WHY ARE OBJECTS AND PROPS IMPORTANT FOR STORYTELLING?
Oral storytelling requires from the teacher an excellent ability not only expositive but above all creative in order to be able to reach and welcome all children beyond the different abilities of each of them.
The teacher can therefore make use of a series of tools that will help to make the oral story engaging in various aspects. The use of certain objects will help to create curiosity, wonder and attention in the child. In fact, these tools have the double value of pedagogical support on the one hand, and the ability to arouse wonder on the other. Children’s gaze and attention will be captured by these objects for their poetic “meaning”.
There are numerous possibilities that can be purchased and used, although the quality, especially aesthetic quality, of these products is not always high. This might suggest the need to create them by yourself: this option would make the experience much more interesting. The teacher could create these “tools” from time to time according to the story, so that the whole experience, which is also formative, could become a high level emotional, aesthetic, visual and auditory experience.
HOW TO USE THEM?
Objects and props may be essential or integral to the story and you can encourage active involvement of children during storytelling. Children will be encouraged to use various sensory channels such as TOUCH, SIGHT, MOVEMENT, HEARING.
It is also important that these activities are perceived not only as educational but also as PLAYFUL and CREATIVE activities, to become more engaging. Therefore, the approach will be easy and based on the gratification of children.
Each tool or medium has a different potential and stimulates children on different levels, even according to their age.
Often children with reduced learning ability and attention need to be involved in a deeper way, these narrative tools involve children by stimulating their senses, their curiosity and arousing surprise, amazement and enchantment. The personalized preparation of these objects will allow the teacher to get to know them and thus make more appropriate use of them.
WHAT OBJECTS AND PROPS CAN BE USED FOR STORYTELLING IN CLASS AND AT HOME?
Objects and Props must be easy to find in the shop or to create by teacher and children in class and at home. Also, these tools must be simple to use and to handle, so that we can play and exercise in a group.
SOME IDEAS:
- The Story Box
- Story Tapestries and Rugs
- Puppet Theater
- Finger puppets
- Story apron
- Disguises and masks
- Playing with shadows (educational sheet)
- Kamishibai (educational sheet)
- The Tale-Stick (educational sheet)
- “Once upon a time” card game (educational sheet)
- Storytelling dice (educational sheet)
EXAMPLES:
THE STORY BOX
It is a box with objects that are elements of the story, and which can be used to tell the story. Very useful for the little pupils.
The box of stories, is a box full of objects, ideas and even emotions, therefore a sort of magic box from where the objects and characters of the story come out from time to time.
The puppets used for the shadows could also be inserted in the box, but the teacher can also create the characters by using other materials (fabric, wood, etc.), can insert everyday objects that are linked to the story (a hat, a scarf, a flute, etc.), to be taken out at the right time. Objects that can be used to characterize the characters and thus give additional information that will help children to “memorize” and better understand the story.
Rather than using pre-packaged “boxes”, the teacher can create a box each time that will have the right charm, beauty, “freshness” to accompany the story.
👉 Look at the tutorial how to make “story box” to tell the stories:
https://youtu.be/YgqN7WObDU4
👉 Look at the tutorial how to use “story box” to tell the stories!!!
https://youtu.be/yS_FyaX92L8
STORY TAPESTRIES AND RUGS
Can be used to tell the story. You can create your own tapestry or rug, obtaining very large paper (100x150cm) and drawing the salient elements of the story.
PUPPET THEATER
The basic scenography and the characters of the story you choose, can be created with a paper. Then the scenography is put on the wall. The children act with the puppets in front of the scenography.
STORY APRON
This storytelling tool has a very engaging visual impact!
Wearing it, the teacher “transforms” himself into the cook of the stories. The children immediately discover that it is time for the storytelling. The apron becomes part of the narrator, his body becomes the “screen” on which the story becomes alive.
FINGER PUPPETS
It is a form of storytelling especially suitable for pre-school children (nursery school). They can be made of various materials such as fabric or paper and are often sold commercially together with the texts, however, they are easy to make.
These little puppets can help children in their emotional and social development. Children develop empathy because they recognize themselves in these characters and create a very strong bond with them and can easily identify themselves with them.
By using “finger puppets”:
- Children acquire linguistic skills and through role playing they can create “an external voice” with which to convey their thoughts.
- Increase the ability to speak in public in front of others.
- Stimulates the imagination.
- This form of storytelling captures the attention of children who are highly involved.