Telling Tales Teachers Number 12 - Put Your Story On The Stage (Part One)

Tell a fairly short story and discuss it with the class, paying particular attention to the visual aspects - 'What would you see if you were present in the story?'

Talk about theatrical productions and how they differ from storytelling - both use words spoken by one or more people, so aren't they the same?
The children will mention the 'extras' such as scenery, lighting, curtain, backdrops, props, background music and so on.

Choose 'backdrops' and ask for an explanation. What are they? What are they supposed to do?

Imagine the story just told was a play. What sort of backdrop would you expect to see? Would the same backdrop suffice for the whole story?
If part of the story takes place in the open air then maybe a backdrop of trees and fields would be appropriate. But what about indoor action?

Ask the children to discuss the story in pairs or small groups and to plan backdrops for each scene.

Every so often, when telling stories, ask about the backdrop - "What can you see?". This will help to develop the visual imagination of the children and, I suggest, their enjoyment of the stories they hear.

Teachers (12)

Put Your Story On The Stage (Part One)