Write a choose your own adventure - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Write a choose your own adventure

Write and illustrate a short choose-your-own-adventure story with branching choices, plan story paths, test endings, and share it with friends.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to write and illustrate a choose-your-own-adventure story

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How to Create a Choose Your Own Adventure Story using Google Slides

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, colouring materials (markers or crayons), sticky notes, ruler

Step 1

Gather your paper pencil eraser colouring materials sticky notes and ruler and put them on a clean table.

Step 2

Pick a main character and a setting and write one short sentence that describes each.

Step 3

Decide what your character wants most and write one sentence that explains their goal.

Step 4

List 4 to 6 key events that move the story from the start toward the goal on separate sticky notes.

Step 5

Add at least two different choices to two of the key events by writing each choice on its own sticky note.

Step 6

Arrange the sticky notes on the table and draw arrows with your pencil or ruler to show where each choice leads.

Step 7

Write a short scene draft for each event using one to three sentences on a scrap of paper.

Step 8

Playtest your story by choosing different options and reading each path from start to finish at least three times.

Step 9

Fix any confusing parts or dead ends by rewriting the short scenes that need clearer outcomes.

Step 10

Create simple drawings for at least four important scenes and add a one-sentence caption under each drawing.

Step 11

Make a neat final copy of your finished story on clean paper and glue or redraw your final illustrations beside the matching scenes.

Step 12

Share your finished choose-your-own-adventure on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have sticky notes or a ruler?

Use index cards or cut squares of paper taped to the table in place of sticky notes and a straight edge like a book, the edge of a cereal box, or the long side of a ruler from another kit to draw arrows and arrange events.

What should we do if the story gets confusing or has dead ends during playtesting?

During playtesting, mark confusing or dead-end paths, then follow the instruction to fix any confusing parts by rewriting the short scene drafts on scrap paper and adding or moving sticky-note choices and arrows until each path reads clearly from start to finish.

How can we adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger kids (ages 4–7) use 3 simple key events on sticky notes, mostly drawings with one-sentence captions and adult help arranging arrows, while older kids (10+) can list 4–6 events, add two choices to two events, write 1–3 sentence scene drafts, and make a neat final copy to share on DIY.org.

How can we make the choose-your-own-adventure more special or advanced?

Enhance the project by color-coding sticky-note events with your colouring materials, creating at least four detailed drawings with one-sentence captions and gluing them beside matching scenes in the neat final copy, and optionally recording a read-aloud to upload to DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to write and illustrate a choose-your-own-adventure story

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Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Books! | Storytelling and Roleplaying | Secular Homeschool Resources

4 Videos

Facts about creative writing for kids

📚 The first Choose Your Own Adventure book, The Cave of Time, was published in 1979.

🎮 One of the earliest popular interactive fiction games was Colossal Cave Adventure (1976), which helped spark text-based storytelling games.

🌳 With just ten yes/no choices you could design 1,024 different possible endings—branching adds up really fast!

🃏 Many writers plan branching stories with index cards or flowcharts so they can move scenes around like puzzle pieces.

✏️ Simple spot illustrations in gamebooks can give players clues and make each choice feel more exciting.

How do you create a choose-your-own-adventure story with branching choices and endings?

Start by choosing a simple premise and main goal. Plan branches on paper or with sticky notes—limit to two choices per decision to avoid complexity. Write short numbered scenes that end with a clear choice, then link them on a map. Add illustrations to key scenes, assemble pages or digital files, and playtest with friends, revising unclear paths or dead ends. Finish by binding or exporting and share.

What materials do I need to write and illustrate a short choose-your-own-adventure?

You'll need paper or a notebook, pencils and erasers, pens or fine liners, colored markers or crayons, a ruler, sticky notes or index cards for planning, scissors and glue for cut-and-paste layouts, a stapler or binder for finished copies, and optional tools like a scanner, tablet, or computer with simple layout or drawing apps. Keep basic craft supplies for illustrations and stickers for decorating.

What ages is writing and illustrating a choose-your-own-adventure suitable for?

This activity suits ages about 6–12: younger children (6–8) can make short picture-led branches with adult help planning structure; ages 9–12 can write longer scenes and manage branching logic independently. For preschoolers, use picture choices and one-page paths. For teens, encourage complex plots or digital interactivity. Adapt difficulty by reducing branch number, using templates, or pairing kids for teamwork. Supervise scissors and online sharing.

What are the benefits, variations, and safety tips for this choose-your-own-adventure activity?

Benefits include stronger reading and writing skills, logical thinking, sequencing, creativity, and confidence from sharing stories. Variations: group stories where each child writes a branch, comic or illustrated-map formats, and digital choose-your-own stories made with simple apps. Safety tips: avoid collecting personal information when sharing online, supervise use of scissors or devices, and encourage respectful content. Test endings to ensure no confusing or unsafe outcomes.

Ready to create?

All Activities

Write a choose your own adventure

Write and illustrate a short choose-your-own-adventure story with branching choices, plan story paths, test endings, and share it with friends.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to write and illustrate a choose-your-own-adventure story

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Create a Choose Your Own Adventure Story using Google Slides

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, colouring materials (markers or crayons), sticky notes, ruler

Step 1

Gather your paper pencil eraser colouring materials sticky notes and ruler and put them on a clean table.

Step 2

Pick a main character and a setting and write one short sentence that describes each.

Step 3

Decide what your character wants most and write one sentence that explains their goal.

Step 4

List 4 to 6 key events that move the story from the start toward the goal on separate sticky notes.

Step 5

Add at least two different choices to two of the key events by writing each choice on its own sticky note.

Step 6

Arrange the sticky notes on the table and draw arrows with your pencil or ruler to show where each choice leads.

Step 7

Write a short scene draft for each event using one to three sentences on a scrap of paper.

Step 8

Playtest your story by choosing different options and reading each path from start to finish at least three times.

Step 9

Fix any confusing parts or dead ends by rewriting the short scenes that need clearer outcomes.

Step 10

Create simple drawings for at least four important scenes and add a one-sentence caption under each drawing.

Step 11

Make a neat final copy of your finished story on clean paper and glue or redraw your final illustrations beside the matching scenes.

Step 12

Share your finished choose-your-own-adventure on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have sticky notes or a ruler?

What should we do if the story gets confusing or has dead ends during playtesting?

How can we adapt this activity for different ages?

How can we make the choose-your-own-adventure more special or advanced?

Watch videos on how to write and illustrate a choose-your-own-adventure story

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Books! | Storytelling and Roleplaying | Secular Homeschool Resources

4 Videos

Facts about creative writing for kids

📚 The first Choose Your Own Adventure book, The Cave of Time, was published in 1979.

🎮 One of the earliest popular interactive fiction games was Colossal Cave Adventure (1976), which helped spark text-based storytelling games.

🌳 With just ten yes/no choices you could design 1,024 different possible endings—branching adds up really fast!

🃏 Many writers plan branching stories with index cards or flowcharts so they can move scenes around like puzzle pieces.

✏️ Simple spot illustrations in gamebooks can give players clues and make each choice feel more exciting.