Storytelling with Strings Attached

4/21/2014

String figures have fascinated both children and adults alike. Remember Cats in the Cradle, Cat's Whiskers, Witch's Broom? Grab a piece of yard, approximately 34 - 38 inches, tie a knot to create your loop and you are ready to go. David Titus was a featured storyteller a while back at our Tejas Storytelling Festival and shared how we could use ancient string figures found in cultures around the world in our storytelling - what fun! Creating string figures does take practice but your listeners will be mesmerized by your string expertise and storytelling magic!

Jacob's Ladder

Eiffel Tower (from Jacob's Ladder)

Let master storyteller, David Novak, string you along while performing his version of Jack and the Beanstalk. Be prepared to laugh!

String Resources

String Figure Websites
Storytelling String Figure Bibliography
String Figure of the Month
A Study on String Stories
Kids Guide to String Figures
Lost! A Story in String by Paul Fleischman
Storyteller David Titus telling with his string figures - YouTube
Amazing Brazilian String Figure of Bats - I know a few tales that I could use this in! - YouTube
String Figure - Running Dog - YouTube
The Monkey and the Crocodile- YouTube
Mosquito - YouTube
Running Dog- YouTube
Witches Broom- YouTube

I can't wait to hear from you! What string figures do you know? Try creating a story around your string figures!

3 Comments

Pam Faro link

4/21/2014 05:44:21 pm

What fun! I actually used to tell a couple string stories back in the early 90s...but they faded from my repertoire...it might be fun to remember and try to resurrect them...! I love your ideas and resources. :-)

Sue Kuentz link

4/22/2014 05:37:19 am

Pam, I know the students in the audience would definitely want to try the strings out themselves so I would need to make sure that the teachers have the yarn ready to go (after the storytelling). Rule - no string games on the playground (learned the hard way when a few kids decided to wear them around their neck) - ugh

Mary Grace Ketner link

4/22/2014 12:29:00 am

String figures are very hard for me, and I've put some effort into learning to do them. That was true even when I was a child, watching others enviously! They are so hard that I can't do anything else (such as telling a story) while I am working out the string movements. Same with origami. Same with even the simplest musical instruments. Don't underestimate your accomplishment in putting string and story together!

Storytelling with Strings Attached

String Resources

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