Show, don’t tell — Creative writing for kids

Writer's tip

Show the actions — “let the reader see what a character does and guess the feeling”

1. A telling sentence names the feeling: was sad, felt tired.
2. A showing sentence describes actions, faces and bodies: tears, yawns, shaking knees.
3. Pick the showing sentence that fits the right feeling.

Use it for: Making characters come alive in stories, and improving “I was happy” sentences in compositions.

Worked example: Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? → Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, then tap your answer — or type it and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

🏁 Lesson 10 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 🎬 Show-Not-Tell Star badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 8 lessons of Part 2 · Making writing vivid. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

• Worksheet set 1 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 2 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 3 (PDF)