Instructing children to create a new ending for a story is an important exercise in imagination and writing. With this type of exercise, children must learn about the characters, know about the trajectory of a story and learn more about plot development while using their writing and imagination skills to come up with an alternate ending. It makes for an interesting activity that everyone in the class can participate in, while all coming up with their own new endings.
Step 1
Read a story out loud to the entire class. Choose the story according to their learning level; for younger children, try a fairy tale or short story, for older children you may choose a book that they have read for a book report, like "Charlotte's Web" or "The Outsiders."
Step 2
Lead a discussion with the children about the story. Talk about the characters so that the children can learn more about them. Note the ending, and ask questions of the children, such as "Why did the story end this way," "What was the author trying to say with his story ending?" and "Do you think it was a good ending?" These questions will start the creative process as the children think more about the purpose of the ending.
Step 3
Set aside class time to learn about plot and the trajectory of a story. Explain that every story has a beginning, middle and end, and demonstrate the plot by drawing a peak on the blackboard or on a piece paper. Show that everything in the story leads to the peak, and then winds down afterward, which is the ending. Note that the ending usually slows down and resolves the problem in the story.
Step 4
Instruct the children to write their own plot synopsis so that they have a plot line to work with. You could have them write it on their own plot chart, or write down a series of events that occurred in the book. This will help them remember the succession of events when writing their new ending.
Step 5
Begin the writing of the new ending by handing out blank pieces of paper. You can give the children a set amount of time to work on their new endings, using all of the information they have about the plot, the plot synopsis and questions about the writer and characters to write an ending they believe is fitting. You may have them read their new endings aloud, or mark them privately.
