Children Tell Their Own Stories~~April 15 2021
Over the inservice day, the Lupine Team made subtle adjustments to the environment of our classroom. Our block and vehicles area was intentionally supplied with materials we call loose parts. Teachers had observed developing schema--a thread of thought demonstrated by repeated actions and patterns -- and responded with empty baskets, materials that stack and nest, heavy objects, light objects, objects that crash. Students combined these elements together with our wooden pieces to tell long, intricate stories. Some stories are spoken aloud while some are in their minds. Some folks made noises to fly and whish and bonk; some folks organized the pieces into carefully structured sets to be kept just so.
Our art area has been updated with polymer clay and dragon nest materials. We are asking open ended questions-- "what does a dragon nest look like?" As well as closed provocations--"Using these materials, create a home for our baby dragon." Others folks are creating sculptures being set aside for baking. Clay is another element to tell stories in our classroom. These stories mold in our hands as we tell them to ourselves and our classmates.
The light table becomes a magical place to tell stories with our dragons, small animals, and knights. Children will move to the light table for a quieter interaction. These stories tend to stay private.
Many of our stories are told during "rest time" when the lights are off and gentle music or an audiobook are playing. The children enjoy a ritual of a teacher led story at the beginning of rest.
How have you noticed storytelling at home?