What Is A Skeleton Story?
A skeleton story is a very short (5-15 sentences) that uses between 1 and 3 high-frequency structures. It is basically what Blaine Ray would call a "mini-story". I am referring to it as a skeleton story becomes it becomes a framework for story-asking and for creating what I have been calling "embedded readings."
Here are samples of skeleton stories that I have used in other posts:
There is a character. He lives in Florida. He needs a special present. He looks and looks. Finally! It's the perfect present!!
A character wants to watch a movie. She wants to watch a movie this weekend. She wants to watch a movie with her friends. But there is a problem....
A character wakes up early every day. She wants to get to work on time. She has many things to do. She wants to get to work on time. She has to do one thing, then she has to do another thing, then she has to do another thing. She looks at the clock. Now it is late! She runs out the door because she wants to get to work on time.
Two characters had the desire to win a race. They practiced for a long time without rest. Suddenly they realized that the race was just about to start. Oh no! Would they get there in time?
Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package. Arnold is afraid to open the package. Arnold gives the package back to the Post Office. The Post Office sends the package to Mr. Tanner the math teacher. Mr. Tanner gives the package detention. A boy in detention takes the package on the bus. He leaves the package on the bus. The hockey team finds the package. The hockey team leaves the package at the hockey rink. The Canandian Hockey team finds the package. The Canadian Hockey team sends the package to Apolo Anton Ono. Apolo is afraid to openthe package. He calls Lindsay Vonn.
Most of the skeleton stories have as little detail as possible. The last one has more details because I created it from students' specific suggestions and ideas. Sometimes this is a great way to 'hook' kids into a story from the very beginning.
I use the skeleton stories and ask for/pull/have students compete for the details to add to the story. This week I have been using Michele's idea of giving students 2-3 minutes to create skeleton stories from focus phrases that I have chosen....instead of trying to come up with the skeleton stories myself. It's been fantastic!! It has given me a pile of ideas to pull from throughout the week. The students are loving having yet ANOTHER way to contribute to the class.
with love,
Laurie
Here are samples of skeleton stories that I have used in other posts:
There is a character. He lives in Florida. He needs a special present. He looks and looks. Finally! It's the perfect present!!
A character wants to watch a movie. She wants to watch a movie this weekend. She wants to watch a movie with her friends. But there is a problem....
A character wakes up early every day. She wants to get to work on time. She has many things to do. She wants to get to work on time. She has to do one thing, then she has to do another thing, then she has to do another thing. She looks at the clock. Now it is late! She runs out the door because she wants to get to work on time.
Two characters had the desire to win a race. They practiced for a long time without rest. Suddenly they realized that the race was just about to start. Oh no! Would they get there in time?
Arnold Schwarzenagger receives a package. Arnold is afraid to open the package. Arnold gives the package back to the Post Office. The Post Office sends the package to Mr. Tanner the math teacher. Mr. Tanner gives the package detention. A boy in detention takes the package on the bus. He leaves the package on the bus. The hockey team finds the package. The hockey team leaves the package at the hockey rink. The Canandian Hockey team finds the package. The Canadian Hockey team sends the package to Apolo Anton Ono. Apolo is afraid to openthe package. He calls Lindsay Vonn.
Most of the skeleton stories have as little detail as possible. The last one has more details because I created it from students' specific suggestions and ideas. Sometimes this is a great way to 'hook' kids into a story from the very beginning.
I use the skeleton stories and ask for/pull/have students compete for the details to add to the story. This week I have been using Michele's idea of giving students 2-3 minutes to create skeleton stories from focus phrases that I have chosen....instead of trying to come up with the skeleton stories myself. It's been fantastic!! It has given me a pile of ideas to pull from throughout the week. The students are loving having yet ANOTHER way to contribute to the class.
with love,
Laurie
Dear Laurie,
If you have time for doing one of your creative extensions...remember, I said I'd send something...here goes the story my adults came up with, after we'd talked about one of their daughters, who had bit her sister the week before. You'll notice it's based on the Anne story that Ben put up.
Vivian is sitting in her room. She is grounded, because she bit her sister Tate. She is singing, "I bit Tate, ha-ha." Quinn knocks on the window. He shows Vivian a flashlight. "Come out, Vivian, let's run away!" Vivian says, "I can't! I'm grounded."Quinn leaves.
Vivian is sitting in her room singing "I bit Tate, ha-ha!" and Olivia knocks on the window. She shows Vivian a sleeping bag. "Vivian, let's run away to Payton's house." Vivian says, "I can't. I'm grounded because I bit my sister." Olivia leaves.
Vivian is sitting in her room singing, "I bit Tate, ha-ha!" and Payton knocks on the window. She shows Vivian a ladder. She shouts, "Let's run away, Vivian!" Vivian says, "Now I can run away!" She leaves with Payton.
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extra facts: the kids are all five; they live on a road in a forested area where there are wolves and bears, there is lots of snow left there, they are always trying to run away together, and the mom said "I'm scared" in the original telling of the event. We described the three sisters in the one home as being cute, usually good, but noisy. We've been using superlatives lately (to describe Russia as the biggest country, the Volga as the longest river...)
Just writing this gives me plenty of ideas. I don't teach this class until next Monday, and if you don't have time or desire to mess with it, it's fine! But if you get creative and want to procrastinate on whatever you are supposed to be doing, that will be fine!
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Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I'm more of a visual learner,I found that to be more helpful well let me know how it turns out! I love what you guys are always up too.
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