Color a little world. Tell its story.
One coloring page can become a setting, a character and the beginning of a story. Here is a flexible 15-minute activity for an adult and a child, or a small classroom group.
You do not need to finish the picture or ask children to write. They can point, draw or tell their story aloud. Adjust the pace to the children in front of you.
What to set out
- One free Timoons coloring page per child.
- A few crayons or colored pencils, chosen for the child's age.
- A blank sheet for an extra character or a dictated sentence.
Download directly from Timoons rather than passing the PDF around online. Our free pages allow personal, family and classroom use; see the printable terms.
A simple 15-minute plan
- Notice, 2 minutes. Look at the picture together. Ask, “What do you notice first?” Leave room for an answer before offering your own.
- Choose, 6 minutes. Invite each child to pick a place to begin coloring. There is no required palette. An orange moon or a purple bicycle can belong in this world.
- Wonder, 4 minutes. Ask one story question from the list below. Children can add a detail to the drawing or describe it aloud.
- Share, 3 minutes. Offer a chance to give the picture a title. Sharing is optional; unfinished pages can come back another day.
Three pages, three story starters
Dinosaur Bike Ride
Use the free dinosaur coloring page. Ask, “Where is the dinosaur going?” Follow with, “What might be in the bicycle basket?” Invite the child to draw something beside the road.
Moon Garden
Try the moon garden coloring page. Ask, “What grows in a moon garden?” A child might invent a plant, give it a name or explain how it gets watered.
Cloud Nine Cafe
Print the cloud cafe coloring page. Ask, “What would you order here?” Add a tiny menu on a separate sheet, using pictures or words.
Adapt it without turning it into a test
For children who prefer drawing, offer a blank sheet and let them invent a neighboring world. For children who want to write, suggest one opening sentence: “Today, something unexpected happened…” An adult can write down a child's spoken words exactly as offered.
In a group, give everyone the same opening question and let the answers differ. Avoid choosing a “best” picture or requiring anyone to read aloud.
Set up once, use it again
Keep the supplies in a small tray. Next time, change just the question: “Who lives nearby?” or “What happens after dark?” Reusing a page with a new story is an option, not a requirement to make every session different.
Need help with paper settings? See how to print coloring pages. For a holiday variation, try our Christmas coloring activities.
By Timoons · November 3, 2026