National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Storytelling:the Meaning Behind the Mask
In many cultures, masks are used in oral story telling. Many learning activities are described on this site that will help students learn aspects of story telling and the different ways various cultures used masks.
Other
Central Oregon Community College: African Storytelling
This essay provides an excellent explanation of the importance of storytelling and what the author refers to as "orature," oral tradition as opposed to "literature" or written tradition. Clear examples are provided, including several...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Storytelling: Tales of Everyday Life
Students explore how events from everyday life can become stories, and how different types of narratives-such as ships' logs and journals-can tell the story of the same event. This is one of four storytelling lessons.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Storytelling: Writers' Workshop
Students draw on their understanding of different types of narratives to inspire and enrich their own storytelling. This is one of four storytelling lessons.
East of England Broadband Network
E2 Bn: About Myths and Legends: Why Are Stories Told
This website from England explains the role of myth and legend in every culture and gives many reasons for the importance of the retelling in myth, especially to children. There are links to other interesting spots on the general website.
Other
Bedtime Story: Whimsical Stories for Reading
Awesome site with hundreds of stories by published and unpublished authors to encourage reading stories together and out loud. Each story also has a section titled "What's it all about" which gives background information along with...
Teachnology
Teachnology: Lesson Plan: Write Me a Picture
In this lesson, 3rd through 5th graders select related pictures from magazines and newspapers, write captions for each, glue them in sequence on a poster board, and use the pictures to tell a story.
Read Works
Read Works: Oral Histories
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the importance of listening to and writing about people's life stories. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Storytelling in the Classroom
There are several steps to becoming a storyteller. Find out what they are and be on your way to becoming a storyteller here! Learn how to find good stories to tell, and how to tell them to an audience effectively.
Other
The Center for Story and Symbol: Mythos: Joseph Campbell's Mythic Journey
A biographical piece about the storyteller named Joseph Campbell. This piece was originally featured in New Perspectives Magazine in July 1994.
Broward Education Foundation
Broward Education Foundation: The Arts and Crafts of Storytelling [Pdf]
In the Arts and Crafts of Storytelling, American folk heroes come to life, help students expand their vocabulary and increase knowledge of figurative language. Students identify figurative language like similes, idioms and hyperboles....
Love To Know Media
Your Dictionary: Lesson Plan on Storytelling or Fables for First Grade Children
This is a lesson plan for teaching storytelling and/or fables to first graders including listening, reading, activity learned (moral), and follow up ideas.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Storytelling in Ritual and Performance in Bali
Balinese stories are continually told and retold. The Kayonan is the first and last puppet seen in the Balinese wayang shadow theater. As it dances, it symbolizes the living tradition of storytelling that deeply explains and entertains,...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts: Grade 3: The Stories Julian Tells
Third graders learn that stories and books are important for learning about themselves and others. This unit allows students to learn how storytelling can be a way to learn about other cultures, pass on family history and traditions, and...
PBS
Pbs: A World of Stories: The Beaded Bag
Kentucky-based storyteller Mary Hamilton tells a haunting tale set in Victorian times, about a man who gives a young lady a ride across the Ohio River to her home in Louisville. When she disappears, he learns that he has become part of a...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Molly of Denali: Storytime Stick Puppets Family Activity
Make puppets of Molly and her family and friends from the PBS KIDS series MOLLY OF DENALI, and use them to retell a story you watched. You can also take Molly on a new adventure by making up your own story. The activity also includes...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Digital Storytelling With Class Flow Technology
[Free Registration/Login Required] Digital storytelling is the combination of the ancient art of oral storytelling with today's technology, enabling students to write their own uniquely personal tales and then personalize them even more...
Other
Story Arts:storytelling Activities & Lesson Ideas
Use this site to get students interested in and enthusiastic about storytelling with these cool lesson ideas. Look through these short descriptions of lesson ideas to help develop a lesson to fit your classroom needs.
Other
Story Arts: Storytelling Activities & Plot Structure Scenarios
This collection of storytelling activities-developed by storyteller/author Heather Forest for her storytelling workshops with young scholars, teachers, and librarians-can be expanded by educators into language arts lesson plans to...