Vanishing Stories

Students progressively delete words from a text on the board while keeping it grammatically correct and meaningful.

Procedure

1. Write a short text (30-40 words, ideally a single sentence) on the board. For example, a limerick or short poem works well.
2. Explain the rules:
   • You may take out 1, 2, or 3 consecutive words at a time.
   • You must not add, change, modify, or move any words.
   • You may delete, change, or add punctuation as needed.
   • After each deletion, the student who proposed it must read the remaining text aloud — it must be grammatically correct and have a meaning (though the meaning may change).
3. When a student suggests a deletion, erase the words immediately without hesitation.
4. If the resulting sentence is wrong and the student does not realise, turn silently to the class and ask their opinion with a facial expression. If no one notices the error, put the words back without comment.
5. Continue until the text is reduced as far as possible — the group may reduce it to a single word.

Tips

• There is no need for the teacher to speak during this activity. Demand re-readings or indicate doubt by gesture only — this forces students to concentrate harder.
• Give students time to decide for themselves whether each deletion leaves the sentence acceptable.
• Works well with tired students as it demands high concentration.
• The text does not need to be a story — short poems work particularly well.
• Multiple skills are engaged simultaneously: silent reading for meaning, reading aloud (intonation, rhythm), checking inflections and syntax, and close listening.
• Inspired by Silent Way methodology.