School Programs:
Workshops
StoryMaker's Workshop
The act of sharing a story expands our imaginations, builds confidence, and spell-binds us together. The Storymaker's Workshop offers two general approaches, with your school's specific interests and goals determining the activities.
The tellers discover the steps and secrets of telling tales.
The writers learn to use the ingredients for a well written story.
Goals
The story telling workshop gives students an active demonstration of ways they can tell a story.
The story writing workshop shows students techniques for concise, creative writing.
Objectives
The students will learn and practice the basic steps for preparing and presenting a simple folk or faery tale. The Master Storyteller will help the students discover and explore the ingredients for a well written story. Final works may be shared with other students and families in classrooms or at an evening community event, emceed by the Master Storyteller.
Activities.
One assembly performance of 45 minutes for each grade opens the day. Stories are selected from themes provided by teachers and the curriculum. The performance leads students to two 45 minute telling or writing classroom workshops.
Workshop one opens with a discussion of the performed tales, leading to some reenacting and brainstorming of the highlights. We dramatize and illustrate a list of the characteristics of a good story . Students put their list into practice with creative dramatics or writing games. They may, for example, go on a sensory imaginative journey, play 'Good News-Bad News ', or complete a descriptive language 'Mad-Lib'.
Workshop two tellers find their storyteller's voice, the power of poise and pause, and what to visualize before performing. The writers draft an original story using their 'ingredients' list. Each student receives constructive and creative criticism from the Master Storyteller.
Materials
Students each receive a custom hand out on how to tell or write their own story. Tall Tale and Colonial Lore students also get a list of expressions and idioms.
Teachers need to be sure students arrive for the workshop with pencils, notebooks or writing journals.
Follow Up
Teachers use the workshop activities to encourage their teller students to practice their told tale with a partner, in a small group, and finally to the class. Writers edit their stories after the workshop, using the Creative Criticism sheets. Students may perform or read their works to younger students to build confidence as role models. A culminating community event may be organized.