideas.
3. Analyze how our own experiences can make a story more believable.

Learning Objectives

• Design a brainstorming strategy to generate at least five distinct story ideas.
• Explain how personal experiences can be adapted to create believable story elements.
• Analyze the origins of ideas for new characters and articulate where they might come from.
• Classify different brainstorming techniques based on their effectiveness for generating story plots.

Before You Start

Identifying Story Elements

Why: Students need to be familiar with basic story components like characters, setting, and plot to effectively brainstorm new ideas for them.

Expressing Ideas Verbally

Why: The ability to articulate thoughts and ideas is fundamental to participating in brainstorming activities and sharing concepts with others.

Key Vocabulary

Brainstorming	A group or individual creative process where ideas are generated freely without immediate judgment. The goal is to produce a large quantity of ideas quickly.
Story Spark	A small detail, observation, or question that ignites the imagination and leads to a bigger story idea. This could be a strange object, an unusual sound, or a 'what if' question.
Character Seed	The initial, basic idea for a character. This might be a single trait, a job, a secret, or a strong desire that can be developed into a full character.
Plot Point	A significant event or moment in a story that moves the narrative forward. Brainstorming helps identify potential key plot points.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students often think a plan is a 'waste of time' and want to start writing immediately.

What to Teach Instead

Show them a 'tangled' story written without a plan versus a clear one written with one. Use a '3-minute plan' challenge to show that planning can be quick and helpful, rather than a long, separate task.

Common Misconception

Children may think their draft must be perfect on the first try.

What to Teach Instead

Call the first draft a 'sloppy copy' or a 'discovery draft'. Use grey pencils or erasable pens to reinforce the idea that these words aren't permanent and can be changed later.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Idea Carousels

Place large sheets of paper around the room with headings like 'Settings', 'Characters', and 'Problems'. Students rotate in groups, adding as many ideas as possible to each sheet to create a class 'idea bank'.

25 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The Story Map

Students draw a visual 'map' of their story path. They then 'walk' their partner through the map using their finger, narrating the story aloud to check if the sequence makes sense before they start drafting.

20 min·Pairs

Role Play: Character Interviews

Before writing, one student plays their main character while another interviews them about their life. This helps the writer 'discover' details about their character that they can then include in their draft.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Children's book authors like Julia Donaldson often start with a simple rhyme or a funny character idea, then brainstorm scenarios and plot points to build stories like 'The Gruffalo'.
• Screenwriters for animated films, such as those at Pixar, use extensive brainstorming sessions, often starting with a core concept or character archetype and developing it through many iterations.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with a simple prompt, such as 'a lost toy' or 'a talking animal'. Ask them to write down three different story ideas that come from this prompt in two minutes. Review their ideas for quantity and variety.

Discussion Prompt

Ask students: 'Think about a time you felt very happy or very sad. How could you use that feeling to create a character who feels the same way in a story?' Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to share how emotions can be a source of story ideas.

Exit Ticket

On a small card, have students draw a simple 'spider diagram' with one 'story spark' in the center. They should add at least three branches with related ideas for characters or plot points. Collect these to see their brainstorming process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'boxing up' and how does it help Year 2?

It's a way of breaking a story into sections (Opening, Build-up, Problem, Resolution, Ending). By 'boxing up' a familiar story first, students see the structure they can then use to plan their own original version.

How can I help students who 'run out of ideas'?

Use 'story starters' or 'image prompts'. Sometimes a single interesting picture of a mysterious door or a strange animal is enough to trigger a whole plan. Collaborative brainstorming also helps 'refill' their idea tanks.

Should I mark the plan or just the final draft?

Focus on giving oral feedback during the planning stage. If you spot a logic gap in their plan, it's much easier for the student to fix it then than after they have written two pages of text.

How can active learning help students with the planning process?

A 'Human Storyboard' is an excellent active tool. Give groups of students large cards representing different parts of a story. They must physically arrange themselves in order and 'perform' a 10-second summary of their section. This collaborative movement helps them see the 'flow' of the narrative and identify if any parts are missing or in the wrong place before they ever commit a word to paper.