7th and 8th Grade Storytelling
Over the last few weeks, 7th and 8th grade students have been working on a storytelling unit. First, we listened to many people from the MSS staff tell stories to get a more specific sense about the nature of storytelling. Students listened intently and well, and then afterwards, debriefed the good things we noticed about the story and the way it was told to us.
Over the course of the stories, students generated a list of positive storyteller qualities:
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Expressive
Movement
Stop/Start
Humor
Animated
Tone/Emotions
Volume
Description
Confidence
Eloquent
Dramatic
Suspense
Detail
Tension
Improvise
Empathize
Word Pictures
Before presenting individual stories, students were put in groups and assigned a narrative song, or a song that tells a story. Students were then asked to take the framework of the narrative and create a readers theater version of the story. They could take creative licenses and add characters or scenarios to make their story more interesting. Students presented their work in front of the class last week and this week. If you're curious to hear the songs before they were edited by the students, here is the list!
The Frozen Man - James Taylor
The Frozen Man - James Taylor
Dead Man’s Hand - Lord Huron
--Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvoJ7qUh3y8
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
--Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A
The Ballad of John McRae - The Other Favorites
--Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay4IF5iOz_k
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
--Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A
The Ballad of John McRae - The Other Favorites
--Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay4IF5iOz_k
If you're interested, take a look here to read an example of a readers theater story written by Mariacarla, Annie, and Gianna. They based their story on The Frozen Man by James Taylor.
It's been a joy to hear so many stories! We have noted that stories are one of the best ways to get to know someone. Hearing about stories connects us to so many others and gives us windows into worlds and lives that we would otherwise never see. What an amazing opportunity!
It's been a joy to hear so many stories! We have noted that stories are one of the best ways to get to know someone. Hearing about stories connects us to so many others and gives us windows into worlds and lives that we would otherwise never see. What an amazing opportunity!
If you get a chance, ask your child about their readers theater story and about their individual story. It would be so helpful if they could practice at home!