Teach Junkie

K-5 Teaching Activities

  • Science
  • Language Arts
  • Math
  • Holidays
  • More ▼
    • Activities
    • Art
    • Bright Ideas
    • Classroom Management
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Organization
    • Read Alouds
    • Writing
  • Grade Level ▼
    • Kindergarten
    • First Grade
    • Second Grade
    • Third Grade
    • Fourth Grade
    • Fifth Grade
You are here: Home / Language Arts / Sticker Story Writing – A Free, Year Long Literacy Center Activity

Sticker Story Writing – A Free, Year Long Literacy Center Activity

June 20, 2017 by Sarah Paul

The first center I ever introduced to my students oh so many years ago was Sticker Story. This is not my original idea and I can’t remember for the life of me where I first heard of it.

But I do know that my students LOVE to do the Sticker Story literacy center. I love it too because it is so simple in terms of preparation.

I’ll share how I get it started, what students do and I’ve even got a free paper template so you can make your own literacy center activity too.

How To Start a Sticker Story Center

I collect stickers throughout the year and I also make stickers (I print off clipart on sticky labels).

At the beginning of the year, I ask all students to bring in stickers on the supply list. (Keep in mind, I teach at a private school, so this may be easier for me.)

I keep the stickers organized in my closet in a clear bin (animals, people, sports, seasonal, etc). Then I put out another bin of stickers for the kids to access while they do this center.

In October I’ll put out the Halloween/fall stickers then change them up the next month.

I always have some generic stickers too.

I also give them a sticker limit so they don’t go crazy with the stickers!

Directions for a Sticker Story Literacy Center

After putting stickers on their picture, they draw around the stickers to add to the scene.

Students choose their stickers and create a scene. Then they write about it.

In first grade, at the beginning of the year, most kids just write sentences about their picture. It can be as basic as “I see a cat.” or “The cat has a ball.”

At this point, I would encourage them to describe their sticker scene as much as they can. Of course I also model, model, model! I often take someone’s Sticker Story and generate more ideas from that as a class.

As the year progresses, I encourage kids to start making their scenes into stories with a beginning, middle and end. This happens at different times for each child, depending on where they are as a writer. If I feel like they are ready to progress in this way, I often will do a short writing conference with them during writer’s workshop.

I’ll bring a copy of one of their recent Sticker Stories and talk with them about how we could make it into a story with a beginning, middle and end.

Sticker Stories from First Grade

Here are some examples of Sticker Stories. I wish I would’ve taken more pictures over the years! I’ve been doing this forever but I only have a few pictures.

Here’s the first page to a whole story written by one of my students at the end of the year.

Sticker Story Writing - A Free, Year Long Literacy Center Activity

We were learning about the rain forest so she wanted to make a rain forest story. Here she used a jaguar and parrot sticker and drew the trees and the rain to go with it.

Here’s another picture from mid year.

Sticker Story Writing - Free, Year Long Literacy Center Activity

is is a good example of a first grader who is getting ready to create stories. This is somewhere in between a story (with the beginning, middle and end) and simply a description of stickers.

This student has names the setting and characters and given the reader information about the characters. This is the perfect time to conference with this student to help develop a story!

Come by my blog to see more Sticker Story examples and to pick up your freebie Sticker Story paper templates so you can start a sticker story center too!

Continue Reading On My Blog

– Originally posted on Teaching Blog Addict

| Submit Your Tip |

More Writing

  • The Best Part of My Dad: Father’s Day Writing Project
  • 11 Fantastic Writing Rubrics for Kindergarten
  • 5 “How-To” Writing Prompts
Pin200
Share49
Email
249 Shares

Filed Under: Language Arts Tagged With: Centers and Stations, First Grade, Free Download, Kindergarten, Printable, Second Grade

LIKE WHAT YOU'VE FOUND?

Get creative and free teacher articles – delivered to your inbox.

I WANT THAT
Sarah Paul

About Sarah Paul

I am a wife, mother of two boys, and reading teacher (formerly a first grade teacher) from Oregon. I love creating and finding engaging activities to get my students excited about learning.

« Glue Bottle Whoas…
3 Free Game Boards to Make Your Own Center Activities »
Welcome
We find and feature creative, free teaching ideas and activities for K - 5th grade.
You get back a little more time to yourself.
New? Start Here

What Teachers are Reading

  • 24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments and Activities24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities
  • 31 Ideas for Read Across America and Dr. Seuss Activities31 Ideas for Read Across America

Grab a Teacher Tee

Recent Posts

  • Goodbye Letter for the End of the Year
  • 8 Groundhog Day Videos for Kids
  • Cute Adopt-a-Pet Reading Kit to Encourage Your Students to Read at Home
  • Camping Doubles Addition Roll ‘n Cover Game
  • Free Printable First Day of School Award
  • 31 Creative Back to School Treats for Students {printables}

Search

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Newsletter
  • T-Shirts

Browse

  • Activities
  • Art
  • Classroom Management
  • Holidays
  • Language Arts
  • Math
  • Organization
  • Science
  • Writing

About | FAQ | Privacy Policy | Disclosure | ©2020 Teach Junkie