Story Cubes

I wanted to share a new tool I’m using so here goes …

Rory’s Story Cubes (purchased at Wal-Mart, Target, Barnes & Noble book stores, etc for about $7/8).  Each cube has an image on each side. They are so cool and can be used in so many CM ways. 

For example:  Today we each rolled three cubes and had to tell a story using the images on the cubes.  The stories the kids came up with were fantastic.  Not only did they use imagination, but their vocabulary, their speaking skills and their presentation skills were outstanding.  Of course, my two spend a lot of time playing together by making up elaborate story lines and worlds that they interact in through their play.  So I guess this was easier for them than me!  I was sweating bullets to keep my story coherent and I did make a big blunder in logic.  They were kind and didn’t call me on it!  🙂 

I always make them stand as if for a presentation or recitation when they speak so that it enforces those skills too.  This is a great tool to use to work on any halting speech problems too.  The goal being that they compose their story and present it without “ums” and pauses. 

You could also use them in a written format by asking that the students write a composition based on the cubes they’ve rolled.  You can vary the number of cubes based on age and ability.  Really there are countless ways you could implement these cubes for transcription, creative oral composition, journaling, various styles of writing (ex: use four cubes to write a persausive essay – that’d be tough and fun).  Etc.

Has anyone else used story cubes?  Can you share your experiences?