Bingo ideas / For storytellers

Tell a Story Bingo Cards

A game for a creative-writing class, a family road trip, or a campfire night. Cards are filled with the building blocks of a story, and players mark each one as it appears in the tale.

Free to design and print · edit any square · 3×3, 4×4, or 5×5

Tell-a-story bingo turns storytelling into a shared game. Use it in a writing class, on a long drive, or around a campfire, keep the story parts below or add prompts of your own, and cards print in a couple of minutes so the tale can begin.

Because every card is shuffled from the same square list, no two listeners get the same grid, so a whole group can follow the same story while each person hunts for their own elements as they appear.

Squares for a storytelling card
  • Hero
  • Villain
  • Sidekick
  • Setting
  • Plot twist
  • Magic object
  • Quest
  • Talking animal
  • Hidden door
  • Treasure
  • Storm
  • Wise mentor
  • Cliffhanger
  • Happy ending
  • Once upon a time
  • Dragon
  • Castle
  • Map
  • Riddle
  • Chase scene
  • Lost item
  • New friend
  • Big decision
  • The moral

These are just a starting point — swap in your own words in the editor before you print.

Ideas for your game

  • Build the story together

    One person starts the tale and each player adds a line, working in their squares as they go, so the story grows while the cards fill.

  • Use it as a writing warm-up

    Have students draft a short story that includes the squares they were dealt, turning the card into a built-in plotting checklist.

  • Print a stack or play live

    Print a class set for desks, or share one link and a QR code so a campfire group or remote class can mark squares from any seat.

Editable and printable

Edit every square. Open the card in the editor, keep the suggested squares or replace them with your own words, emoji, or photos, and pick a theme that fits the day.

Print a whole set at once. Each card is shuffled from the same square list, so every player gets a unique grid. Print to standard letter or A4 paper on any home printer — or order professionally printed cards shipped to your door.

Or play live. Share one link and a QR code and the whole room plays from their phones, in person or over video.

Questions

How do I make storytelling bingo for free?

Open the editor, pick a parchment theme, keep the story-part squares or type your own, then print. A basic set is free to make and print.

How do you play tell-a-story bingo?

As a story is told or written, players mark each story element they hear or use, and the first to a full line calls bingo.

Is this good for the classroom?

Yes. It builds story structure into a game, so students learn about character, setting, and plot while they listen and play.

Can I print them on regular paper?

Yes. The print view is sized for standard letter and A4 paper, so any home printer works, and you can also order professionally printed cards.

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