Writing
A story that proves the saying
Write a short story in which a character learns that there is no success without effort.
- 30 minutes
- On your own, In pairs
- Ages 9–12, Ages 12+
- Classroom or at home
- Printable: writing page
What to do
- Read the saying and its meaning: there is no success without effort.
- Think of a character who wants something. It could be a person, an animal or a robot.
- Plan three parts: what they want, the effort it takes, and what happens at the end.
- Write the story on the lines. Use the sentence starters if they help.
- Read it back. Would a reader know which saying it proves without being told?
Questions to talk about
- Did your character succeed? Was the effort worth it?
- Can a story prove a saying wrong? How?
You will need
- The printed writing page
- A pencil
Make it fit
Simpler: Write three sentences only: the wish, the work and the ending. Draw a picture beside them.
More of a stretch: Do not name the saying anywhere in the story. Swap with a partner and see if they can guess which one it proves.
Printables
The instructions card is for the adult running the activity; the worksheet is for the children. Prints on A4 or US Letter at 100% / actual size; colour is optional.
The writing page
A story that proves the saying
Name
Write a short story that proves the saying true.
- More than anything, ... wanted to ...
- The first try did not go well because ...
- Every day after that, ...
- In the end, ...
The instructions card
How to run it · Writing
A story that proves the saying
Write a short story in which a character learns that there is no success without effort.
30 minutesOn your own, In pairsAges 9–12, Ages 12+
What to do
- Read the saying and its meaning: there is no success without effort.
- Think of a character who wants something. It could be a person, an animal or a robot.
- Plan three parts: what they want, the effort it takes, and what happens at the end.
- Write the story on the lines. Use the sentence starters if they help.
- Read it back. Would a reader know which saying it proves without being told?
You will need
- The printed writing page
- A pencil
Talk about
- Did your character succeed? Was the effort worth it?
- Can a story prove a saying wrong? How?
Make it fit
Simpler: Write three sentences only: the wish, the work and the ending. Draw a picture beside them.
Stretch: Do not name the saying anywhere in the story. Swap with a partner and see if they can guess which one it proves.
Goes with the printable writing page.