The easy way to use Me Do Storytelling cards
- Lay the picture cards out, face up.
- Tell your children how many cards they can select
- Place remaining cards back in the bag.
- Now, create a story using the selected cards.
Some people find it easy to create a story and others are like… “Yikes…. I don’t know how to tell a story – help!!!”
Tips for novice storytellers
Use any or all of these tips. Start small and build up. Your child will learn from you!
Here are some ways to make your stories even more interesting:
Use ADJECTIVES – a large orange balloon; the old smelly dog.
Use ADVERBS – the balloon drifted slowly; my dog bounded happily towards me.
Add EMOTIONS – the old dog looked sadly at his bowl; she cried as she watched …..
Add SENSES – I heard the soft ticking of the clock; the cat’s fur was soft and slippery.
Add SKILLS – She showed courage when she…..; I appreciate your honesty.
Describe the SETTING of the story – a park, a spooky building, Grandmas’ house
What’s your OPENING LINE?
‘Once upon a time’ becomes boring if it’s used often. Try:
- Last Wednesday afternoon…..
- It was a cold, wet miserable day….
- Oh we had fun at Aunty Kay’s when…..
- I couldn’t believe it when….
- Oh, it was soooo embarrassing….
- Yesterday was a terrible day…..
- You’ll never believe what happened to me today …..
REPETITION
Have a phrase which gets repeated often through the story – this encourages the child to participate in the telling. Eg
…. And the baby cried again
…… The dog barked ‘woof’
……..And the lightning flashed and crashed
INCLUDE YOUR CHILD into the story
Whichever cards are selected add your children’s names into the story or their friends or the family.
Make your child the HERO/INE
Incorporate a role in the story where your child solves a problem and therefore becomes a hero/ine – they’ll love that!
Add some DRAMA
An element of drama adds to the excitement or suspense of a story
ALLITERATION
Using repetition of a letter eg;
The sleek and shiny snake slithered along the slope.
The blue ball bounced along and banged into the big boy.
As you tell the story, use your voice to:
- Play with volume from a whisper, to a growl.
- Change your tone – from upbeat to sad.
- Change the speed – talk quickly, or really s-l-o-w-l-y.
- Use different voices for the Mum, the child, the dog etc