Roll Into Halloween Fun with This Creative Halloween Storytelling Activity
Thereโs something about Halloween that stirs up the imagination in big, bold waysโtalking skeletons, haunted mansions, and monsters that canโt stop sneezing. Itโs the perfect time to let kids stretch their storytelling muscles, and this Halloween-themed Roll-a-Story activity does exactly that. With a simple die and a few sheets of paper, kids can turn random combinations into full-fledged Halloween storytelling theyโll be excited to write.
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Roll-a-Story is one of those activities that manages to be both structured and creative, making it ideal for classrooms, homeschool, or even a quiet afternoon at home. It gives young writers a clear starting point while still giving them the freedom to take the story in any direction they choose. And with a theme like Halloween, thereโs no shortage of spooky, silly, and surprising paths their stories can take.
How To Play
The activity includes two main pages. The first page is a chart broken into three sections: Character, Setting, and Problem. Each row is numbered one through six, and students roll a die to randomly select one item from each column. For example, a roll of 2-4-6 might result in a story about Pumpkin Man in Goblin Grove dealing with disappearing treats. The combinations are endlessโand often hilarious.
The second page of the activity is where the magic happens. Students are prompted to draw their chosen character, setting, and problem at the top of the page, which gives them a visual connection to the elements theyโll be writing about. Below the illustrations is a lined writing space, perfect for developing a short story or even just a few sentences for emerging writers. This dual formatโboth drawing and writingโmakes the activity highly engaging and accessible for a wide age range.
The real genius of Roll-a-Story is that it removes the intimidation factor from writing. Kids often stare at a blank page and freeze up because they donโt know how to begin. But when the story elements are chosen for them in a fun, game-like way, it becomes less about getting it โrightโ and more about exploring โwhat happens next.โ It feels more like play and less like workโwhich is exactly the point.
How To Use This Halloween Storytelling Activity
Teachers can use this as part of a writing center, a Halloween party activity, or a creative warm-up during October. Parents can use it to sneak some literacy fun into fall weekends or as a calm indoor activity when the weather turns cold. Because the structure is already built in, the prep work is minimal. Just print, grab a die, and youโre ready to go.
This activity also opens the door for deeper learning. After the initial story is written, you can invite students to revise and edit, focusing on grammar, punctuation, or descriptive language. You can also turn it into a speaking activity where students share their stories with the class, building public speaking confidence in a low-pressure environment. For younger writers, dictating the story aloud while an adult or older student writes it down can still offer a meaningful storytelling experience.
If you’re working with a group, try letting students roll once as a class and write different stories with the same prompts. Itโs always fun to see how varied the stories become even when they start from the same ingredients. This naturally reinforces the idea that every writer has their own voice and imaginationโsomething worth celebrating every time.
Extend the Halloween Storytelling Activity
To tie in even more literacy value, pair your Roll-a-Story activity with a seasonal read-aloud. Books can spark ideas, model narrative structure, and enrich studentsโ vocabulary before they even pick up a pencil. Here are a few Halloween-themed books to read alongside this activity and inspire storytelling even further:
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
This story about a paranoid rabbit who believes carrots are stalking him is spooky, clever, and full of suspense. Itโs a great introduction to twist endings and mood in writing.
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
With rhythmic text and a cast of quirky characters, this book is perfect for helping students understand character relationships and story sequence.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
This classic tale introduces repetition, pattern, and tension-building in a very kid-friendly way.
The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey
Silly, heartwarming, and full of costume fun, this book can open up conversations about underdogs, surprises, and problem-solving in stories.
Bone Soup by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
A Halloween spin on the Stone Soup folktale, this book introduces sharing, creativity, and clever resolutionsโall key components of a great story.
Using a book as a warm-up before rolling the dice can help kids connect literary elements like problem, character, and setting to the work theyโre about to do. It makes writing feel less isolated and more like part of a larger storytelling world.
Ready To Get Your Halloween Storytelling Activity For Free?
So whether youโre planning a Halloween-themed week, building a seasonal writing folder, or just looking for something new to make writing fun, this Roll-a-Story activity is a fantastic tool to have on hand. With just a bit of structure and a whole lot of imagination, students can turn three simple dice rolls into spooky, silly, or suspenseful stories theyโll be proud to share.
