You reach your desk and find a folded piece of paper. There is no name on it. No one saw who left it.
Inside, in handwriting that looks exactly like yours, are six words:
“Whatever you do, don’t choose blue.”
You have no idea what that means—until later, when someone asks you to choose between a blue envelope and a yellow one.
What happens next?
Write a short story about the choice and what follows. You decide what the envelopes contain, who left the warning, and whether your character listens. Your story can be mysterious, funny, realistic, or science fiction.
Here’s the twist: By the end, readers should understand why the warning was written—but they don’t have to know whether it was good advice.
Before you write, make three quick decisions:
- Who is your main character? Give them something they want today.
- What is inside each envelope? Make the choice matter to your character.
- Who wrote the note? Keep this secret from your reader until the right moment.
Write at least three paragraphs. Start with the discovery of the note or jump straight to the moment your character must choose. Include a detail readers can picture and show your character’s reaction through what they do or say.
Before you post, reread your ending. Does it reveal something that makes a reader want to go back and read the note again?
Share your story in the comments. Afterward, read a classmate’s story and reply with a specific moment that caught your attention. You can also ask the writer a question about the choice their character made. Keep your story fictional and leave out real classmates’ names or personal information.
When you’re finished, check out the rest of our blog for more tips, ideas, and activities to help you learn and grow. Be sure to follow our classroom Instagram page for behind-the-scenes moments, project highlights, and fun updates. Let’s work together to make learning fun, exciting, and something you look forward to every day!
