Family Activities · DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
The Ridiculous Story Machine
A printable storytelling game for kids aged 7+. Assemble a mix-and-match flipbook, then change five story sections to create funny combinations from 60 prewritten pieces. Writing and drawing extras are optional.
For
Children ages 7+
Players
Solo or shared play
FIND YOUR KIND OF FUN
A little more about the activity
The Ridiculous Story Machine is a printable storytelling activity built as a mix-and-match story flipbook. Designed for children aged 7 and up, it lets you change five parts of a story independently: who, where, the problem, the twist and the ending. Flip one section and the whole story takes a different direction.
The 12 mix-and-match sheets contain 60 story pieces, creating 248,832 possible combinations. Read your discoveries aloud or take turns flipping sections with family and friends. There is no single correct story to find; the enjoyment comes from seeing what strange combination appears next.
Keep it handy for a rainy afternoon, sleepover, school break or creative time at home. Children can explore the combinations on their own or share them with someone else. Optional writing and drawing activities let them record a favorite story, illustrate its funniest moment or invent story pieces of their own when they want to take the idea further.
For children ages 7+ to enjoy on their own or with family and friends.
What is included
An 18-page printable activity pack, provided as A4 and US Letter PDFs, including:
- 12 illustrated mix-and-match story sheets with 60 prewritten story pieces across five sections
- How to Play instructions and a Build Your Story Machine assembly guide
- A Make Your Own Ridiculous Story sheet for creating additional story pieces
- A My Ridiculous Story worksheet for recording a story and drawing its funniest moment
READY TO GET STARTED?
Before you begin
You will need a printer or printing service, paper, scissors and a stapler with staples, a binder clip or two binder rings. If you use rings, you will also need a hole punch. Have pencils, crayons or markers ready if you want to use the optional writing and drawing sheets.
Print & enjoy
Purchase through Etsy, download your PDFs and print the 12 story sheets. Stack them in order and secure the left side with staples, a binder clip or two binder rings. Follow the assembly guide to cut along the dotted lines, stopping at the left binding strip. Flip the five sections independently to mix your stories. Print the optional writing and drawing sheets if you want to create more.