Poudre River Public Library District Blog
LIBRARY HOURS
Old Town Library
Harmony Library
Council Tree Library
LIBRARY HOURS Old Town Library
Harmony Library
Council Tree Library
(970) 221-6740
  • Catalog
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Site
Advanced Search

(970) 221-6740

Prospector
Front Range Community College
Business | Genealogy

(970) 221-6740

Prospector
Front Range Community College
All Events | Classes | Programs | Storytimes

(970) 221-6740

Prospector
Front Range Community College
Site Map

(970) 221-6740

Prospector
Front Range Community College
My Account Library Locations What's New ResearchDownload How do I? Events KidsTeens
  • Home
  • Using the Library
  • My Account
  • Hours & Locations
  • eResources
  • Calendar
  • Ask a Librarian
  • en español
Skip Navigation
My Account
Locations
What's New
Research
Download
How do I?

1-2-3 Brain Break: DIY Improvised Story (Inspired by Mad Libs®)

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Library Staff in Book Recommendations, Library Blog, Library Programs

Brain Breaks are short activities, often only 1-3 minutes long, that help kids get ready to learn or refocus on the task at hand. They often involve physical activity and movement though relaxing activities can also boost mental brain power.

So in addition to encouraging your kids to participate in these fun breaks, join the kiddos and have some refreshing, stress-free fun yourself, too!

Supplies needed:

  • Sheet of paper or a whiteboard
  • Pen or pencil or whiteboard markers
  • Two or more family members or friends

Here’s what you do:

1. The first step to making your own Mad Lib is coming up with a (very) short story. Your inspiration can come from anywhere or anything! Here are some examples:

  • a birthday
  • a holiday theme
  • a song you know
  • something you do every day such as brush your teeth – let your imagination go wild!

2. Write a few sentences. Don’t worry if they’re not funny at first; they will be when you play the game later on.

3. Now, choose between one and three words to take out of each sentence. Which words should you erase? Read your text once saying “blank” instead of some words. Here’s an example:

Monica put her favorite mint toothpaste on her toothbrush.

Changes to

Monica (verb) her favorite (adjective) toothpaste on her (noun).

And then becomes

Monica jumped her favorite pretty toothpaste on her banana.

If funny ideas start to pop into your head, you’ll know that’s a good word to erase.

4. Erase the words you’ve chosen, and replace them with a blank line.

5. For each word you erase, write the part of speech or type of word under or in the blank line (for example – adjective, noun, verb).

6. Ask a friend or family member to give you a word for each blank space in the story. Replace the old words with the new words that they give you.

7. Read aloud the new version of your story and laugh away!

Video by Youth Speak Out

Activity extensions:

For the little ones:

Create a 1 to 5 sentence story for them. Give your little one objects and toys to pick from to be the “words” in the blanks. Read the finished story with them.

For the older kids:

Instead of creating a story, create a song that you sing. You could even play an instrument while you sing the new song, or ask your family member or friend to play an instrument for you.

The “Why” behind the Challenge:

When we use our brain in creative ways, we enrich our social, emotional, and academic well-being. In addition, as the old adage says, “Laughter is the best medicine.” When we laugh, endorphins, the “feel good” chemicals in our bodies, increase. This helps us be more relaxed and happy.

Check out these funny books for more story fun!

I Am a Tiger by Karl Newson

My Tiny Pet by Jessie Hartland

Stretchy McHandsome by Judith Schachner

The Boring Book by Shinsuke Yoshitake

You Loves Ewe! By Cece Bell


Source: Unplug to Connect Make Your Own Mad Libs

Related

brain break, kids, kids and family, madlibs, stories

Comments are closed.

Recent Posts

  • shelf of books

    Automatic Renewals Begin February 1

    February 1, 2023
  • Lincoln Hills, Colorado

    Colorado Black History / Historia Negra de Colorado

    February 1, 2023
  • Poudre Libraries Staff

    2023: A Look Ahead

    December 29, 2022
  • Harmony, Education, and Determination through the Decades

    December 16, 2022

Try our App! Try our Mobile App!

Facebook Twitter River's Mouth Blog Instagram Pininterest Google Plus LinkedIn FourSquare Flickr You Tube

Navigation

  • Download
  • Events
  • How Do I?
  • Locations
  • My Account
  • Research
  • Site Map
  • Site Search
  • What's New

  • English

  • en español

Community

  • Birth to 5
  • Book Clubs
  • FRCC
  • Kids
  • Outreach
  • Teens

My Library

  • Bookdrops
  • Checking Out Items
  • Computer Classes
  • Computers
  • - Assistive Technology
  • - Printing
  • - Printing (3D)
  • - Wireless
  • Library Cards
  • Meeting Rooms
  • Suggest a Purchase

Resources

  • Answer Center
  • Ask-a-Librarian
  • Business Center
  • Job & Career Center
  • Nonprofit Resources
  • Genealogy
  • History Connection
  • InterLibrary Loan
  • Prospector
  • Readers' Cafe
  • - Reading Level Search
  • Research

Get Involved

  • Donations
  • Friends of the Library
  • Library Trust
  • Volunteers

About us

  • Board of Trustees
  • Executive Director
  • Jobs
  • Leadership Team
  • Library Newsletter
  • Policies
  • River's Mouth Blog
  • Sign Up for E-News

  • Help

  • Contact us

Poudre River Public Library District, 301 Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524, (970) 221-6740
Including the collection of Front Range Community College, Larimer Campus