Monday, April 13, 2009

Telling and Remembering Stories


The Turnip (Russia)
The Persimmon Monster (Korea)

Three Billy Goats Gruff (Western Europe)
Fairytales and folktales are wonderful stories to share. Every 1-2 weeks, we dive into a new tale as a family. The story will come from a part of the world that relates to our social studies and sometimes, our science blocks.
We tell the story, read the story, re-tell the story (in our own words), and then do a project that will help us remember and enjoy the tale. Our Enki K and 1st grade fairy tales and folk tales books are terrific resources. Here are some of the projects that we do:

1. Felt Boards
We draw patterns on paper, cut out felt pieces, and place them on our homemade felt board. Our felt board is a long piece of cardboard from a box, covered with a piece of light blue flannel on one side (day time) and black flannel on the other side (night). We move the characters on the board as we tell the story.
Tiddlelick the Frog (Australia)
The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin (India)
2. Puppet Plays
Sometimes we use our puppet theater that hangs in the doorway, and sometimes we sit behind the couch! We have all sorts of puppets by Folkmanis.

3. Finger Puppets
Using material from old clothes, we cut and sew material to fit our index fingers for each character. Finger puppet plays are done on the side of the table or in the twig house. Daddy said that he wants to build us a finger puppet play stage, soon!

The Elves and the Shoemaker (Western Europe)

4. Wood, Crocheted, Felted Characters and Props
Daddy's wood creatures, Mommy's crocheted animals, and the kids' wood/felted characters act out stories on the twig house stage.
The Turnip (Russia)


Cluck Cluck and Little Tuppen (Western Europe)
5. Plays
Sometimes, we act out the stories ourselves! We make props and costumes from our dyed silks, wood blocks, rocks, and other items that we can find around the house.

Stone Soup (Eastern Europe)

6. Songs
If a story has poems or songs in it, we sing them together (sometimes we make up the tune). We especially like Shake it Up Tales which has stories from around the world, many of them with songs included.

7. Main Lesson Book (Writing and Drawing)
Wilson draws the story at the end of the 1-2 weeks in his MLB.

15 comments:

Joy said...

That's great! I love seeing the examples of all your storytelling. So inspiring.

The Scolari House said...

I can't tell you how much I enjoy your blog. :O)

Mama Rose said...

Wow, what awesome and creative ideas you have- very inspirational!

dongdong said...

I didn't know you also use Enki. I was like I recognize these stories. Love your felt board and wooden animals. We love to do the same.

dottyspots said...

All the set ups look wonderful!

I think the Three Billy Goats Gruff is Norwegian (goats, mountains and trolls are a bit of a giveaway ;0)

I have it as The Three Billikin Whiskers in a collection of Norwegian folktales by Asbjornsen and Moe.

Tan Family said...

Hi dottyspots! You are correct...Three Billy Goats Gruff is Norwegian. I'll make a note of that in my Enki book! Thanks.

Jane said...

I loved seeing all the different ways that you share, in telling the different stories with your children. It is so creative,that is what I loved about the Waldorf Curriculum the interdicipline of precenting the stories in this case and you really give a wonderful example of this. Thank you so much! It inspires me to get to work!
Also Jen thank you for your lovely comments on my blog they are greatly appreciated!

Joy said...

There's a cute little sprite on my blog today that you might recognize. :)

Jen said...

Love the story reinforcement. Can you adopt me? Your family is so fun and your love of learning just shines through like those morning rays of sunshine through the dew damp trees! You really inspire, Jennifer!

MamaWestWind said...

Great post. It really helps me, as a beginner, to see the process. Thanks for sharing!

I checked out the Enki fairytale books and they look so great- do you know of any resource where I could find these books used or find these stories in another less expensive compilation? I'm looking for K stories.

Thanks,
Becca (Waldorfgroup)

Tan Family said...

Hi Becca! There are two yahoogroups online where people sell and trade Waldorf types of materials. Every once in a while, Enki materials pop up.

Kelly said...

Certainly very inspirational and beautiful! I just love your felt boards. Thank you for sharing such a wealth of creative storytelling aids.

RunninL8 said...

Great post! And a good reminder for me to get back on track with finishing making table puppets and props to do more storytelling at home!

Unknown said...

What wonderful stories! I love your twig house stage. I have yet to try to make one but it acts as a wonderful story prop!

I love that your children help create the props too as in the turnip story. Such a great story too!

the little travelers said...

really beautiful stories! the settings so lovely.