A half-finished picture can be the beginning of a whole story. Children add their own details, think through the guiding questions, and turn their picture into writing.
- 36 illustrated story prompts.
- Every prompt in dotted and solid writing-line versions.
- Two 38-page PDFs, including a contents page and an extra writing page in each.
- One ZIP download to open and print.
- Fresh Pencil Pete drawings, clear headings and light guide colors.
Digital download · No shipping · Our money-back promise
For one teacher’s classroom or one household.
Help children get started with a story
- Finish the picture. Add details and give the scene a story.
- Talk through the questions. Decide who is there, what happens, and where the story goes.
- Write it down. Use the ruled space, then continue on the extra writing page when there is more to tell.
A starting point for your writing time
Writing centers
Set out a prompt, pencils, and crayons. Students finish the scene, plan their ideas, and write.
Early finishers
Keep a printed prompt ready for a student who wants another creative task.
Practice at home
Choose a picture together. Younger children can tell you their ideas before they try writing.
Pencil Pete’s Story Starters
Add a little fun to your writing program
Each of the 36 picture prompts gives children a place to start. They finish the drawing, then use the details to plan and write their story.
See all 36 picture prompts
- A Bear in a Hurry!
- My Favorite Mini Golf Hole!
- 3… 2… 1… Blast Off!
- Alien Visitors!
- My Magic Hat!
- Don’t Let Go!
- First Place at the Science Fair!
- I Can Do Lots of Things!
- My Robot!
- I Have Had a Lot of Great Toys!
- I’m a Super Hero!
- I Found a New Animal!
- Look Out!
- I’m All Grown Up!
- Jungle Paradise!
- Look! I’m On TV!
- A Trip in Our Mini Sub!
- Underwater Discoveries!
- The Homework Machine
- My New Car Design
- The Greatest Playground!
- My Wild Magic Carpet Ride!
- The Magic Teapot!
- Star of The Show!
- The Solar Powered Car Race!
- The Best Birthday Ever!
- The World’s Greatest Treehouse!
- The Big Game!
- The Great Helicopter Ride!
- These Aliens Need Help!
- This is My Family!
- What a Great Tree!
- The Best Field Trip Ever!
- This is Where I Live!
- A Great Camping Trip!
- How to Catch a Leprechaun
Choose the writing lines that fit
Each prompt comes with dotted guide lines and a solid-line alternative. Open the free samples to compare the spacing with the paper your students usually use.
Using Story Starters across your school?
The site license covers printing and use by teachers and students within one school building. Keep the source PDFs within the licensed school.
Digital download · No shipping · Our money-back promise
Download and print
After payment is confirmed, download the ZIP from your order confirmation or account. Unzip it to get the two PDFs, then open the version you want in a PDF viewer. No installer or handwriting application is required.
Use and sharing
The standard purchase covers one teacher’s classroom or one household. Print the pages you need for that use. A site license covers one school building. Please do not redistribute the source PDFs or upload them to a public website.
Have a question about the pack? Contact JJMdesigns.
Already bought Story Starters here?
You do not need to buy it again. Use your account’s downloads, or contact Support if you need a fresh link. Your original license still applies.
Product reviews
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