500 Words has teamed up with Pobble to help spark children's imaginations and get them excited about writing. Use these story starters to give children a helpful starting point to begin writing their own stories.
The slideshows below feature vivid and imaginative images, each paired with a story starter and word bank, tailored to the scene.
You can also download the Reading and Writing Activities Poster, featuring a range of fun activities, so children can continue to be inspired at home.
The Morning the Sea Disappeared
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The Final Lap
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The Pattern Nobody Could See
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The Button Nobody Was Supposed to Press
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Download the reading and writing activities posters
Need more inspiration?
Back to 500 Words
Click here for more information on 500 Words.
The winners of 500 Words 2025/26
Watch the highlights of the 2025/26 competition and celebrities read out the winning stories.
The importance of 500 Words' stories
Three of our judges, Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Charlie Higson, breakdown the Oxford University Press report.
