Make a story map

Drawing a map of the places in a story can be an enjoyable way to help children imagine the setting. Often a character goes on a journey in a story. Children can show this on a map too.

With young children this could be done by taking photos of your child playing the story, putting these in order and looking at them together on the camera or computer screen or printing them out and arranging them together.

Here is a sequence for We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury including packing a bag, splashing through an imaginary river and finding a bear.

Older children can draw their own map,
if you have read them the book, you can suggest things to include.  Here is an example based on the book Pugs of the Frozen North  by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Children can use their story map to help them tell the story in their own words, write their own version or to make up a story of their own in the same setting or ‘story world.’

Another possibility is to make a 3d story map using junk modelling material or papier mâché. Or you can use toys and props to create a story map.