National "Tell a Story Day"

:Most days of the year have a "National Day". Today is National Tell a Story Day. One of my favorite things do is write and tell stories. When I worked with third and fourth grade students, I'd do a writing activity with them. 

I'd ask  a few questions and then use their answers to tell an impromptu story, orally. It was so much fun. As the year progressed, I'd do this and have them be the story teller.

​The more involved they were in this practice, the better the stories and details became. There were days when we printed off the brainstorm page so they could either finish the story, or write their own. I'll give you the topics, ask someone in your family to answer the questions, then tell, or write, a story using their answers as the details.

QUESTIONS TO ASK SOMEONE ELSE:
(I put what part this will play in our story in parenthesis)
1) A Color: (detail)
2) A Shape: (detail)
3) A Girl's Name: (character 1)
4) A Boy's Name: (character 2
5) An emotion: (detail)
6) Location: (setting)
7) Problem: (conflict)
8) How is the problem solved: (solution)
9) Type of weather: (setting)
10) Something silly or funny: (might inspire an anecdote)
After the story, I'll share the story I wrote based on the answers Mr. Buske gave me.

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My questions and Mr. Buske's Answers:
1) A Color: green
2) A Shape: triangle
3) A Girl's Name: Mary
4) A Boy's Name: Tre'
5) An emotion: mad/anger
6) Location: Detroit
7) Problem: 2+2
8) How is the problem solved: add it together
9) Type of weather: snowy
10) Something silly or funny: my dog

My Story:
Once upon a time there were two cousins, Mary and Tre'. Mary is two years older than Tre' and always wears a green scarf, even when it's hot out. Tre' looks up to Mary and wants to be just like her when he gets older. Tre' has math homework and he needs to measure the perimeter of a triangle but the addition sentence only offers 2 + 2, he needs to figure out the rest. Mary understands she needs to ask questions so Tre' is able to solve this on his own, "What's next Tre'?". Tre' smiles and says, "Add it together." Mary nods in agreement, then asks, "But, you only have two numbers and a triangle has,..." Tre's face lights up and he shouts, "3 sides, and the sides are the same...so it's 2+2+2, so the answer is 6. Yes!" Mary and Tre' high five each other and grab their coats to go outside but once again, it's a snowy day in Detroit. The End. 

What story can you write today?
Who will you ask?
Will you perform it like a storyteller
​or write it like an author?