Download print-friendly PDF

This activity was designed for kids and adults, ages 6 and up, but can be modified for younger kids with some adult assistance. Great for groups to work on together.

Inspired by the many portraits in the ICA’s collection, this activity asks you to create a set of dice that will invite a range of storytelling possibilities.

Art materials on brown kraft paper

You will need:

  • 3 printouts of the dice template or plain paper
  • Scissors
  • Ruler or measuring tool
  • Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
  • Pencil
  • Tape
     

1. Print out 3 copies of the dice template or use a pencil and ruler to draw your own.

2. Using scissors, cut along the solid lines of the 3 templates. If you made your own template, use scissors to cut it out. Using a pencil, trace your template onto 2 pieces of paper. Use scissors to cut along the traced lines.

A grip of four images displaying step-by-step a die template that is traced over two sheets of paper and cut out.

3. Make folds along the dotted lines. Unfold, and flip your papers so the dotted lines are facing down.

Dice cut-outs with folded flaps.

 

A die cut-out with colored pencil drawings of charcters.

4. Your first die (singular for “dice”) will be the CHARACTER die. Using the ICA’s collection or your imagination, choose 6 different characters. On one of your papers, use colored pencils, markers, or crayons to draw a different character in each square. We recommend using Julian Opie’s Suzanne Walking in Leather Skirt, Sanya Kantarovsky’s Violet, and Laylah Ali’s Untitled. Other ideas can be found here.

5. Your next die will be the SETTING die. Brainstorm six different settings (where a story takes place), and write one per square on one of your papers using a marker or other writing tool. Here are some possible settings: forest, mountain, beach, museum, school, farm. Instead of writing out the word, you might choose to draw the setting in each square.

Two cut-out dice with writings of genres and settings on each side.

6. Your final die will be the GENRE die. Brainstorm six different genres (type of story), and write one per square on one of your papers using a marker or other writing tool. Here are some possible genres: adventure, sci-fi, fairy tale, mystery, historical fiction, comedy. Instead of writing out the word, you might choose to draw a symbol for the genre in each square (for example, a magnifying glass to represent “mystery”).

7. Fold each paper into a cube, using tape to connect each side.

8. Roll the dice and tell a story! With family or friends, take turns rolling the dice and use your imagination to tell a story that:

  • is about the character the CHARACTER die lands on
  • takes place in the setting where the SETTING die lands on
  • is in the style of story that the GENRE die lands on

You might choose to tell the stories aloud to one another, to write or type your stories, and/or illustrate your stories.
 

Three dice: one with drawings of characters, and two with writing, on each side.

This activity was created by Amy Briggs Kemeza, Tour Programs Manager.