Story Starters

Author: Francis Vitaly

Grade: All Grades

NE Standards: 4.3.2 By the end of the fourth grade, students will make oral presentations that demonstrate appropriate consideration of audience, purpose, and information to be conveyed.

Objectives: Students will:

1. Orally tell stories with the use of props.

2. Be a performing story teller as well as a receptive audience member.

Materials: Teacher will need a box, bag, or container. Student wil need odds and ends to contribute to the box.

Procedures:

Anticipatory Set: Explain that not all stories are written down. Ask what kind of stories are usually told orally. Ask students if they can think of different ways to tell a story, such as, mime, plays, adnce, ect.

Vocabulary: This is mainly an active production so no vocabulary is needed unless a child does not understand what a folk tale or mime is, then you may need to give further explanation in your anticipatory set.

Activities: 1. Take the empty box and have each student contribute a few items that they will not need back. 2. Tell students that just as actors/actresses have props, you are going to use what is in the box as props to tell your story. 3. The teacher will do this first by using a few, not all, of the props in the box. 4. Now the students get a chance to tell their own story by using the props.

Provisions for Special Needs: A student with a motor disability can use larger props of his/her own that are easier to handle. Those with a speech impediment can mime or something similar to that, if they feel more comfortable.

CLOSURE: This activity can be used at special times but should always be respected. Make sure that all students show respect at all times. You can also use specific types of stories with the props like comedy or horror. Another variation, is stop a story and another student has to start where the other left off.

ASSESSMENT: Participation points can be given, also creativity prizes can also be given, not necessarily for a grade.

References: ASKEric.com

Reflection: (on back of page)