teaching resource

Wheel of Story Ideas

Updated: 08 Jul 2025

Download this wheel of story ideas to give your students access to dozens of fun story starters.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 7 Pages
Grades: 2 - 6

Curriculum

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3

Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.A

Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

teaching resource

Wheel of Story Ideas

Updated: 08 Jul 2025

Download this wheel of story ideas to give your students access to dozens of fun story starters.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 7 Pages
Grades: 2 - 6

Download this wheel of story ideas to give your students access to dozens of fun story starters.

Give our Wheel of Story Ideas a Spin!

Spark your students’ imaginations with our Wheel of Story Ideas resource! This resource features six vibrant spinners, each packed with six unique narrative prompts—36 story starters in total! With a simple spin, students receive a fun and inspiring idea to kickstart their creative writing.

Each prompt includes a colorful matching image, helping to spark ideas and support visual learners. Perfect for writing centers, early finishers, or whole-class storytelling sessions, our wheel of story ideas resource makes writing exciting, accessible, and full of possibilities. Just print, assemble, and let the storytelling begin!

Using Our Creative Writing Wheel

This creative writing wheel takes just a bit of preparation and then can be used for years! Here is how to get your students writing:

Directions:

Print and cut out the spinners and arrows. We recommend printing them on cardstock and then laminating for longevity.
Attach the arrow with a brad so it can spin.
Provide students with the spinner of your choice.
Students spin the spinner and write a narrative story based on the prompt they land on.

Want to take it a step further? Download the editable version of this wheel of story ideas resource and make your own – or better yet – challenge your students to create one!

Download This Wheel Writing Resource

To download this wheel writing resource, click the download button. From there, choose between the Google Slides and PDF versions.

This resource was created by Samantha Rose, a teacher from Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources Like Our Writing Wheel

Want some additional activities that partner well with our writing wheel resource? We thought you might! Take a look below for additional writing inspiration.

[resource:65385] [resource:5144051] [resource:5041898]

Curriculum

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3

Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.A

Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Teach Starter Publishing

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