Storytelling

In Studio Red we have been telling stories.  One at a time, we draw a name from the bunch and invite the author to take a seat.  We have now listened to five stories, and eleven more authors excitedly await their turns.

There is one rule!

The story must be true.

The children are experiencing the richness of stories that are told about one small moment. They practice sequencing all the parts to create a flow from beginning to middle to end. These storytellers have captured their audiences.  Children have responded with many questions, helping the author to revise her story and add more and more details.  This is the writing process in action!

          We share their questions below…     

Chester tells a story of "The Man-Vampire Scare" . . .

Did you get scared?
ZAAHRA
How old were you?
LYLA
Did you stay with your mom in the house?
ARYA
Were you like, "Ah, Mommy!" Did you say anything? Did you have any emotion?
BEATRICE
Was your mom next to you, behind you, or getting dressed?
GRAEME
So did you say the monster was half-vampire and half-person? How can that be?
CHARLIE
How did you get really really scared?
JANE
Were you thinking about being scared in your brain? Was it half of the mask and half of his skin?
SEVI

Birdie tells a story of Studio Purple projector play. . .

Was the projector bigger or smaller than that one?
GREAME
Does it make a picture of trees with a lamp light?
JANE
You mean the thing that shows the caterpillar thing?
BROOKE
When you say scanner, do you mean what we call a projector?
EMILY
Do you mean a projector like in the movie theater?
LYLA

Charlie tells a story of Tank the snapping turtle. . .

Did you name him?  Did you get him from the pet store?
GRAEME
Where did you make his name? Not what time.
BEATRICE
How did he get named?
BEATRICE
Click Here
Were you at a different pond?  He swam to shore and then you saw him?
GRAEME
He went over some rocks?  Did he go in his shell when the cars were coming?
SEVI
Click Here
How did you get the name Tank? 
BEATRICE
Click Here
Did he look like a tank? 
LYLA
Click Here
Maybe because he's a turtle and turtle starts with T and you named him Tank and tank starts with T? 
GRAEME
Click Here

Jane tells a story of her sister hiding yogurt . . .

Did they steal the yogurt?  Did they get in big trouble?
BEATRICE
Was your sister on the bottom of the cart?
GRAEME
I'm confused, how come she put it in the cereal?
BIRDIE
Did she hide it behind her back when mom wasn't looking?
SEVI

Beatrice tells a story of puddle jumps . . .

Why did they jump into the puddle?
VIVIAN
What's an au pair?
JANE
Was it a puddle? I thought you said it was a pond.
LYLA
Was she young?
ARYA
Did your au pair and sister jump in to make your baby laugh?
ARYA
Did your sister just slip?
ZAAHRA
Why did the au pair and sister jump in?
BIRDIE

Does anyone else have any questions?

BIRDIE