Building from Clues is a writing technique or activity in which six items are pulled from a bag one item at a time. Students must draw each item. Once all six items have been shown they must then create a short story that mentions all six items. This technique involves students having to write multiple sentences and determine whether an item will play a major focus role in their story or only a minor mention in their story. Often a published picture storybook related to the six items can be read after the students have completed their own writing.