Ring in the New Year with an exciting storytelling adventure! Our New Year Roll-A-Story activity is the perfect way to spark creativity and make writing a lot of fun for kids. Whether you’re encouraging reluctant writers, looking for a fresh activity for a literacy center, or just want to have some family fun with your own silly stories, this story game combines imaginative play with valuable narrative writing practice. It’s a great way to explore story elements and generate silly stories that will entertain the whole family.
How to Play the New Year Roll-A-Story Game
Playing the Roll-A-Story game writing activity is simple and engaging. Start by rolling a die five times – once for each category: Character, Setting, Problem, Event, and Resolution.
Each roll corresponds to a specific row in the table, helping students generate ideas for their story’s main character, the setting, and the plot.
For example, your first roll might introduce a party hat as your character, while your second roll could place the story in a snowy mountain lodge.
Continue with the third roll to decide the problem, such as “The fireworks won’t ignite,” and let the fourth roll bring a fun event like “A mysterious figure appears.” Finally, the fifth roll reveals the resolution, perhaps “A creative idea saves it.”
Once all the story elements are determined, kids can get started on crafting their fun stories using the writing pages provided. It’s the perfect tool for writing lessons, story starters, or just a fun activity for the whole family.
What’s Included in the New Year’s Eve Roll a Story Printable PDF
Each page in the PDF has been designed for both educational purposes and a lot of fun. Here’s what you’ll find in the 7 included pages, which have everything you need to get started on this fun activity.
New Year’s Eve Roll-A-Story Chart
This page lays out the categories and possible outcomes for each dice roll. It’s the perfect resource for helping elementary kids brainstorm unique story ideas and kick off the writing process.
This is the heart of the activity, featuring a vibrant chart with five categories: Character, Setting, Problem, Event, and Resolution. Each category has six unique options tied to a dice roll, ranging from a “cheerful robot” to “a giant countdown screen.”
For example, rolling a two for the first roll gives you a cheerful robot as your main character, while a six on the second roll sets the scene at a giant countdown screen. The fun combinations ensure endless possibilities for silly stories. This page helps kids understand and use essential story elements like characters and conflicts, making it an excellent tool for generating ideas.
1st Roll – Character
- A party hat
- A cheerful robot
- A time-traveling cat
- A dancing star
- A magical clockmaker
- A talking calendar
2nd Roll – Setting
- A crowded city square
- A snowy mountain lodge
- A beach at midnight
- A rooftop celebration
- A quiet forest clearing
- A giant countdown screen
3rd Roll – Problem
- The clock is stuck at 11
- Someone forgot the countdown
- The fireworks won’t ignite
- A big cake collapses
- People fall asleep early
- The new year won’t start
4th Roll – Event
- Fireworks go off too early
- Balloons fly away
- A mysterious figure appears
- The music stops playing
- A shooting star appears
- A funny countdown mix-up
5th Roll – Resolution
- Fix the clock together
- Everyone improvises
- A creative idea saves it
- Laughter solves the problem
- A wish brings energy back
- A new year resolution is made
This chart offers a wide range of possibilities to inspire kids’ creativity and make the writing process fun and engaging!
Recording Sheet
The recording sheet is where kids can jot down their dice results for each roll, keeping their story elements organized and ready to use. You get two of these in the pdf file. Another space to record ideas is especially useful for those working in writing centers or creating multiple stories during one session.
This page is formatted for kids to record their dice rolls and the story elements they select for each category. It’s a clear and structured way to organize thoughts, especially for elementary kids who might be new to narrative writing. By filling in the categories, students can easily refer back to their selections as they move forward with story writing. This page supports early writing skills and helps reluctant writers stay focused on their ideas.
Illustration and Writing Page
This page encourages students to draw their character, setting, problem, event, and resolution, blending creative drawing with storytelling. It’s a fun way to visualize their ideas before writing.
This creative page is divided into five sections at the top for drawing the character, setting, problem, event, and resolution. Below the drawing spaces, there are lined sections where kids can begin weaving all five elements into a short story. This page is a great way to mix art and literacy, making it a favorite for visual learners. It’s perfect for helping kids connect their ideas with visuals before jumping into the writing process.
Customizable Roll-A-Story Chart
A blank version of the chart allows for even more creativity. Kids can come up with their own characters, settings, and more, making this a versatile tool for writing groups or classroom activities.
This blank chart allows kids to create their own list of characters, settings, problems, events, and resolutions. This is perfect for encouraging advanced creativity and tailoring the activity for specific lessons or interests. It’s ideal for writing groups or classroom activities where students want to personalize their storytelling experience. This flexibility adds another layer of fun and depth to the activity.
Final Writing Page
This lined page gives kids the chance to write their complete story, adding a polished final copy to their collection of fun stories.
This lined page is reserved for the polished version of the story. Once kids have brainstormed and sketched their ideas, they can use this page to create a final copy of their story. This page encourages neatness and writing flow, helping students develop their narrative writing skills while creating a fun and engaging finished product. It’s a wonderful way to showcase their hard work!
Dice Template
A printable dice template makes the activity accessible to everyone. Simply cut, fold, and assemble the dice to start playing! If you already have dice at home you can skip this step – it’s your choice.
The printable dice template ensures everyone can play, even without physical dice. The template includes easy-to-follow cut lines and foldable tabs for creating a sturdy cube. Once assembled, the dice can be rolled to select story elements.
This DIY component adds an interactive, hands-on aspect to the activity, making it even more engaging for younger kids.
Download the New Year Roll-A-Story PDF
Ready to get started? Click the download button below to grab your free resource. It’s a great way to encourage creative writing and make storytelling a fun activity for kids of all ages.
Terms of use: This story writing activity is free for personal use and classroom use, not for commercial use.
The New Year Roll-A-Story activity is a fantastic way to inspire students’ creativity while reinforcing key language arts skills like narrative writing.
Perfect for 2nd-grade classrooms, writing centers, or even at home with the whole family, this activity ensures every child gets to explore their storytelling potential. Plus, it’s a fun way to engage reluctant writers and make writing lessons more exciting.
More Roll-A-Story Themes
If you enjoyed this New Year-themed Roll-A-Story, be sure to check out other themes for more story-writing fun. From seasonal favorites to imaginative adventures, there’s always something new to spark your creativity.
More New Year Printable Activities
Looking for more ways to celebrate the New Year? We’ve got you covered with a variety of printables and activities that are perfect for the season. Keep the fun going with engaging and creative resources for kids!
- New Years Time Capsule Printable Family Activity
- New Years Pictionary Game Printable
- Free Printable New Year Ispy Games
- New Years Eve Activity Mat Printable
- New Year’s Eve Coloring Pages
If you loved this activity, please share this blog post with friends or on social media. Sharing helps us spread the fun and keeps us motivated to publish even more great resources for you and your family!
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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