It's A Long Story

I do not have many commercial centers, but I used to work at a high-end toy store. We got a product in called Tell Tale that is a set of double-sided picture cards that can be used to tell a story.  I put this tin in a basket with some adding machine tape and this center was ready to go! Hang the completed stories in the classroom.

Students choose 3 cards from the Tell Tale tin. They unroll the paper and tear off a piece in whatever length the choose...long strip means long story!  Then they must write a story using the front and back pictures of the cards. Remind students that the story must have a beginning, middle, and end.  You can differentiate this center with beginning writers by having them look at the cards and tell a story.  For a challenge, have students write the story as a rebus and put the picture cards directly on the strip of paper.