Welcome back to Playful Pedagogy’s Day 7 of the 12 Games of Christmas! Today’s game is Rory’s Story Cubes—a simple, imaginative storytelling tool that invites creativity, connection, and play into the classroom.
Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s a short video where I talk about how I use Rory’s Story Cubes in my classroom.
Rory’s Story Cubes is a storytelling game played with illustrated dice. Players roll the cubes and create a story inspired by the images that appear.
You can use all nine cubes, just three, or anything in between. Players may rearrange the cubes in any order they choose, linking the images together to form a narrative. There is no single right or wrong way to play—the focus is on imagination, creativity, and making connections.
There are many themed sets available, including the original set, Voyages, Actions, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and History, as well as small three-cube mini packs. Each set offers new storytelling possibilities without changing the core idea of the game.
HOW I USE RORY’S STORY CUBES IN THE CLASSROOM
In the classroom, I use Rory’s Story Cubes as a supported entry point into storytelling. Instead of handing students a blank page and asking them to write, the cubes provide visual prompts that reduce pressure and spark ideas.
Students can:
Rearrange the cubes to plan their story
Work independently or collaboratively
Build stories orally, in writing, or through drawing
Because rolling dice can get noisy, I use a small cloth or towel for students to roll onto—it helps dampen the sound and keeps the classroom calm.
Rory’s Story Cubes build oral language, confidence, sequencing, and collaboration, while still allowing each learner to approach the activty in their own way.
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS ACROSS SUBJECTS
Literacy / Language Arts:
- Story writing and oral storytelling
- Narrative sequencing (beginning, middle, end)
- Retelling and story expansion
Math:
- Creating math word problems
- Explaining mathematical thinking through story
- Combining story cubes with number or math dice
Science:
- Life cycles and cause-and-effect
- Scientific storytelling using themed sets
- Explaining changes over time
Social Studies:
- Historical or cultural storytelling
- Voyages, exploration, and ancient history narratives
- Perspective-taking within historical contexts
SEL & Wellbeing:
- Exploring emotions through story
- Acting out scenarios and discussing feelings
- Building empathy and social awareness
Creative Arts:
- Drawing scenes from stories
- Acting out narratives
- Illustrating “before” and “after” moments
Rory’s Story Cubes are quick to set up and easy to differentiate. Teachers can:
- Add or remove dice
- Select specific cubes for targeted learning
- Use one die per student or one full set per group
Students can work alone, in pairs, or in groups, negotiating meaning and collaborating to shape a shared story. The game adapts effortlessly to different ages, language levels, and learning goals—without changing the game itself.
CONCLUSION
Rory’s Story Cubes reminds us that play doesn’t always need rules—sometimes it just needs imagination.
It captures joy, creativity, and connection, which sit at the very heart of Playful Pedagogy.
Have you used Rory’s Story Cubes with your learners? What are some of the ways you’ve used them in your classroom? Share your ideas in the comments below!
Thanks for joining me, and come back tomorrow for Day 8 of the 12 Games of Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful day full of play!