Free Printable Camping Roll a Story Writing Activity

Want a fun, easy writing activity to keep your kids busy on a camping trip? Grab this free printable camping roll a story, roll the dice, & start writing now!

If your kids love camping half as much as mine do, you’re going to love this one. I made a free printable camping roll-a-story for all the little storytellers in your house, and it’s such a fun way to spend an afternoon. Grab a die, roll it a few times, and watch your kid turn into the next great campfire storyteller. You know those quiet moments when you need something easy and screen-free? This printable is it.

What Is This Printable, Anyway?

So what exactly is this thing? It’s a simple writing activity that uses a die to spark creative stories. Kids roll the die three separate times. Each roll picks a character, a setting, and a problem from a chart. Then they use those three pieces to write their very own camping adventure. It’s part dice game, part writing prompt, and it’s honestly pretty genius for keeping kids busy without a screen in sight.

This printable comes with a color version and a black and white version, so you can pick whichever works best for your printer (because ink is expensive, am I right?). After the roll chart, there’s a planning page for jotting down the character, setting, and problem. From there, kids map out the beginning, middle, and end of their story before writing a single word. Once planning is done, you’ll find four writing pages to choose from: dotted handwriting lines with a drawing spot, lined paper with an illustration space, a full page of dotted lines, and a full page of lined paper. There’s an option for every age and skill level.

Why You’ll Love This Idea

First off, it’s free, and it’s ready to print right now. No fuss, just print and go. That alone makes it a win on a busy weeknight or when your kid says “I’m bored” for the fifth time today. This activity also sneaks in some real learning, like sentence structure, sequencing, and creative thinking, all while your kid just thinks they’re playing a fun dice game. Sneaky parenting at its finest, you know?

Second, this idea is endlessly replayable. Since there are six options in each column, kids can roll a different combination every single time. One day they might write about a park ranger who can’t find the trail. The next day, it’s a bear stealing snacks from a campsite (relatable, honestly 🐻). That kind of variety keeps kids coming back for more without getting bored, which is basically every parent’s dream activity.

How to Use the Camping Roll a Story Printable

Using this printable is so simple, even a tired parent at 7 am can figure it out (no judgment, we’ve all been there). To download, scroll to the bottom of the post and enter your name and email address in the dark green download box. The file will be sent directly to your inbox. Start by printing the roll chart page, either color or black and white. Grab a regular six-sided die from any board game lying around your house, since that’s all you need to play.

Have your kiddo roll the die three times: once for character, once for setting, and once for problem. Whatever number comes up matches a row on the chart. Write those three things down on the planning sheet first. Next, help them think through how the story starts, what happens in the middle, and how it all wraps up. Once that part is set, hand them a writing page and let them go for it. Younger kids might enjoy the dotted handwriting lines, while older kids can dive right into the lined pages for a longer story.

Fun Ways to Use This Printable

This idea works for so many situations, not just actual camping trips. Here are a few favorites to get you started:

• Pull it out on a rainy day when everyone’s stuck inside and restless 🌧️
• Use it as a quiet car activity on the way to your favorite campground
• Add it to your homeschool writing lessons for some seasonal fun
• Set it up as a craft station at a camping themed birthday party
• Use it for morning work or an early finisher activity in the classroom
• Pair it with a campfire snack like s’mores for a cozy themed afternoon

Variations to Try

Once your kids get the hang of it, there’s plenty of room to switch things up. Here are a few variations worth trying next:

• Roll twice for each column and let kids pick their favorite combo
• Have siblings team up and write one story together
• Turn it into a read aloud activity and act out the finished story
• Challenge kids to write the opposite version, like a camping trip where nothing goes wrong
• Reuse the blank planning page again and again with brand new combinations all summer long

Common Questions

What age is this printable good for?
This works great for early elementary kids, roughly first through fourth grade. Younger kids can use the dotted handwriting pages, while older kids can use the lined pages for longer stories.

Do I need a special die to use it?
Nope! Any regular six sided die works just fine. No die on hand? A quick online dice roller works in a pinch too.

Is this writing activity really free?
Yes, totally free! Just download, print, and you’re ready to go in minutes.

Can teachers use this in a classroom setting?
Absolutely. Teachers love using roll-a-story activities for writing centers, morning work, or early finishers.

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 Camping Roll A Story PDF Here

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.

Grab Your Free Printable Today

There you have it, a fun and easy way to get your kids writing without the usual complaining. This camping roll a story printable is perfect for road trips, rainy afternoons, or just a fun day at home. Grab your free copy below, print it out, and let the silly stories begin! And hey, if your kid rolls “a bear took the food,” just be glad it’s only happening on paper. 😂 Don’t forget to save this post on Pinterest so you can find it again next time.

More Writing Activities:

• Easter Roll a Story
• Pirate Roll a Story
• St. Patrick’s Day Roll a Story

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