This activity develops creativity and story-telling skills.
What you’ll need: Paper, coloured pencils, crayons and/or felt tips pens.
What’s it for?
This activity develops creativity and can also be a gentle way to explore some of your concerns. The process should be quite spontaneous - try not to over-think it!
This will allow your imagination to unfold, to get creative and develop narrative skills to help you tell your story.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Fold the piece of paper into six equal parts (three either side).
Each segment has a different instruction. Try and complete the segments in order. Remember, draw the first thing that comes into your mind. This is a spontaneous drawing.
First, draw the character in this story. You don’t have to be too elaborate in your drawing, although if you want to add in detail at each stage then feel free to do so.
Second, what is the character’s mission/goal? Remember, there is no right or wrong way of making this story. It is yours to invent and imagine.
Third, what are the obstacles standing in this character’s path?
Fourth, who or what helps them?
Fifth, what happens next?
Sixth, how does the story end?
Give your story a title and add your name as the author
If you're doing this activity with someone else, share your stories with each other.
Extra Activity: Once the story is completed, you can take time to colour and decorate each segment.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
Did you learn anything new about yourself while making this story?
Is there a moral or a lesson illustrating the story?
Was it easy or hard to think of the character’s mission/goal?
Do you recognise any aspects of yourself in your story?
Conclusion:
We talk about the ‘character’ of the story in the third person, but the story often reveals something about ourselves. Can you relate to any aspects of your story? What are some of the obstacles you might be feeling in your life today? Can we take any lessons from our story to help us overcome these obstacles?
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Millie Edwards © March 2022
Creative Arts Used: Art, Drama
Psychological Areas Explored: Emotional Wellbeing, Play, Self-Esteem, Reflection
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These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
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