Free Printable Back to School Roll a Story

This free Back to School Roll a Story printable turns a roll of the dice into a fun creative writing activity your kids will love & be excited to write with.

Can we talk about how much kids love a good excuse to roll dice? There’s just something magical about it, you know? That’s exactly why I created this fun writing activity, and it’s honestly one of my favorite printables yet. If you’re looking for a simple way to get your kids excited about writing again, stick around, because this one’s a total win.

What Is This Free Printable?

So, what exactly does this activity include? This set comes with seven pages total, and each one serves a different purpose. You’ll get two versions of the roll-a-story game board, one in color and one in black and white, so you can pick whichever fits your printer or your mood that day. There’s also a planning page where kids sketch out their beginning, middle, and end before they start writing.

Beyond that, you’ll find a variety of lined writing pages to match different skill levels. Some pages include space at the top for a picture, which is perfect for younger kids who love to illustrate their stories. Others have dotted handwriting lines for early writers who are still working on their letters, while a few pages use regular lines for older kids who are ready for more advanced writing practice.

Why You’ll Love This Idea

First off, this activity takes almost zero effort to prep. Just print the pages, grab a die, and you’re ready to go. There’s no need to plan lessons or come up with writing prompts on your own, since the dice do all that heavy lifting for you. As a busy parent, I love anything that keeps kids engaged without adding more to my to-do list.

On top of that, this activity sneaks in some serious learning while your kids think they’re just having fun. Rolling for a character, setting, and problem teaches story structure without your child even realizing it. It also builds confidence in young writers, since the silly combinations almost always lead to laughter. Honestly, watching my own kids giggle over a nervous robot who can’t find a friend made my whole week.

How to Use the Back to School Roll a Story Printable

Using this printable is pretty straightforward. To download head to the end of the post and enter your name and email address in the dark green download box. The PDF File will be sent to your inbox. First, print out the roll-a-story game board along with a planning page and however many writing pages you need. Then, hand your child a die and let them roll it three separate times, once for the character column, once for the setting column, and once for the problem column. Whatever they land on becomes the foundation of their story.

Next, have your child use the planning page to jot down quick notes for the beginning, middle, and end of their tale. This step really helps kids organize their thoughts before they start writing full sentences. Finally, they can move on to a lined writing page and turn their notes into a complete story, adding illustrations if they’d like. It’s such a fun way to build writing confidence right before school starts back up.

Fun Ways to Use This Printable

There are plenty of ways to work this activity into your routine. Here are a few ideas my family has tried:

• Use it as a fun back-to-school morning activity during the last week of summer.
• Bring it along on road trips for a screen-free writing game.
• Let siblings each roll and compare how different their stories turn out.
• Use it in a homeschool or classroom setting as a creative writing warm-up.
• Turn finished stories into a mini book to read together at bedtime.

Variations to Try

Want to switch things up a little? Have your child roll twice for each category and choose their favorite combination. You could also let them act out their finished story like a mini play, complete with silly voices. For older kids, challenge them to write from a different point of view, like the pencil or the puppy instead of the student. And if you’ve got a reluctant writer, let them tell their story out loud first before putting pen to paper.

Common Questions About This Activity

What age is this printable good for? This activity works well for kids roughly ages five through ten, thanks to the different writing page options for various skill levels.

Do I need a special die to use this? Nope! Any regular six-sided die works just fine. You probably already have one buried in a game closet somewhere.

Is this good for reluctant writers? Absolutely. The silly, random combinations take the pressure off blank-page anxiety and make writing feel more like a game than schoolwork.

Can I use this in a classroom? Definitely! Teachers often use roll-a-story activities as a fun creative writing warm-up or an early-finisher option.

My Favorite Printable Supplies:

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• Printer: I love my HP Home Printer, it prints beautifully everytime no matter what projects I am working on.
• Paper: Depending on the durability you want with your printables, consider printing on white card stock or high quality paper.
• Laminator: For printables you are planning to use over and over again, simply laminate and use dry erase markers to mark up the printables.
• Paper Cutter: I love my CARL Paper Cutter. It makes trimming and cutting out printables a breeze.
• Sticker Paper: When printing tags or other free printables, sticker paper can make it easy to attach to gifts, boxes, or to make your own stickers.
• Cutting Supplies: You’ll want a great pair of paper cutting scissors and I love using an Xacto Knife for intricate details.
• Pens and Coloring Supplies: Here are some of my favorite writing tools for pencils and pens. Coloring supplies that I love to use in my own home: colored pencils, crayons, markers for adults, and markers for kids.

Download the Roll a Story Back to School Pages

Please remember my printables are free for classroom use or personal use only. You may not sell or distribute the printable or digital file. If you wish to share the digital files, please refer friends to the link of this blog post where they can sign up to receive the free printable directly in their inbox.

Be sure to check your printer settings before printing, I generally make sure that the scale to fit option is selected to make sure all of the printables fit on the page.

To ensure emails for printables are received in your inbox add hello@thebensonstreet.com to your email contacts. Also check your promotions, updates, spam, junk or other folders if you do not see the email in inbox. Also for educators, consider using your personal email as many school districts block the emails or downloading of files.

Wrapping Up

There you have it, a totally free way to make writing fun again before the school year kicks off. Whether you use it on a lazy summer afternoon or as a fresh-start activity for the new school year, this Back to School Roll a Story printable is sure to be a hit with your kids. Go ahead and grab your free copy below, and don’t forget to save this post to Pinterest so you can find it again later! And hey, while you’re at it, pop your email in below for more free printables and easy ideas delivered right to your inbox. 🎒

More Back to School fun:

• Back to School Drawing Challenge
• Back to School Bookmarks to Color
• Back to School Color by Number
• Back to School Don’t Eat Pete
• Back to School Scavenger Hunt
• Apple Pretzels
• Ruler Rice Krispies Treats
• Pencil Wafer Cookies

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