Storytelling "offers a breath of fresh air. Each listener 'sees' the story in his or her mind with one of a kind pictures and colors. Imaginations jump into gear making every listener uniquely creative and delightfully different..”

Objective: students will select, learn and present a story
 

How to tell stories

Select a story appropriate to the occasion, interests, and age of the audience.

Choose a story about something you like.

Look for short stories with repetitive phrases.

Look for short stories with repetitive phrases.

Smile and make eye contact with your listeners.

Vary the pitch of your voice and use facial expressions and hand spirit of the story .

Length is important - never more than 20 minutes.

Leave them wanting more.

Preparation

First, read it silently and try to see the story in your mind's eye by visualizing it as a series of pictures.

Then learn it by reading it aloud repeatedly, enjoying the words and the sound of the phrases. Think about words that may be new or unfamiliar to your audience and incorporate their meanings into the story so that you won't need to interrupt the story.

If you use less time, you are either telling it too fast or skipping parts. If it takes much longer, you are telling the story too slowly. Time yourself when you read the story aloud.

If you can, tape or videotape yourself telling the story.

Once you've memorized the story, you are ready to tell it. Be sure of your sequence of events; then practise out loud, in front of a mirror if possible, until you are used to the sound of your own voice and gestures.

Be sure your facial expression interprets the mood of the story. Your eyes are most important - use them.

Atmosphere can make or break a storytelling period. Be sure it is quiet, secluded, and that there will be no interruptions once the story begins.

Try some of the tricks used by experienced storytellers - a "story hat", which goes on when the story begins and comes off when it ends, or a mascot such as a teddy bear, doll or hand puppet to tell the story to or take the part of a character.

And the opening sentence! Don't always say "Once upon a time..." Why not try:
"Once, in the long, long ago and very far away..."
"On the very highest mountain in the whole world lived an old man..."
"Those were the days when mighty beasts roamed the jungle..."
 

Choosing a story

You can write your own story, use one that’s written or modify a story that is written. But the
final story needs to fit both you and your audience.

If you’re not comfortable witha story or set of funny lines your material won’t go over well with your audience.

If you are writing your own story, your personal experiences are a good starting point, but you
don’t have to stick to facts. You can s t r e t c h the facts, combine different events or modift a joke to fit.

Resources
Storytelling, Drama, Creative Dramatics & Readers Theater for Children & Young Adults
Education Place Activity: A Storytelling Festival
The art of storytelling