In Peep the characters take delivery of a basket of items for their storytelling shop. Each item will be used by their customers to create a new story or to make many different stories. Ask children to choose items in the setting (classroom, nursery, playground, forest school) that they think will help someone to make up story. Help them by suggesting things that make them think about a place or a character or an event or object and give them an enticing container for collecting such as a wicker basket, wooden box or velvet or voile bag.
Children could work individually, in small groups or as a whole class to construct stories by taking out the objects one at a time or laying them out to help them imagine the story. It is important as the teacher or facilitator
Some of the significant events, places and characters from a story are represented by an object and placed in a box or tin. As the story is told the storyteller gets each object out as the moment or person or event it represents is mentioned. The listeners get to handle the objects
The objects are then returned to the box as the story continues until the lid is replaced at the end of the story.
These ‘props’ can help children to visualize the story, especially if it contains anything that may be unfamiliar to them. The children can also re-tell the story using the story box to support them in remembering significant things.
Multi-sensory items work very well – materials that have evocative smells or rich textures can be very useful. Objects that could be used to provide a key sound effect could also be included.
Children can create their own story boxes to tell stories they have created themselves. This method also works well as a way of creating stories. Objects can be themed to suit a thematic project. The questioning from the practitioner needs to be open and not expectant of the ‘right answer’.
- Where does it come from?
- What does it look like?
- What does it feel like?
- What sound does it make?
- How did it get here?
- Who does it belong to?
- What can you use it for?
Why don’t you send us examples of what you’ve created? You can e-mail us here.
