Weaving Words: The Art of Storytelling

Telling stories is an essential part of being human. People everywhere, throughout history, have told and still tell stories. Whether it’s to remember history, to communicate feelings, or honor an individual, telling stories helps us understand the world in which we live. Stories help us better understand how and why people throughout the world respond differently to key moments in life. We learn more about ourselves, our culture, and other cultures by experiencing the thoughts, feelings and actions of characters in a story brought to life through music, dance, or dramatization. This month’s Spotlight collection will help you and your students see how the art of storytelling runs through human history and culture like a thread, weaving all into one vibrant tapestry.

Lessons:

Students discuss the process of storytelling and listening, and create a listening doll.

Students study the elements of tall tales, write responses to these tales, and perform them as monologues.

Students learn about portraying places and life stories, both literally and metaphorically, through text and performance.

In this lesson, students are exposed to several traditional tall tales, then prompted to write an original tall tale set in contemporary America.

Through improvisational activities, students are introduced to the folklore of the pioneers; specifically, the tall tale.

This lesson introduces the legendary Malian king Sundiata Keita through mask-making, an element of traditional Malian festivals.

Students analyze a character's traits, actions and motives, and then use the tools of a storyteller (face, body, and voice) to bring the character to life.

After reading slave narratives recorded in the 1930s by the Federal Writers' Project, students research slavery and tell a story based on their findings.

Students will interview family or community members about their youth, and share their stories with the class.

After discussing books about feelings, students tell their own stories, using facial expressions, gestures, and changes in voice to express emotions.

How-To's:

Storyteller and educator Kevin Cordi gives tips for coaching students in storytelling.

Telling a story is a lot like giving a gift.

Engage your audience and honor your story with believable, effective characterization.

These tips will improve your storytelling.

Look·Listen·Learn:

Discover the who, what, when, where, and why of storytelling through interactive games, media galleries, lesson plans and more!

In this activity, we explore how Kala Jojo, a master storyteller, makes a story come alive with his facial expressions. See if you can discover what emotion or mood he is conveying with his face !

Learn how master storyteller Kala Jojo uses gesture and movement to create vivid pictures for his listeners. See if you can determine what emotion or mood he is conveying with his body!

Kuniko Yamamoto uses many storytelling techniques to portray actions, setting, and character and bring to life traditional Japanese folktales.

Meet the Artist:

A Native American storyteller speaks about the process and practice of storytelling.

Pitre, a storyteller and musician from Puerto Rico, talks about the importance of storytelling.

Descended from Chief John Ross, this preeminent Cherokee storyteller speaks about how storytelling has changed, and how she chooses stories.