Y3s and the 6 Word Story: What's the Story Behind the Picture?

Using their existing knowledge from what the Y3s have been learning so far on story writing, I planned a 6 word story lesson based the famous bet given to Ernest Hemingway. 

I selected several colourful and detail-rich illustrations from the wordless picture book, Journey by Aaron Becker. Then I added spaces and lines for the students to add the final draft of their 6 word story.  

Before doing any writing, I wanted students to understand the difference between just describing a picture, and how to go beyond it, to see the story behind the picture.  For this reason, we did a Venn Diagram of Description vs Imagination.  The students' responses are below. 

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I made sure that students did not have the same picture as the person next to them.
- They were then instructed to do no writing until told to do
- Look at their partner's picture and say what they think is the story (2 mins)
- Write 3-4 draft 6 word story on the back of the sheet  (10-15 mins)
- The teacher or myself could choose the best one of the drafts 
- They write the chosen 6 word story on the front page with the illustrations

As the students worked, I walked around the class encouraging, helping and guiding students, as well ensuring that they were on task.  I shared some of the entertaining creativity that some of these Y3s mustered up in a very short time. 

In less than half an hour, the Y3 created some very imaginative 6 word tales.