I had lots of fun yesterday with a group of Reception children. We were making up our own stories. I started them off and helped them if they got stuck. It went a little like this :
Me : Once upon a time there were ...
1st child : three beautiful fairies.
Me : And they were called...
2nd child : Ruby, Charlotte and Sophie. They were 5 years old, just like me. I wish I was a fairy.
Me : But the fairies had a problem.
3rd child: They forgot how to fly so they went over to the King's palace and they asked him for help and he said he was too busy and the fairies said they need help please and the King said yes.
Me : Meanwhile, there was somebody watching the fairies. Somebody who was not very nice and that somebody was ...
4th child: A fox! he was hungry and he said I'm gonna eat them fairies all up.The fox went and got his army of flying foxes and they flew towards the fairies and said let's fight them!
The last child was a boy - could you tell? I steered the story away from fighting and eating fairies and the story ended happily. The children really got involved and kept interrupting each other with ideas. If I'd have asked them to write the story first I'm sure they wouldn't have come up with such a wonderful tale. It's much more fun to shout things out and interact with others.
Thanks children, I had a lovely morning with you all.