Story Relay

Materials

• Optional: picture cards showing characters and places

How to play

1. Make a circle and agree on a speaking order and main character. The facilitator offers an opening sentence, such as “One morning, a small boat left the harbor.”
2. The first person adds one sentence. Build on previous events rather than declaring they never happened; add a character or event to continue the story.
3. The next person listens to the story so far and adds another sentence. Passing is allowed, and picture cards may provide ideas.
4. After everyone has spoken once or twice, the facilitator announces that the next turn will end the story. The final speaker invents a closing sentence.
5. Share favorite moments to finish. For another round, change the main character and who speaks first.

Ways to adapt

Preschool children: arrange picture cards for an adult to narrate. Younger primary school children: one sentence each. Older primary school children: announce the ending and connect earlier clues to it.

Sources and references

• 中山由佳『人とものをつくる』表2 お話づくり ↗