*NOT-YOUR-ORDINARY*

STORY
STARTERS
Engaging Prompts Paired
with a Compelling Photo

HALLOWEEN
FREEBIE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES CONTENT
1-4 Cover, Table of Contents, Terms, Credits
5 Using This Resource
Materials for the “Old Pumpkin” Photo
6 • “Separate Strips” Format
7-9 • “Task Card” Format
10-11 • Writing Paper with Photo
12-19 • “No Prep” Format
20-21 Generic Extra Writing Paper (for backsides)

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 TERMS OF USE
Thank you for downloading this free resource!

• You may use this resource for personal and classroom use
AND to share with colleagues within your school. Please refer
others to my TeachersPayTeachers store to download this
resource for themselves.

• Changing any part of the files in any way for anyone other than
you and your classroom of students is prohibited.

• Using any piece of these files, in whole or in part, in the

creation of another product, either free or priced, is prohibited.

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 CREDITS
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Photograph Source:
“Photographyyy” by Evil Erin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilerin/4068990763).
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photographyyy.jpg
Licensed under CCA 2.0 Generic. *Adjustment made to photo brightness.
 USING THIS RESOURCE Copyright 2015 by Michael Friermood

What’s Included:
The “old pumpkin” photograph includes three carefully crafted story starters, plus one set of open-ended
prompting questions, for a total of 4 prompts.
*There are also four additional prompts for Mother’s Day and four for Father’s Day.
The story starters engage students in several types of writing, the majority being
narrative (both first-person and third-person points-of-view). This freebie includes
two narrative prompts and an instructions prompt.
Writing paper for each photo is included (in 2 line-spacing options). More generic,
extra writing paper is also included at the end that you can copy onto the back of
the photo paper.

Choosing a Format:
All of the prompts come in three different formats. Below is an explanation of each format to help you
decide which pages to print in order to best suit your needs.

“Separate Strips” Style

* Each strip has unique story starter/
prompt and the accompanying photo.
* Cut apart the strips.
* Allows option to glue into notebook or
journal

“Task Card” Style

* Each page has the four story starters
that accompany each photo.
* (Find the photographs near the end of
the resource.)
* Cut apart the prompts and put them
into an envelope or bag.
* Attach the corresponding photo to the
front of the envelope/bag.
* Pair with the provided writing paper.
* Use as a portable writing center or workstation.

“No Prep” Style

* Each story starter is also provided separately
on its corresponding writing paper.
* Choose which particular story starters you
want and simply print and copy.
* Lends itself to a ‘packet’ option pretty easily.
* (Papers print in grayscale nicely.)
Story Starters [photo: ] Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

1 Pile of Leaves The message said to look for

the old jack-o-lantern sitting on a wooden ledge. And sure
enough, when you find it, a huge pile of leaves sits in front of it.
You grab the pumpkin’s stem and give it a twist. A faint grinding
sound echoes from below. When it stops, you take a deep breath,
preparing yourself for what’s next. You count to three and jump
into the pile of leaves. And just like the message said, you don’t
hit the ground. You fall through the pile. And you keep falling.
First-Person Narrative

2 Rocco and Patch Rocco and Patch stared at

the setting sun, neither friend able to look at the other. “So this
is it, then. This is the end of me,” Patch said softly. “What else
am I supposed to do, Patch?” Rocco replied. “We both knew this
would happen.” He thought about all the fun he and Patch had
during the last few days, the tricks they played, the laughs they
shared. “That’s it!” Rocco said suddenly. “Patch, what if I told you
this isn’t the end, that I could reverse your rotting forever?”
Third-Person Narrative

3 Pumpkin Carving You are one of

the final three candidates to become the town’s next official
pumpkin carver. The previous pumpkin carver was fired after
his entry in the National Pumpkin Carving Contest last year came
in last place. (You can see his creation in the picture. He called it
“Rotten Gramps.” The older judges were very offended.) To win
the job, you must write detailed instructions for how you would
carve the most amazing pumpkin you can imagine.
Instructions

? The Old Pumpkin Is that you standing

next to the old pumpkin? Did you carve the pumpkin? Or maybe
you ARE the pumpkin. If so, why do you look so old? Why are
you both looking in the same direction? What is out there? Is
something coming? Did something bad happen? Are you stuck
here? What are you going to do next?

Open-Ended Prompting Questions

1 Pile of Leaves The message said to
look for the old jack-o-lantern sitting on a wooden
2 Rocco and Patch Rocco and Patch
stared at the setting sun, neither friend able to
ledge. And sure enough, when you find it, a huge look at the other. “So this is it, then. This is the
pile of leaves sits in front of it. You grab the end of me,” Patch said softly. “What else am I
pumpkin’s stem and give it a twist. A faint supposed to do, Patch?” Rocco replied. “We both
grinding sound echoes from below. When it stops, knew this would happen.” He thought about all the
you take a deep breath, preparing yourself for fun he and Patch had during the last few days,
what’s next. You count to three and jump into the the tricks they played, the laughs they shared.
pile of leaves. And just like the message said, you “That’s it!” Rocco said suddenly. “Patch, what if I

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

don’t hit the ground. You fall through the pile. And told you this isn’t the end, that I could reverse
you keep falling. your rotting forever?”
First-Person Narrative Story Starters FREEBIE: Old Pumpkin Third-Person Narrative Story Starters FREEBIE: Old Pumpkin

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

3 Pumpkin Carving You are
one of the final three candidates to become the
? The Old Pumpkin Is that you
standing next to the old pumpkin? Did you carve
town’s next official pumpkin carver. The previous the pumpkin? Or maybe you ARE the pumpkin.
pumpkin carver was fired after his entry in the If so, why do you look so old? Why are you both
National Pumpkin Carving Contest last year came looking in the same direction? What is out
in last place. (You can see his creation in the there? Is something coming? Did something
picture. He called it “Rotten Gramps.” The older bad happen? Are you stuck here? What are you
judges were very offended.) To win the job, you going to do next?
must write detailed instructions for how you
would carve the most amazing pumpkin you can
imagine.
Instructions Story Starters FREEBIE: Old Pumpkin Open-Ended Prompting Questions Story Starters FREEBIE: Old Pumpkin
Old pumpkin Old pumpkin

Old pumpkin Old pumpkin

OLD PUMPKIN
Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood
Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood
Pile of Leaves
The message said to look for the old jack-o-
lantern sitting on a wooden ledge. And sure
enough, when you find it, a huge pile of
leaves sits in front of it. You grab the
pumpkin’s stem and give it a twist. A faint
grinding sound echoes from below. When it
stops, you take a deep breath, preparing
yourself for what’s next. You count to three
and jump into the pile of leaves. And just like
the message said, you don’t hit the ground.
You fall through the pile. And you keep falling.
1 First-Person Narrative

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Rocco and Patch
Rocco and Patch stared at the setting sun,
neither friend able to look at the other. “So
this is it, then. This is the end of me,” Patch
said softly. “What else am I supposed to do,
Patch?” Rocco replied. “We both knew this
would happen.” He thought about all the fun
he and Patch had during the last few days,
the tricks they played, the laughs they
shared. “That’s it!” Rocco said suddenly.
“Patch, what if I told you this isn’t the end,
that I could reverse your rotting forever?”
2 Third-Person Narrative

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Pumpkin Carving
You are one of the final three candidates to
become the town’s next official pumpkin
carver. The previous pumpkin carver was
fired after his entry in the National Pumpkin
Carving Contest last year came in last place.
(You can see his creation in the picture. He
called it “Rotten Gramps.” The older judges
were very offended.) To win the job, you
must write detailed instructions for how you
would carve the most amazing pumpkin you
can imagine.
3 Instructions

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

The Old Pumpkin
Is that you standing next to the old
pumpkin? Did you carve the pumpkin? Or
maybe you ARE the pumpkin. If so, why do
you look so old? Why are you both looking in
the same direction? What is out there? Is
something coming? Did something bad
happen? Are you stuck here? What are you
going to do next?

? Open-Ended Prompting Questions

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Pile of Leaves
The message said to look for the old jack-o-
lantern sitting on a wooden ledge. And sure
enough, when you find it, a huge pile of
leaves sits in front of it. You grab the
pumpkin’s stem and give it a twist. A faint
grinding sound echoes from below. When it
stops, you take a deep breath, preparing
yourself for what’s next. You count to three
and jump into the pile of leaves. And just like
the message said, you don’t hit the ground.
You fall through the pile. And you keep falling.
1 First-Person Narrative

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Rocco and Patch
Rocco and Patch stared at the setting sun,
neither friend able to look at the other. “So
this is it, then. This is the end of me,” Patch
said softly. “What else am I supposed to do,
Patch?” Rocco replied. “We both knew this
would happen.” He thought about all the fun
he and Patch had during the last few days,
the tricks they played, the laughs they
shared. “That’s it!” Rocco said suddenly.
“Patch, what if I told you this isn’t the end,
that I could reverse your rotting forever?”
2 Third-Person Narrative

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Pumpkin Carving
You are one of the final three candidates to
become the town’s next official pumpkin
carver. The previous pumpkin carver was
fired after his entry in the National Pumpkin
Carving Contest last year came in last place.
(You can see his creation in the picture. He
called it “Rotten Gramps.” The older judges
were very offended.) To win the job, you
must write detailed instructions for how you
would carve the most amazing pumpkin you
can imagine.
3 Instructions

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

The Old Pumpkin
Is that you standing next to the old
pumpkin? Did you carve the pumpkin? Or
maybe you ARE the pumpkin. If so, why do
you look so old? Why are you both looking in
the same direction? What is out there? Is
something coming? Did something bad
happen? Are you stuck here? What are you
going to do next?

? Open-Ended Prompting Questions

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood

Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood
Copyright 2016 by Michael Friermood