Narrative Writing Dialogue Game for Middle School ELA

Engage Students with This Fun & Interactive Middle School Dialogue Writing Game | Narrative Writing Activity for 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade ELA

Looking for a creative way to teach dialogue writing in middle school? This hands-on, hilarious Narrative Dialogue Writing Game will have your students talking (literally)!

Perfect for teaching students how to show emotion through dialogue, this partner activity is ideal for your narrative writing unit, creative writing days, or anytime you need a high-energy, skill-based lesson.

Students draw secret emotion cards, get assigned a zany scenario (like a waiter bringing the wrong food or a weatherman in a feud), and write a back-and-forth dialogue that shows how their character feels without saying it directly. Then, they act it out for the class while classmates try to guess which emotion each student was portraying.

It’s unexpected. It’s bold. It’s active. And it will completely transform the way your students think about writing dialogue.

Why You'll Love It:

• Reinforces narrative dialogue writing with interactive, high-engagement practice
• Focuses on "show, don't tell" emotional expression
• Encourages creativity, collaboration, and speaking/listening skills
• Easy prep and flexible for any middle school ELA classroom
• Aligned with narrative writing standards

What's Included:
✅ Teacher tips with setup instructions
✅ 15 printable emotion cards for students to draw
✅ 10 silly, middle-school-friendly scenarios
✅ Dialogue planning sheet for partner pairs
✅ Listening sheet for analysis and class response
✅ Optional competition structure with scoring instructions

Recommended For:
✔️ Middle school ELA (6th–8th grade)
✔️ Narrative writing units
✔️ Creative writing activities

If your students struggle to show—not tell—emotions in their writing, this game is a must-have! It's easy to use, fun to facilitate, and guaranteed to get your classroom laughing and learning.