Another classic but useful activity to get our students of English as a second language into writing, in a creative and engaging way. Let's write!

1. mcromeroriera@gmail.com
Crazy Stories II, a writing activity

2. Crazy stories mcromeroriera@gmail.com
Level: Intermediate upwards
Materials: White sheets of paper (A3 or A4)
Aim: Improving writing skills
Procedure:
1. Students are grouped (2 to 4) and explained they are all going to
write different versions of a story, but as a whole class.
2. The teacher starts by reading out a sentence they must all copy,
for example ‘Once upon a time, there lived an ugly princess…’. Each
group is then allowed 1 minute to add a bit.

3. Crazy stories mcromeroriera@gmail.com
3. When time is over, groups swap their papers, but no folding this time!
4. Each group then receives the new paper, read what the previous group
has written and add a new bit after the teacher’s sentence, for instance
‘One day, while she was walking in the garden…’
5. The activity keeps going until the teacher considers.
6. The different versions are posted on the walls for students to read and
teacher comments some common mistakes.
Notes:
• This activity is very similar to Crazy Stories, since it’s a collaborative type of
writing activity. However, this time, the piece of writing students are asked to
produce is longer.

4. Photo gallery

5. Crazy stories mcromeroriera@gmail.com
Sentences used in the following text by the teacher:
-‘Once upon a time, there lived an ugly princess…’
- ‘One day, while she was walking in the garden…’
- ‘What are you doing in my garden? Demanded the princess’
- ‘I have come to grand you one wish’
- ‘The princess then closed her eyes and said...’
-‘So they lived happily ever after’ (end of the story)

6. Crazy stories
Version 1

7. mcromeroriera@gmail.com
Version 2

8. Crazy stories
Version 3