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ARCHIVED - Our Voices, Our Stories:
First Nations, Métis and Inuit Stories

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Educational Resources

The Story Blanket

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Activity 2.1
Live Storytelling

Select a story for the class to perform. It may be:
- one of the stories from the website, Our Voices, Our Stories;
- a story found through your school library; local public library or through interlibrary loan.
- one of the stories written by the students in Lesson 1.
Make sure the story can be performed easily. It should have a simple plot with few characters.
Over the course of 2 to 4 classes, students will be immersed in the story, reading it over several times to recall all the main parts.
In a class discussion, divide up the story into the beginning, middle and end. Have students identify the integral parts of the plot and characters.
Write a class synopsis on chart paper (a large sheet of paper that can be taped to the blackboard or wall) for everyone to see. As a class, summarize the story in point form.
Practice retelling the story, as a class, first with and then without the summarized points of the text. As a group, incorporate some of the Storytelling Hints to get the students accustomed to oral storytelling techniques.
Divide the class into 2 groups. Each group will perform the story separately.
Divide up the parts of the story for each group. Assign a part of the story to each student.
Have each student re-write their part of the story in their own words.
Ensure that each group reads through all of their scenes aloud to check for continuity. Each part of the story should flow smoothly into the next to create a cohesive whole.
Students should edit the scenes to achieve an even flow in the script, as necessary.
Have each group practice the story and make a plan for how they would like to perform or "tell" it.
Encourage students to be creative. Add music, props, incorporate costumes, sounds or rhythmic movements. Each group should incorporate at least 3 to 4 ideas from Storytelling Hints.

Extensions
Students may wish to act out the story behind a lit screen (a bed sheet can be hung up that is back-lit by an overhead projector to achieve this).

Note: Please see Evaluation Tools to evaluate student participation.