Karen Chace - Catch the Story Bug!

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Learning Together: Educational Resources - Art, Music, Math, and More!

Centennial High School Center Mural

Literacy and Oppression

Used with permission from the artist Glen Davies
View his other amazing works at
http://www.glencdavies.com/educational

Millions of families around the world are home with their children, protecting themselves and others while we isolate from COVID 19. Although children are out of school educational institutions are encouraging families to continue the learning at home.

Teachers have done what they always do, work incredibly hard for our children; I am sure you already have resources that have been sent directly to you from your individual schools.I have put together a number of additional resources below to supplement what your educators have already shared. At the end of this blog you will also find a link to another blog that offers many resources on long distance entertainment from aquariums to zoos! I hope you find something fun to do together. Stay well and healthy everyone!

ACTIVITIES/CRAFTS

Download Coloring Pages from Over 100 Museums

https://tinyurl.com/wyg8v8u

Easy Nature Craft for Kids

https://tinyurl.com/w29q9lr

Eric Carle Printable Activities

https://tinyurl.com/uvop8og

110 Fun At-Home Activities for Families and Kids

https://tinyurl.com/r7s4c79

Lego Printables and Activities

https://tinyurl.com/rc2rh72

ART LESSONS

12 Free Art Lessons on YouTube Your Kiddos Will Love!

https://tinyurl.com/ruhfceb

Free Printable Mazes from the amazing cartoonist and storyteller Joe Wos.

https://tinyurl.com/utp6je3Free Drawing Classes from Famous Illustrators

https://tinyurl.com/urpxnlw

BOOKS AND MORE

6,000 Historical Children’s Book Online for Free

https://tinyurl.com/ufx4tuz

300,000 Books to Download for Free from the New York Public Library

https://tinyurl.com/suhnajv

Audible.com - For as long as schools are closed, we're open. Kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages…All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Explore the collection, select a title and start listening.

https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

EDUCATION

5 Canadian Virtual Field Trips for Fun and Learning

https://tinyurl.com/vu9xcnl

75 Educational Activities for When You’re Stuck Indoors

https://tinyurl.com/yx8bthcg

100 Lego Projects for Kids: Challenges, Instructions, STEM, Games, and More!

https://tinyurl.com/u4zr3ok

Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students

https://tinyurl.com/vj6rqd4

Free Printable Worksheets K-8 – A wide variety of worksheets for various grade levels on an number of subjects.
https://tinyurl.com/tm2nxqo

Learning Without Tears

They are providing free access to online programs supporting handwriting instruction, keyboarding, and early learning skills! Their website is

https://www.lwtears.com/

Maintaining Students’ Motivation for Learning as the Year Goes On

https://tinyurl.com/qkpxqtx

The Parent’s Guide to Google Classroom

https://tinyurl.com/t3cjp7v

Preparing to Teach Online: Webinar for Educators

https://tinyurl.com/trncez3

Scholastic Learn At-Home: Projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

https://tinyurl.com/u2n97f8

Schools Out Kids Podcasts Are In (Plus Many More Educate-At-Home Resources

https://tinyurl.com/qp5k6eu

Teaching Online

https://tinyurl.com/trncez3

I take no credit for the picture below. I have attempted to find the source online but it has been shared numerous times and I have been unable to track down the person who designed it. If you know please tell me so I can offer proper credit.

LAPSIT RESOURCES

27 Lapsit Program Themes form Apples to Zoos – From my own blog, songs, fingerplays, story stretchers to keep the youngest among us entertained.

https://tinyurl.com/trjlkdl

MATH

16 Card Games That Will Turn Your Kids Into Math Aces

https://tinyurl.com/tyk8x5v

64 Awesome Websites for Teaching Math

https://tinyurl.com/rlk32nu

School House Rock

https://tinyurl.com/se7vbzh

MUSIC

Folk Cloud – “This project is focused on original folk and traditional music of the different countries, nations and ethnic groups of the world. Definition of “folk” and “traditional” music in different cultures changes…”

https://tinyurl.com/tbxctyc

The Ultimate List of Online Music Education Games

https://tinyurl.com/vchhsto

READING

Children's Book Authors Are Offering Free Online Videos While Kids Are Home From School

https://tinyurl.com/v6gbsek

Eric Carle Read the Very Hungry Caterpillar

https://tinyurl.com/whqqzfo

Josh Gad of Frozen Reads Books to Kids on Twitter Every Night

https://tinyurl.com/u73cesw

Stay At-Home Read Alouds, Storytimes, Sing-Alongs and More

https://tinyurl.com/srcvg39

Storyline Online – “The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.”

https://tinyurl.com/yx5lufk2

Websites for Read Alouds and Activities

https://tinyurl.com/ukc8vyo

SPEECH

6 Free Online Speech Therapy Resources

https://tinyurl.com/r2cxscd

STEAM

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) Free Arts Integration Lesson Plans – For grades K-12 fully-developed lessons, assessments, student handouts, PowerPoints and warm-ups.

https://educationcloset.com/arts-integration-lessons/

WRITING

Free Cursive Writing Sheetshttps://tinyurl.com/sp6m5mz

EXERCISE/PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

GoNoodle - Movement, yoga, mindfulness videos, downloadable curricular activities, along with off-screen home activities. You can find information about it and join at
https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/

Kid Yoga Videos https://tinyurl.com/s8k5lue

YMCA – Sixty free online classes from Boot Camp to Yoga.

https://ymca360.org/

GAMES

Dice Games for Family and Kids

https://tinyurl.com/rx4es4h

HAVE SOME FUN MAKING SHADOW PUPPETS

LIVE STREAMING COURSES

Disney: Imagineering in a Boxhttps://tinyurl.com/y4zzszr8

Kennedy Space Center – Free online activities and tours. “The videos will pair at-home activities kids can do using everyday items like paper towel tubes and rubber bands to build a rocket.”

https://tinyurl.com/vobgqku
Mindful Schools- Free online mindful classes for kids.

https://tinyurl.com/uoeoxbn

Virtual Marine Biology Camp

https://tinyurl.com/vss9jxb

Weathers Courses for Students K-12

https://tinyurl.com/v2hppz8

MISCELLANEOUS

Make lunchtime fun! How to make fruit and vegetable bug snacks.

https://tinyurl.com/vwr9nfl

Mo Willems on the Lost Art of Being Silly

https://tinyurl.com/va4bcxa

Arm Chair Entertainment: From Aquariums to Zoos
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2020/03/arm-chair-entertainment-from-aquariums.html

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links. At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2020 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Tweet Your Tale: An Interactive Storytelling Activity

A Perch of Birds

by
Hector Giacomelli, 1880

A few days ago I was reading a news item about the Super Bowl game. It pictured Derrick Nnadione of the Kansas City Chiefs laying down in the middle of the football field, creating a snow angel with the mounds of confetti strewn on the field. As I read further, I learned that there was something remarkable about the confetti, mixed in were tweets from the Chief’s fans, each one telling a tiny story of what the team and the season meant to them.

I began to think about the stories my students are telling. I am always searching for new worksheets and activities to help them break down their story, internalize it, and make it their own. Of course, I use the traditional storyboard and also different versions of my own invention. Now I began to think about tweeting. How could I use that in my storytelling class? Twitter has now increased the length of a tweet from 140 characters to 280 characters but could it be done? Even though my students are not old enough to have a Twitter account I was sure they were familiar with the social media tool and decided to give it a try.

I designed the worksheet below, Tweet Your Tale ©, to help them think about their story in a new way. I shared an example to illustrate how it can be done, and since they are familiar with Little Red Riding Hood, I read this before they tried tweeting their own tale.

Little girl in your scarlet cape, take care in the woods with your basket of goodies. Grandmother needs her food and the wolf is at the door. Ears. Eyes. Teeth. Don’t be fooled by the disguise. Danger! Screams fill the air. The hero comes, the ax falls. Rescued at last. Joyful!
(279 characters)

Did they know what story I tweeted? All of their hands went up. Success! I also included it on the worksheet so they could refer back to the example when they were writing.

Yesterday we tried it for the first time in class. Many of students were familiar with Twitter. We talked about it, I shared my example, offered additional directions on being succinct with their word choices, passed out the worksheet, and then asked them to tweet their tale. I set aside 10 minutes for the exercise but it actually took 20-25 minutes for most of them, along with some gentle guidance along the way. As they wrote I checked in with each student to ensure they understood the directions. Some students struggled with breaking things down from full, grammatically correct sentences, which I secretly applauded, but I encouraged them to edit it down further.

When they were finished, I instructed them to crumple up their ‘tweets’ into a ball and position themselves around the room. They immediately knew what they were about to do; on the count of three I shouted, “Ready! Set! Tweet!” and the (birds) tweets sailed into the air! Controlled chaos and laughter ensued! As each student picked up the tweet closest to them, they were instructed to unravel it, and read it to themselves. By now they have heard each other’s stories multiple times, so I called on volunteers, asked them to read it aloud and guess who wrote it. If they could match the story to the teller then it was clear the tweet gave enough information to identify it. Everyone was successful.

The activity also offered another opportunity to exercise their public speaking skills within the group. We did this three times, crumpling up the tweets, sailing them across the room. They asked to do it again and again. It was a fun exercise that employed the knowledge of their stories, writing and editing skills, and of course, movement and play! It will definitely find a home in my new storytelling toolbox.

Some examples from the student’s work:

Now That’s A Story! (This is actually a very long story. I was amazed she was able to edit it down to 279 characters.)
Pretty princess loves stories but heard too many. Bored. A test! Best storyteller will be new prince. Princes. Merchants. Knights. No one. One poor lad came. Told a story about his special pig. The princess laughed. Now that’s a story! King is mad. And they got married happily.

(Character Count 279)

Fox and Mole

Fox and mole are friends. Fox likes adventure. Mole likes to stay home. Fox finds rope, ties it. Decides to go to moon, convinces mole. Asks condor to fly to moon, tie rope to moon. They climb. Mole slips, condor catches, back to earth. Fox stays on moon; look up and see!
(Character Count 273)

Tailypo

A man stirs his stew. Creature falls down chimney. Man chops of his tail, eats it. Creature runs, comes back. Dogs chasing. Creature haunts. Roof. Side of home. Inside. Foot of bed. Give it back. Shakes tail out of him.

(Character Count 219)

The Tail Trade

Beaver and muskrat trade tails. Beaver does tail tricks. Muskrat is envious, wants tail back. Beaver slaps tail on water at muskrat. Scared! Leaves. Now beaver has a beautiful, flat, wide tail. Muskrat has a short, thin tale.

(Character Count 225)

You will find more of my original worksheets and interactive storytelling games in my book, Story by Story: Creating a School Storytelling Troupe. You can also join me in my Story Play workshop at the Sharing the Fire conference in April, 2020. This link will give you all of the conference information. https://www.nestorytelling.org/conference-details/

You are welcome to use the above worksheet, Tweet Your Tale©, in your personal work. If you would like a copy of the worksheet email me at storybug@aol.com and I will send you the .doc file. However, I request that attribution and copyright be maintained, and there is no publication in any other published work without my permission. Your professional integrity is appreciated! If you do use it please let me know how it worked for you and your students. Tweet! Tweet!

Please note, websites change at a rapid pace and weblinks may change or break without notice. I cannot be responsible for redirected or broken links. At the time of this posting all links were in working order. Thank you for understanding.

Karen Chace 2020 ©

Saturday, January 11, 2020

1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources VI: Stor e Telling 2018

The Storyteller
by
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
1773-1777

Below are the Stor e Telling columns I wrote in 2018 for the National Storytelling Magazine, each with a synopsis to help you find what you are seeking in case your time is limited. The magazine is a membership perk from the National Storytelling Network. The publication offers outstanding articles from well-known national and international storytellers, and educators from around the world on a wide variety of topics, and of course, stories. If you would like to become a member please visit https://storynet.org/membership/ .

At the end of the blog you will also find links to all of the columns from 2007 – 2017. At the time they were posted all of the links were active. If you find a dead link please let me know and I will do my best to find the updated source. I hope you find something fabulous and fun! As always, I appreciate any comments you wish to share.

Stor e Telling Fall 2018: Storytelling and Empathy

The theme for this issue was storytelling and empathy, both are greatly needed in our current climate. You will also find additional stories about the glorious pumpkins that dot the fall landscape, candle tales to celebrate the Feast of Saint Ambrose.

https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2019/08/stor-e-telling-fall-2018-storytelling.html

Stor e Telling Summer 2018: Storytelling Traditions Around the World

Many of us are familiar with The Moth and StoryCorp but what about some of the other ancient forms of storytelling? In this blog post you will read about a few of the fascinating and different traditions from around the world to complement the issue's theme. You will also find stories to celebrate Be An Angel Day on August 22 so get ready to fly with these new tales.

https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2019/03/stor-e-telling-summer-2018-storytelling.html

Stor e Telling Spring 2018: Storytelling World

Unwrap some fun and fabulous resources to love and add to your repertoire. The theme was Storytelling World so you will find tales from many cultures. There are also legends to savor on Tea for Two Tuesday on March 21, Noodlehead tales to tickle your funny bone for International Moment of Laughter Day on April 14, and folktales for Bat Appreciation Day on April 17.

https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2019/01/stor-e-telling-spring-2018-storytelling.html

SOMETHING EXTRA

This link will take you to a previous blog post with all of my Stor e Telling columns from 2007-2017.

1001 Nights to 2001 Story Resources V: Stor e Telling 2017

https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2018/12/1001-nights-to-2001-story-resources-v.html

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Stor e Telling: Storytelling World Winter 2019

The New Year is upon us so it is time to start sharing my previous Stor e Telling columns from Storytelling Magazine. The theme for this issue was Storytelling World. Get ready for a glamorous trip around the globe through these fabulous public domain folktale collections, including stories to celebrate Learn About Butterflies Day and World Rat Day.

I hope you find something useful and fun to add to your storytelling or classroom.

Belgian Fairy Tales by William Elliot Griffis, 1919 - Step into this enchanted text filled with queens, ogres, pilgrims and faeries.

https://tinyurl.com/y9dyzcnl

The Bird of Truth and other Fairy Tales by Fernan Caballero – Thirty-three fairy tales collected by Fernan Caballero, a pseudonym for the woman who collected the majority of stories from Andalusia in Southern Spain.

https://tinyurl.com/ydyko3fl

Fables for the Frivolous (With Apologies To La Fontaine)
“One of the earliest works by the American parodist Guy Wetmore Carryl, this collection of fables are adapted from Jean de La Fontaine’s Aesop-style originals from more than 200 years earlier.”
https://tinyurl.com/y77mdm8z

Folk-tales of Angola – Fifty tales collected and edited by Heli Chatelain, 1894 with Ki-mbundu text, literal English translation introduction and notes; stories of antelope, wolf, turtle, leopard, monkey and much more.

http://tinyurl.com/6f6nt2m

Folktales From Many Lands - From 1910 a fascinating book of twenty-three folktales from around the world. Exquisite illustrations complement each tale.
http://tinyurl.com/2janra

Folktales of Kashmir by James Hinton Knowles,1888 – “Many of these tales are probably pure Kashmiri in origin, while others are undoubtedly variants of popular tales, current in India and other parts, which have been adapted and modified to suit the language, style of thought, and social usages of the country.”
https://tinyurl.com/ycdrjrr4

March 14 is Learn About Butterflies Day. In some Irish folklore butterflies are 
referred to as ‘souls of the dead.’ Below you will find folktales from different 
cultures celebrating these beautiful insects.

Butterflies – Native American

https://tinyurl.com/y8f9rptg

The Butterfly Lovers - China

https://tinyurl.com/ybvybqdz

The Butterfly’s Wedding – Spain

https://tinyurl.com/y8uww6d8

The Princess and the Butterfly

https://tinyurl.com/ya6xlw7l

The Wings of the Butterfly – South America

https://tinyurl.com/yc2dyp66

April 4 is World Rat Day. Adjectives used to describe them are clean, devoted,intelligent and lovable so why not celebrate them with a few stories.

The Four Friends - India
https://tinyurl.com/y9u43r5j

How the Woman and the Rat Came to Stay in the Same House – South Sudan
https://tinyurl.com/ycscnjgj

The Husband of the Rat’s Daughter - Japan
https://tinyurl.com/y8z8wzhs

Rat Hall - Celtic
https://tinyurl.com/y965lhng

The Rat Princess - Japan
https://tinyurl.com/ycsaglax

Why the Cat Kills Rats - Nigeria
https://tinyurl.com/y7z6f3hv

SOMETHING NEW FOR THE NEW YEAR

I thought it would be fun to share some different story openings and endings I find along the research road. Here is the first one for 2019.

"In the olden times, when there were sieves in straws and lies in everything, in the olden times when there was abundance, and men ate and drank the whole day and yet lay down hungry..."

From The Three Orange-Peris https://archive.org/details/turkishfairytal00kngoog