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Any time you can get preschoolers involved in the story,
You have a better chance of getting them to stay focused on the story.
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FELT BOARD STORIES
Children love felt board stories because they not only hear the story but they get to watch or help place felt pieces on the story board. Choose simple stories for felt board stories. Cut out simple felt shapes to accompany your story.
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ONE PROP STORIES
Bring in a simple story starter prop, such as, a pumpkin. Talk about pumpkins before you begin your story about pumpkins. This pre-story discussion will help your children focus on your story. |
SYMBOL STORIES
Preschoolers have great imaginations. You don’t have to have elaborate story props to add scenery and characters to your story. Pretend your story is about a sailor sailing across a sea. The story will be much more fun for your children, if your put down a blue scarf for water and place a small object in a small bowl for the sailor in his boat.
Symbol stories also allow you to leave out your props for your children to tell and retell the story using the props (or perhaps make up their own story using your symbol props).
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SOUND STORIES
Stories that include repeated rhymes and sounds are great for child participation. Read simple stories such as “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” and have your children help you as your read. Every time the phrase “Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap” is said, have your children help you say the words.
Children love participating in the story process. It will keep them involved and their attentions will not wonder.
- Walking: Have children slap their hands on the floor to make walking sounds.
- Galloping: Same as above only with a gallop beat.
- Three Little Pigs: Make Huff and Puff sounds.
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BAG STORIES
Place small objects in a bag from around your home or classroom. Start by making up and telling your children the beginning a story. Then have a child take an object from your bag. Incorporate whatever object is drawn into your story. After a while, have another child (or the same child) draw out another item. Continue in this fashion until all the objects have been drawn and you finish up your story, or until interest lasts.
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SPINNER STORIES
Spinner stories are the same as the bag stories, except instead of using a bag, you use a spinner to determine what item will be introduced into your story next.
Story Spinner can be made by using a paper plate and placing different object stickers around the inside edge of the plate. Then create a spinner attaching a large safety pin with a paper fastener in the middle of your story plate. Have children take turns spinning and then incorporating the objects (pointed to) into your story. |
DRAMATIZING STORIES
Children love dramatizing stories after they have been read to them a couple of times. Set out some simple costumes and help your children arrange a mini play based on the story. Folk tales are great for this purpose, but any favorite children’s story will work. Try to give everyone a part in the story. Create extra parts, or let two or more children do the same part. A good story for this type of participation is “Stone Soup” . You could actually be the beggar and each of your children could be towns folk who bring different vegetables and broths to put into the soup. |
