A great story has captivating characters and an excellent beginning, middle and ending! Sometimes coming up with the ending can be the most difficult part. Help children come up with a crack that ending and finish with flourish. You can play this animation, which is just one in a writing series, in class or at home.
I really like playing with my pirate ship and watching videos. I watch lots about ice cream. I think it's the yummiest food on the planet! I started writing a story, but I've got a bit stuck. Can't think of a good ending.
Hi there! I'm Winnie the Bookworm, but I like to be called Winnie the Worm. That's because stories can come from anywhere, not just in books. And I love, love, love helping people to write their own stories! Yours just needs a fantastic finish so that people remember it. Wheeee! Arrr me matey, you've got a beauty of a beginning to your seafaring tale. A young boy called Jack dreams of sailing across the world on adventures with his parents. But his mum and dad have gone missing at sea while looking for Ice Cream Island. In the middle part of your story, Jack meets a talking parrot called Livingston, who squawks, "I know the way to Ice Cream Island, bwark!"
They set sail and eventually arrived at Ice Cream Island. And straight away, Jack saw his parents' ship broken into pieces and washed up on Vanilla Beach! He called out for his mum and dad and they suddenly appeared. They all got on his boat and sailed back home. Aww, that's a nice ending, but it's not very exciting. Jack could explore the island looking for his mum and dad, trying not to eat the hundreds of different flavours and toppings.
Suddenly, he heard cries for help! His parents! They were buried under piles of ice cream. So Jack and Livingston ate their way through all of it to free them!
Oh yes! Now you're getting it! But it still needs a bit more drama. Oh, what if a nasty pirate, Captain Bad Boss, appears and says that he'd buried Jack's mum and dad in the ice cream, so he could have the island all to himself!
Then Jack tricked him into eating a yucky banana flavoured ice cream. And! And! It makes him sick! Bleurgh! No wait! It turns him into an actual banana! Then they sail back home with as much ice cream as they can carry.
Oh, now that's a fantastic finish! And don't forget: Write something that you want to read! Have fun!
Next up...
We have up to five animations to develop children's 500 Words stories, why not use one a day? Coming up next is 'Edit, Improve and Read Aloud'.
Teacher Notes
This short film can be used to generate an alternative ending for a familiar fairy tale, e.g. Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood.
For more able pupils’ access 7-11 version.
Curriculum Notes
This video is suitable for use with pupils aged 5-7. (Although for more able pupils access KS2 version). It is designed primarily for support with the 鶹Լ 500 Words competition but could also support the teaching of English and Literacy for this age range.This links directly to the English Programmes of Study at KS1 (England), 1st Level (Scotland), Foundation Phase (Wales) and Foundation Stage/KS1 (Northern Ireland).
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What makes a brilliant 500 Words story?
Watch judges Charlie Higson. Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Sir Lenny Henry share what they think makes a brilliant 500 Words story.
The top 50 finalists of 2023/24. audio
Read or listen to the top 50 stories that made it to the 2023/24 final.
