Storytelling And Puppetry Marilyn Rice Mary Tobin Sandy

Storytelling And Puppetry Marilyn Rice, Mary Tobin & Sandy Wilberger TTAC at VCU Free Powerpoint Templates Page 1

Learning Objectives • Describe the developmental progression of storytelling • Explore ways to include storytelling in your day • Develop strategies to use when creating stories • Discuss ways for using puppets throughout the classroom Free Powerpoint Templates Page 2

Storytime • • Sometimes my hands are at my side, Then behind my back they hide. Sometimes I wiggle my fingers so, Shake them fast and shake them slow. Sometimes my hands go clap, clap; The I rest them in my lap Now they’re quiet as can be Because it is storytelling time you see! Free Powerpoint Templates Page 3

WHY Is Storytelling Important? • The period of birth-8 is a critical time of intellectual development • Stimulates imagination and visual imagery as they image the story • Develops oral communication skills • Increases auditory discrimination • Strengthens listening and pre-reading skills • Encourages creativity Freediscrimination Powerpoint Templates • Promotes visual Page 4

Why is Storytelling important? Free Powerpoint Templates Page 5

The Power of Storytelling • • • The Power to remember The Power to entertain The Power to teach The Power to inspire The Power to create The Power to revisit • (Dr. Rebecca Isbell) Free Powerpoint Templates Page 6

A Story told instead of a story read… • The storyteller is able to maintain eye contact with the children throughout the story • The storyteller can provide immediate response to the children’s reactions • The story can be aligned to meet the audience (explanation, embellishment, shorten/lengthen) • Storytelling increases the understanding of Free Powerpoint Templates Page 7 the story

Storytelling… • Storytelling capture’s children’s interest because the process is so powerful • A story told allows the listener to develop visual images • Oral language provides a foundation for reading and writing. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 8

Essential Elements • The Story • The Teller • The Listener Free Powerpoint Templates Page 9

THE STORY • Select a story that you like personally. Your passion for the story will go a long way in the effectiveness! • The story should teach qualities that make it worth telling to young children • The story should match the developmental level of the children • Stories that encourage active participation by listeners are good for beginning • Children live in the seasons! Establish a story Freein Powerpoint Templates center somewhere your classroom. Page 10

The Teller • Learn the story & come up with ways to bring the story to life (Gather materials you need) • Gather the children around you “Today I am going to tell you a story. Now, my story will begin” • Observe the interest of the children and interact with their responses • At the end of the telling, ask questions and discuss happenings • Provide a follow up activity Free Powerpoint Templates Page 11

The Listener • What is the listener doing? • When is the listener engaged? Free Powerpoint Templates Page 12

Making storytelling come to life • • Motivate the children to come to storytime Musical instruments, props Sensory involvement Build their interest in the story Ask questions Refer to concrete things in their life Tell the story with enthusiasm Use hand gestures and facial expressions Free Powerpoint Templates Page 13

• Use rhyme and repetitive text to your advantage • Use children’s names in stories • Allow the children to be involved • Use simple props • Have a scavenger hunt in the room to find the “pieces” of the story • Use photographs to make up a story. Free Powerpoint Templates • Repeat the story! Page 14

• The story should be easy to follow • Characters should be understandable and easily defined • Interesting language patterns are repeated in the story • The moral of the story is easily understood and applies to children Free Powerpoint Templates Page 15

Sources of Stories • • Folktales Authored Stories Family Stories The Little Red Hen, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Teeny Tiny, Johnny Cake • Stories from Different Cultures Free Powerpoint Templates Page 16

Developmental Progression in Storytelling • Looks at objects in a picture book as they are named • Vocalized when objects in a picture book are names • Points to objects in a book • Names objects in a picture book • Names common actions in a picture book Free Powerpoint Templates Page 17

Developmental Progression, con’t. . • • Tells stories about personal experiences Tells stories about imaginary experiences Uses spoken dialogue when telling stories Tells story in a sequence with a beginning, middle and end Free Powerpoint Templates Page 18

To Be a Better STORYTELLER • Know your story • If you don’t know your story ahead of time…how you will you know when to…. • Pause? • What questions to ask? • What your characters might sound like? • When to change the tone of your voice to show emotions? Free Powerpoint Templates • When to add sound effects? Page 19

Storytelling • By listening to others tell stories, you get a sense of what holds the children's attention and what does not and what the children enjoy • Practice telling your story – you can not get better without practice! • Tape record yourself… Free Powerpoint Templates Page 20

Getting started with storytelling • Involve the children in discussing the story before you tell the story & acknowledge the children’s responses • Introduce the story setting and characters • Introduce the story theme • Use props to help children remember the story • Prompt children to recall story details • Use a prop for. Free each important Powerpoint Templates story detail Page 21

VISUAL PROPS • Staples: scarves, sheets, hats, funny glasses, blankets, parachutes • Utilize your clothes from dramatic play! • Real items • Musical Instruments • Stuffed animals, toys • Homemade Items, household items • Puppets Free Powerpoint Templates Page 22

Story retelling • Can be the whole class, small group or an individual child. • Clothesline props technique for visual reminders • Teacher can tell the story and children can act out • Offer open-ended prompts such as “Where did the story take place? ”; “What happened next? ” or “Tell me more about Free Powerpoint Templates Page 23 this character”.

Children as Storytellers • Have a special place in the classroom where teachers can retell stories • Children who have regularly listened to stories will be interested in telling their own stories Free Powerpoint Templates Page 24

Multisensory • Sight – turn out the lights, use colored lights • Sound – background music • Smell – candle • Taste – foods that relate to the story • Touch - items relevant to the story that the children can hold, touch Free Powerpoint Templates Page 25

Curriculum Integration Goldilocks and the Three Bears • Art – open ended (have children draw the story) • Cooking – Make oatmeal • Pretend Play – bowls, spoons, bears of different sizes • Math – Bear Manipulatives • Science/Sensory – Oats in the Tub • Blocks – Add stuffed beards • Language arts – Flannel Board Story # bears • Music & Movement – Going on A bear Hunt Free Powerpoint Templates Page 26

Puppetry • An ancient form of oral expression • Passed down from families; binds cultures • Puppetry augments storytelling by providing visualization & surprise elements • Puppets are used for education, therapy and communication Free Powerpoint Templates Page 27

Puppets • They are often psychological props • They give children something to hide behind when speaking • Allow children to become someone else • Help children problem solve disagreements • Offer 2 ways for children to be creative; making the puppet and making the puppet come to life Free Powerpoint Templates Page 28

Puppets • Foster social interaction and communication • Foster role playing and imagination • Foster listening skills • Facilitate in maintaining attention • Provide a visual and kinesthetic experience • Are often underused in ECE classrooms! Free Powerpoint Templates Page 29

Puppet Uses • Leading a song • Teaching positional concepts (above, below, next to, in front of • Tape record/video children using puppets and then write down their story • Puppet Theatre • Have a specific puppet for each center area • Felt board stories and puppets • Dramatize holiday ideas • Represent particular ethnic customs • Roles of community Free Powerpointhelpers Templates Page 30

Puppets • • • Glove/ Mitten Wooden Spoon Toilet paper roll Paper Bag Hand Shadows Styrpfoam Ball • • • Envelope Paper Plate Paint Stick Sock Magnetic Finger Free Powerpoint Templates Page 31

Getting Started With Puppets • Introduce the puppets and let them children just explore them for awhile • Add a simple puppet stage when you feel the children are ready • Give homemade puppets a name • Give different puppets a responsibility in the classroom (calling roll, signaling transitions, coming to group time) • Puppets can be special visitors • A few good puppets are better than 50 bad Free Powerpoint Templates Page 32 puppets!

Final Thoughts… • The key to successful storytelling with young children is to involve them in the whole experience! • Make the children feel they are a part of the process and a part of the story. How will you get started? ? ? _______________________________ Free Powerpoint Templates Page 33