Write Your Own Bullfrog Problem Story

Curriculum Suggestions

Write Your Own Bullfrog Problem Story

Once There Was a Bull...frog has a very common story structure.

A character has a problem.
He tries to solve it, and fails.
He tries again, and fails.
He might try again and again.

Finally he figures out how to solve the problem.

Choose a character.
Brainstorm problems that character might have. Choose one of the problems.
Brainstorm ways the character might try to solve the problem. Have the character try one of the ways, and tell why he or she fails.
Have the character try another solution, and fail again.
Have the character fail as many times as you want. (But don't have your character fail too many times, or the reader might get tired of all the failure.)
Have the character finally solve the problem.

Alternatives

Instead of writing a story about a character who has a problem, write a story about a character who has a goal. Does she want a pony? Does he want to win a race? Does she want a bike for her birthday? Does he want to make a friend? Tell how your character tries to achieve the goal, fails, and finally succeeds.

The Three Little Pigs--The pig's goal: escape from the wolf.

Rumpelstiltskin--The queen's goal: guess Rumpelstiltskin's name.

Hansel and Gretal--The kid's problem: escape from the witch.