The ones that involve grand settings like 'In the heart of the dragon - ridden mountains' or 'Beyond the gates of the ancient elven city' are great for high - fantasy adventures. They immediately set a large - scale and epic backdrop for your story.
Try 'In a far - away land...'. It takes the kids to a different place in their imagination. They will be excited to know what is in that far - away land. It could be a land full of talking animals or magical castles.
Some good ones could be 'In the dead of night...'. It immediately sets a spooky time. Another is 'The old, creaking door slowly opened...' which creates a sense of mystery and unease. And 'A cold wind blew through the empty corridor...' can make the reader feel a chill right from the start.
Sentence starters like 'The day started like any other,' or 'There was a strange noise coming from...' are also great. 'He had always dreamed of...' can be used to introduce a character's aspiration at the beginning of a short story. These starters help to draw the reader in and give a hint about what the story might be about.
This might be a story: 'The old abandoned house was said to be haunted. Everyone in the town avoided it. But I was new in town and didn't believe in such stories. I went inside. There were broken furniture and old portraits on the walls. The eyes in the portraits seemed to follow me. As I walked further, I felt a cold breeze on my neck. I turned around, but there was nothing there. Then, I noticed a locked door. I found a key on the floor and unlocked it. Behind the door was a dark room filled with strange noises.'
One possible story could be: 'It was a dark and stormy night. I was all alone in my old, creaky house. The wind howled outside, rattling the windows. Suddenly, I heard a strange scratching sound at the door. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was the only one there, or so I thought. I slowly made my way to the door, my steps echoing in the silent hall. When I peered through the peephole, there was nothing but darkness. But the scratching continued, getting louder and more insistent.'
You can start by expanding on the ideas presented in the sentence starters. For example, if a starter mentions a 'forgotten forest', describe the strange and enchanted plants, the mysterious creatures that lurk within, and the magic that seems to seep from the very soil. Build the rules of this world, like how magic works, who can use it, and what are the consequences of misusing it.