Storytelling Club this school year came with enthusiasm and anticipation because our club is a troupe. Our students are middle schoolers at Lopez Middle School in the North East ISD School District. I'm excited because they're teens! Yes! Elementary storytelling clubs have been rewarding to sponsor for the last 24 years but to work with the talents of middle schoolers - well, there's nothing better! I had asked professional storytelling friends to create a short clip telling our students how cool it is to storytell. The YouTube above was used as our promotional video for all the students at Lopez. A huge thank you to Richard Martin, Priscilla Howe, and Deeptha Vivekanand.
We began our first storytelling troupe meeting Sept. 20th. We were greeted by seven very enthusiastic 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I'm usually greeted with 25 - 40 elementary aged kids so I was a bit disappointed - but only for a brief moment. After a fun ice breaking activity, I soon realized just how talented these kids were! The activity follows:
We began our first storytelling troupe meeting Sept. 20th. We were greeted by seven very enthusiastic 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I'm usually greeted with 25 - 40 elementary aged kids so I was a bit disappointed - but only for a brief moment. After a fun ice breaking activity, I soon realized just how talented these kids were! The activity follows:
What'd You Have For Dinner?
This activity came out of Kendall Haven's book Super Simple Storytelling: A Can-Do Guide for Every Classroom, Every Day.
1. Students pair up. Each student tells their partner what he/she ate for dinner last night. Give the kids about 4 minutes for both to talk.
2. Number each pair #1 and #2. The 1's must communicate their partner's meal as if it was the most delicious delightful meal ever eaten. The teller is not allowed to alter the contents of the meal. (This is where I realized just how intelligent and imaginative 11 - 14 year olds are!)
3. #2 partners are then asked to describe their partner's meal as if it were the most disgusting, worst excuse for food in the history of dining. The teller is not allowed to alter the contents of the meal.
We had so much fun with this activity! Try it out with your own students.
1. Students pair up. Each student tells their partner what he/she ate for dinner last night. Give the kids about 4 minutes for both to talk.
2. Number each pair #1 and #2. The 1's must communicate their partner's meal as if it was the most delicious delightful meal ever eaten. The teller is not allowed to alter the contents of the meal. (This is where I realized just how intelligent and imaginative 11 - 14 year olds are!)
3. #2 partners are then asked to describe their partner's meal as if it were the most disgusting, worst excuse for food in the history of dining. The teller is not allowed to alter the contents of the meal.
We had so much fun with this activity! Try it out with your own students.
Listening Resources
Below are a handful of listening opportunities for our students to gather tales they enjoy! We discussed creating Bare Bone index cards once they find a story they love. We're working on scary tales right now because we'll be telling tales at the Guadalupe State Park on Oct. 29th, large moon, tall trees, dark river - perfect setting for this Halloween outing! If you know of other resources with fantastic listening tales, please let us all know by commenting below! Happy October!
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