Story With a Surprise Word

Why Story With a Surprise Word works

The value of Story With a Surprise Word comes from the choices between its steps, beginning with the request to begin the story normally. Tell a story that must naturally include a surprise word revealed after the story has already begun. That opening should make it easier to understand why the next instruction is to reveal the surprise word.

Set up — Begin the story normally

No special materials are needed before the child is asked to begin the story normally. The setup is ready when the child can begin the story normally and then move on to the instruction to reveal the surprise word without a new explanation. Keep topics comfortable and family-safe; nobody has to reveal private information while those two steps are connected.

Step 2 — Reveal the surprise word

One careful attempt to reveal the surprise word is enough at this stage. Before the child tries to pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation, ask them to show or describe what differed from when they had to begin the story normally.

Step 3 — Pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation

Use the result of asking the child to pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation as a clue for the next decision. Do not move on to continue without abandoning earlier facts until this step has a clear purpose.

Step 4 — Continue without abandoning earlier facts

Ask the child to continue without abandoning earlier facts. Compare what happens with the earlier step to pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation, then continue by asking them to end with the surprise word having a real role in the plot once the difference is clear.

Step 5 — End with the surprise word having a real role in the plot

Let the child end with the surprise word having a real role in the plot and treat the result as information rather than simple repetition. If it is unclear, repeat that action before asking them to end with the surprise word having a real role in the plot.

What to notice before End with the surprise word having a real…

After the child has tried to continue without abandoning earlier facts, ask what changed. An answer connected to the earlier attempt to pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation is good evidence of whether the words add useful information or keep the story and conversation coherent before the final step.

Make Pause and decide how the word can… easier or harder

If asking the child to pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation is too demanding, use one familiar topic and shorter turns. Once that step is comfortable, change the audience, viewpoint, or language constraint before returning to the final request to end with the surprise word having a real role in the plot.

Finish after End with the surprise word having a real…

End while the result of asking the child to end with the surprise word having a real role in the plot is still clear. Once they can connect it with the earlier attempt to pause and decide how the word can enter the existing situation, move on to another idea through the activity search or activity generator.