In Class 5, story writing with hints asks you to build a slightly longer story from a few clues. The 10 stories on this page, including fun tales of Akbar and Birbal and Tenali Raman, show you exactly how to do it. Each one has hints, a full story of about 150 to 200 words, and a moral. Read them as examples, then try the practice hints at the end.
Easy Steps to Write a Story Using Hints
1. Understand the hints first. Read them twice. Find the characters, the place and the main problem in the story.
2. Plan the beginning, middle and end. The beginning introduces the characters. The middle shows the problem. The end tells how the problem is solved.
3. Choose a title that fits. It should tell the reader what the story is about, like “Birbal’s Khichdi”.
4. Expand every hint. Do not skip any clue. Add describing words and short dialogues to make the story interesting.
5. Check your work before you finish. Make sure you used the past tense and correct spellings. Write the moral in one clear line at the end.
Birbal Counts the Crows Story with Hints
Hints: Akbar asks a strange question in court … how many crows are there in the city … courtiers have no answer … Birbal gives an exact number … Akbar asks what if there are more crows … Birbal says some crows are visiting relatives … Akbar asks what if there are fewer … Birbal says some have gone to visit relatives … Akbar laughs and praises Birbal
Birbal Counts the Crows
One day, Emperor Akbar was in a playful mood. He looked at his courtiers and asked, “Tell me, how many crows are there in our city?”
The courtiers were puzzled. They looked at each other, but nobody had an answer. How could anyone count all the crows?
Just then, Birbal entered the court. Akbar asked him the same question. Birbal thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, there are exactly 95,463 crows in our city.”
“How can you be so sure?” asked Akbar. “What if we count them and find more crows?”
“Then some crows from other cities have come to visit their relatives here,” replied Birbal with a smile.
“And what if we find fewer crows?” asked Akbar.
“Then some of our crows have gone to visit their relatives in other cities,” said Birbal.
Akbar burst out laughing, and the whole court clapped. Akbar praised Birbal for his quick thinking.
Moral: A quick mind can answer even the hardest question.
Birbal’s Khichdi Story with Hints
Hints: A cold winter … Akbar offers a reward to anyone who stands in a cold lake all night … a poor man does it … says he looked at a far-away lamp all night … Akbar refuses the reward … says the lamp kept him warm … Birbal cooks khichdi with the pot far above the fire … Akbar understands his mistake … the poor man gets his reward
Birbal’s Khichdi
It was a very cold winter. One day, Akbar announced, “I will give a reward to anyone who can stand in the cold lake all night.”
A poor man agreed. He stood in the icy water for the whole night. In the morning, he came to the court for his reward.
“How did you manage it?” asked Akbar. The man said, “I saw a lamp burning in the palace far away. I kept looking at it all night.”
“Then the lamp kept you warm. You do not get the reward,” said Akbar. The poor man went away sad.
Birbal did not like this at all. The next day, he did not come to the court. Akbar went to his house and found him cooking khichdi. But the pot was hanging very high, and the fire was far below it.
“How will the khichdi cook like this?” asked Akbar. Birbal replied, “The same way that a lamp far away kept the poor man warm.”
Akbar understood his mistake. He called the poor man back and gave him his reward.
Moral: Always be fair to everyone.
Tenali Raman and the Thieves Story with Hints
Hints: A hot, dry summer … Tenali Raman’s garden needs water … he sees thieves hiding near his house … tells his wife loudly that he will hide the jewels in the well … drops a box of stones into the well … thieves pull out water all night … the water flows into Tenali’s garden … thieves find only stones … Tenali thanks them and they run away
Tenali Raman and the Thieves
It was a hot summer, and there had been no rain for many days. Tenali Raman’s garden was dry, and his plants needed water.
One night, Tenali saw some thieves hiding in the bushes near his house. He quickly thought of a plan. He said loudly to his wife, “Thieves are everywhere these days. Let us put all our jewels in a box and hide it in the well.”
Then he filled a box with heavy stones and dropped it into the well with a loud splash. The thieves heard everything.
When the house was quiet, the thieves came out. To reach the box, they began pulling water out of the well. Bucket after bucket, they worked the whole night. All that water flowed straight into Tenali’s garden.
At dawn, they finally pulled out the box and opened it. It was full of stones! Just then, Tenali came out and said, “Thank you for watering my garden!” The thieves ran away as fast as they could.
Moral: A clever idea can turn trouble into help.
King Midas and the Golden Touch Story with Hints
Hints: King Midas loves gold very much … a fairy offers him a wish … he wishes that everything he touches turns into gold … his bed and chair turn to gold … his food turns to gold … he hugs his daughter … she turns into a gold statue … Midas cries and begs the fairy to take back the wish … everything becomes normal
King Midas and the Golden Touch
Long ago, there lived a king named Midas. He had a lot of gold, but he always wanted more.
One day, a kind fairy came to him and said, “Midas, I will grant you one wish.” The king said at once, “I wish that everything I touch turns into gold.”
The next morning, Midas touched his bed. It turned into gold! He touched his chair and the flowers in his garden. They also turned into gold. He danced with joy.
Soon, he felt hungry. But the moment he picked up his bread, it became hard gold. He could not eat anything or even drink water.
Just then, his little daughter ran to him. He hugged her, and at once she turned into a gold statue! Midas began to cry. “What have I done?”
He called the fairy and begged, “Please take back my wish. I do not want any gold.” The fairy felt sorry for him and took back the wish. Everything became normal again, and his daughter hugged him tightly.
Moral: Too much greed brings sadness.
The Sun and the Wind Story with Hints
Hints: The sun and the wind argue … who is stronger … they see a traveller in a coat … whoever makes him take off his coat wins … wind blows hard … traveller holds his coat tightly … sun shines gently … traveller feels hot … takes off his coat … sun wins
The Sun and the Wind
One day, the Sun and the Wind started arguing. “I am stronger than you,” said the Wind. “No, I am stronger,” said the Sun.
Just then, they saw a traveller walking down a road. He was wearing a thick coat. “Let us have a test,” said the Sun. “Whoever makes that man take off his coat is the stronger one.” The Wind agreed.
The Wind went first. He blew hard. Leaves flew and trees shook. But the harder he blew, the more tightly the traveller held his coat. At last, the Wind gave up.
Now it was the Sun’s turn. He came out from behind the clouds and shone gently. The air became warm, and then hotter and hotter. The traveller began to sweat. “It is so hot today,” he said, and he took off his coat.
The Sun smiled. He had won the test, and the Wind had to agree that the Sun was stronger.
Moral: Kindness works better than force.
Belling the Cat Story with Hints
Hints: Mice live in a big house … a cat catches them one by one … mice hold a meeting … a young mouse suggests tying a bell around the cat’s neck … everyone likes the idea … an old mouse asks who will tie the bell … nobody comes forward
Belling the Cat
Many mice lived in a big house. They had plenty of food, and life was good. But one day, the owner brought home a cat. The cat was quick and clever. She caught the mice one by one.
The mice were very worried. They held a meeting to find a way to stay safe. Many ideas were shared, but none of them seemed useful.
Then a young mouse stood up. “I have a plan,” he said proudly. “Let us tie a bell around the cat’s neck. When she comes near, we will hear the bell and run away.”
All the mice cheered. “What a wonderful idea!” they shouted.
An old mouse had been sitting quietly in the corner. He slowly stood up and asked, “It is a good plan. But tell me, who will tie the bell around the cat’s neck?”
The room became silent. The mice looked at each other. Nobody came forward.
Moral: It is easy to give ideas but hard to carry them out.
The Farmer and his Sons Story with Hints
Hints: An old farmer has three sons who quarrel all the time … the farmer is worried … asks them to bring a bundle of sticks … no son can break the bundle … farmer unties the bundle … gives one stick to each son … they break the sticks easily … farmer explains the power of unity … sons stop quarrelling
The Farmer and his Sons
An old farmer had three sons. They were strong and hardworking, but they quarrelled all the time. The farmer was very worried about them.
One day, he called his sons and said, “Bring me a bundle of sticks.” The eldest son brought it.
“Now, try to break this bundle,” said the farmer. The first son tried with all his might, but the bundle did not break. The second son tried and failed. The third son also could not break it.
Then the farmer untied the bundle. He gave one stick to each son and said, “Now, break these.” Snap, snap, snap! The sons broke their sticks easily.
The farmer smiled and said, “My sons, you are like these sticks. If you stay together, no one can harm you. But if you stay apart, anyone can break you easily.”
The sons understood. They said sorry to each other and promised never to quarrel again.
Moral: Unity is strength.
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Story with Hints
Hints: A hungry wolf wants to eat sheep … the shepherd and his dog guard them well … the wolf finds a sheep’s skin … puts it on … joins the flock … the shepherd takes the flock into the pen … while counting, he sees the wolf’s paws and tail … catches the wolf … the wolf’s trick fails
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
A hungry wolf lived near a village. Every day, he watched a flock of sheep grazing in a field. He wanted to eat them, but the shepherd and his dog always guarded them carefully.
One day, the wolf found the skin of a sheep lying on the ground. “This is my chance,” he thought. He put on the skin and walked slowly into the flock. The sheep did not notice. Even the dog did not bark.
In the evening, the shepherd led the flock into the pen and shut the gate. The wolf smiled to himself. “Tonight I will have a big feast,” he thought.
But while counting his sheep, the shepherd saw something strange. One sheep had big grey paws, and a long tail was peeping out from under its wool. “A wolf!” he shouted. He caught the wolf with his stick, and his dog chased him far away into the forest.
The wolf’s clever trick had failed.
Moral: Do not judge anyone by their looks alone.
Four Friends and the Hunter Story with Hints
Hints: A crow, a mouse, a tortoise and a deer are good friends … a hunter catches the deer in a net … the mouse cuts the net … the hunter catches the slow tortoise … friends make a plan … the deer pretends to be dead … the hunter puts down the tortoise and runs to the deer … the mouse sets the tortoise free … the deer runs away … all friends are safe
Four Friends and the Hunter
A crow, a mouse, a tortoise and a deer lived near a lake. They were best friends and always helped each other.
One day, the deer got caught in a hunter’s net. The crow saw this and flew to tell the others. The mouse ran there quickly and cut the net with his sharp teeth. The deer was free!
Just then, the hunter came. The others escaped, but the tortoise was too slow. The hunter put him in a bag and walked away.
The friends made a clever plan. The deer lay down on the hunter’s path as if he were dead. The crow sat on him and pretended to peck at him.
The hunter saw the deer and thought, “What luck!” He put down the bag and ran towards it. At once, the mouse cut open the bag, and the tortoise slipped into the lake. When the hunter came close, the crow cawed loudly. The deer jumped up and ran into the forest.
All four friends were safe and happy.
Moral: True friends help each other in times of trouble.
The Blue Jackal Story with Hints
Hints: A hungry jackal goes into a village … dogs chase him … he falls into a tub of blue dye … comes out blue … forest animals are scared of him … he says God sent him as their king … animals serve him … one night, other jackals howl … he howls too … animals learn the truth … chase him away
The Blue Jackal
One night, a hungry jackal went into a village to look for food. The village dogs saw him and started barking. They chased him through the streets. To escape, the jackal jumped into a big tub at a washerman’s house. The tub was full of blue dye!
When he came out, his whole body was blue. He ran back to the forest. The animals had never seen such a strange blue creature. They were scared of him.
The jackal saw his chance. “Do not be afraid,” he said. “God has sent me to be your king.” The animals believed him. Lions, tigers and elephants all served him and brought him food. He lived like a king.
One night, some jackals began to howl at the moon. The blue jackal could not stop himself. He lifted his head and howled too.
At once, the animals knew the truth. “He is only a jackal!” they roared, and they chased him out of the forest.
Moral: You cannot hide your true nature for long.
Practice Time: Try These Hints
Pick any of these hints and write a complete story. Remember to add a title at the top and a moral at the end.
1. A boy sees an old man trying to cross a busy road … helps him cross safely … the old man blesses him … the next day, the boy finds out the old man is his new school principal … the principal remembers his kindness
2. A crow wants to look beautiful … collects fallen peacock feathers … sticks them on his body … goes to live with the peacocks … the peacocks pull off the feathers … the other crows also laugh at him … he learns to be happy as himself
3. Priya forgets her lunch box at home … feels hungry at school … her classmate shares her food … the next day, Priya brings extra food for her … they become best friends
4. A king announces a prize for the best painting … many famous artists come … a poor girl paints a simple picture of a happy village … the king chooses her painting … says happy people are the true beauty of a kingdom
5. A lazy boy asks a wise man for a magic stick to become rich … the wise man gives him a seed instead … asks him to plant it and look after it … the boy works hard for months … the tree gives many fruits … he sells them and understands that hard work is the real magic
Questions Students Ask
What is the word limit for a story in Class 5?
Most Class 5 papers ask for a story of 150 to 200 words. Read the question carefully, because your school may give a different limit.
Can I change the names given in the hints?
It is better to keep the names given in the hints. If the hints do not give any names, you can use simple ones like Ravi, Meena or Arjun.
Can I add my own ideas to the story?
Yes. You can add small details, feelings and dialogues to make the story lively. But do not change or skip the main events given in the hints.
What do teachers look for while checking a story?
This can be a little different in every school. Most teachers check that all the hints are used in the right order, the story flows well, the grammar and spellings are correct, and there is a suitable title and moral.
