CHILDREN
TELL STORIES
(excerpts
from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure
to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material
is not in the public domain)
1) Martha Hamilton's and Mitch
Weiss' Children Tell Stories. It's
got plenty of activities and ideas. They also have a series of
books suited for young tellers, including Through
the Grapeview, How and Why Stories, Noodlehead Stories, and Stories
in My Pocket.
2) Pleasaant DeSpain's books.
3) Several
years ago when I did a school residency I began by asking each
child to get up in front of the rest and tell a knock-knock joke
or ask the audience of the other kids a riddle without any practice
before-hand.
For example:
CHILD: Knock-knock.
GROUP: Who's there?
CHILD: Boo hoo!
GROUP: Boo hoo who?
CHILD: Why are you all crying?
or
CHILD: What cereal to ghosts eat?
GROUP: We don't know. What?
CHILD: Ghost Toasties!
After that we discussed what made a good telling and how they
could have made their jokes and riddles better. We discussed diction,
posture, confidence, expression, gestures, etc. Then, after everyone
had a turn, I had them work with a partner on walking up confidently,
pausing to get themselves and the audience ready, introducing
themselves and announcing their piece ("I'm Nicole and here
is my knock-knock joke"), speaking with good diction and
expression, putting in relevant gestures and facial expressions,
waiting for the audience's reaction, taking a small bow, and confidently
walking off. After this rehearsal the whole group took turns repeating
their knock-knock or riddle. In both cases I had the audience
learn the polite way of applauding each colleague's efforts, no
matter how lame the presentation. You might even use a video camera
and tape befores and afters. I will tell you that these were 1st
and 2nd graders so this may or may not be too simple an approach
for your group, but maybe not. This may be a good way to start
before they get into longer, more complicated pieces.
(This
web page updated 3/5/03)
