Storytelling
http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/tb/09_00_storytelling.htm

Telling stories is a very handy skill. But it is particularly important that you model telling stories for your students if you want to do this lesson. Here is a simple approach to learning, rehearsing, and sharing stories.

Read the story or review the plot

• Develop a simple list of the events in the story, usually no more than 5. Say them out loud.
• Reread the story to find its structure, the introduction of the problem, the rising action as the problem gets more complicated, the climax, the ending. Tell the story using variety in volume, pace, the pause to build to the climax.
• Reread or decide how the story begins and ends. The classic beginnings and endings are fun to use. 'A long, long time ago when the world was new. . . ,' 'And that boys and girls is how . . . ,' 'Snip, snap, snout, my tale is out.' Now, tell this version of the story out loud.
• Practice the story, checking yourself for volume, vocal variety, gesture, poise and eye contact. Practice the story several more times for a friend or spouse. I often tell my stories as I walk my dog in the morning!
• Prepare an introduction that will help the audience be ready to hear your story.
• Have fun telling stories to many audiences.
• And, of course, you can make up your own stories, or tell the stories that the children create. Imagination and willingness to try are the keys.
  

Making Up Your Story and Practicing Telling Your Story http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/tb/09_01_ex&outline.htm http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/tb/09_02_practicestory.htm 

Use:

1. To teach story structure
2. To teach performance and audience skills

Standards

1. Theatre:
   • Develop stories with interesting characters, settings and problems
   • Develop performance skills: eye contact, poise, gesture, vocal variety - volume, rate, pitch
2. Language Arts:
   • Learn the elements of a story
   • Give effective verbal and non-verbal presentations

Materials:

1. A copy of the Story Form for each child, found at the 'examples and outline' web sit.

Your Role:

1. Tell a story to catch the students' attention
2. Ask them if they've ever told stories - and, of course, we all tell stories, even if they are quite short and simple
3. Read the web text examples. (We suggest beginning with the simple 'Why' stories, but once the students have their story legs, they can use the advice we gave you to prepare stories from any source.)
4. Review what the students had to do to create an outline for their story. Brainstorm ideas for characters, settings and problems.
5. Give each student a copy of the Story Form
6. Allow them time to write. Circulate to answer questions and motivate the work
7. Collect the story outlines. Write comments that will help the students make any additions or changes that will help the story.
8. Later, tell another story. Discuss with the children what about the delivery made it interesting - vocal variety, gesture, poise, eye contact. (We have a video tape of a couple of our kids who are pretty good storytellers. We use the tape to generate discussion about presentation.)
9. Read Practicing Your Story at the web site. Discuss how Shayman made his story grow.
10. Have the students pair up and tell their story to their partner. Have the partner tell them what helped them understand the story, what else might be added to make it even more interesting.
11. Prepare the groups to respond to additional stories. Review the role of an audience
12. Have the partners work with another pair and have each child tell his or her story with the others commenting on what helped them to understand and enjoy the story
13. Have the students rehearse their stories at home, telling it to a parent, sibling, or friend. Tell the students their audience member should let them know what they saw and heard, what language was really interesting, etc.
14. Have the students present their stories to another class or videotape the telling so the students can see and critique their work

Time:

• Preparation and writing, 20-30 minutes
• Practicing the story, 20 minutes in class; also as homework
• Presentation will depend on the number of stories to be told. Usually the stories will last several minutes each.