Slow and Steady: Stor e Telling October November December 2012

Hare and Tortoise
Children's Illustrations, 1880

I have penned the Stor E Telling column since January of 2002 and the articles from 2002-2006 are the publications page of my website found here http://tinyurl.com/llnn47y . I will be adding the columns from 2007 to 2012 to that page as well. However, I am in the process of checking what link URL's have changed or are now defunct. It is a time consuming process so I am taking the “slow and steady” approach via Aesop and will post the individual columns on my blog for now.

I will not be adding current columns until the following year, so if you want immediate access to the newest websites, consider becoming a member of the National Storytelling Network. Please feel free to comment on the blog and let me know if you find this useful.

October November December 2012                                                                       

Godfather Death – German
http://tinyurl.com/6pb84vy

The Red King and the Witch - Romanian
http://tinyurl.com/7re2vu7

Man’s First Grief – Inuit
http://tinyurl.com/82w4qht

Why Death is Like a Banana Tree – Madagascar
http://spiritoftrees.org/why-death-is-like-the-banana-tree

The Death of a Child – Six stories collected by D. L. Ashliman.   http://tinyurl.com/767y4tw

From the Learning to Give website.

Tiggak - Inuit

http://tinyurl.com/d2k96co

The Old Woman Who Was Kind to Insects - Inuit

http://tinyurl.com/c33uhrq

Learning to Give - Lesson plan to complement the two folktales above for grades 9-12.
http://tinyurl.com/cgu99td

Story-Lovers.com - Stories to help deal with grief and loss.

http://www.story-lovers.com/listsgriefstories.html

The Healing Story Alliance – This is one of the special interest groups of the National Storytelling Network. Recently, they have updated their website and added a number of new, valuable resources.

http://healingstory.org/rrr/resources


Miscellaneous Resources

Anecdote - A storytelling site from Australia offering a list of stories on dozens of topics.

My thanks to storyteller Cathryn Wellner for passing this site along.

http://www.anecdote.com.au/storyfinder.php

Creative Commons – “A nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools.”
http://creativecommons.org/

Embracing the Child – The perfect website when you are searching for age appropriate books. It offers a list of the Newbery, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Award winning books, suggestions based on themes such as fairytales and science, lesson plans and more.

http://www.embracingthechild.org/index.html

Ethiopian Folktales – Over 200 folktales “…many of which had never before been written down or translated into English. You can also listen to many of the original recordings in the voices of the narrators…” My thanks to Kit Rogers in the National Storytelling Network’s office for passing this website along.
http://www.ethiopianfolktales.com/

Full Books.com – Thousands of full text online books. The books are arranged by alphabetically by title and there is a Google search bar available.

http://www.fullbooks.com/

Public Domain Folktales, Fairytales, Myths and Legends – Recently I offered my fifth listing of public domain story collections. You will find a wide variety of stories from many cultures: Portugal, Poland, South Africa, Italy and more.

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/07/public-domain-v-folktales-fairytales.html

Southern Thailand Folktales – Seven stories collected by university students in Thailand.

http://www.escati.com/7-southern-thailand-folk-tales/

Stories4u – A wide range of stories from India, fairy tales, folktales, animal Tales, Panchatantra, myths and legends. Settle in, you will be reading, laughing and learning for quite awhile.
http://stories4u.50webs.com/main.htm

Tis the Season – Christmas Stories from Around the World – The holiday season is upon us. Here are some stories to celebrate Christmas.

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2011/11/tis-season-christmas-stories-from.html

Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches – A collaborative project of the BBC Scotland, School of Scottish Studies (University of Edinburgh) and the National Trust offering thousands of hours of Gaelic and Scots recordings. The project includes folklore, songs, music, history, poetry, traditions, stories and other information. A true treasure!

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/

World of Stories – From the United Kingdom, a growing collection of short stories from around the world that include retold traditional tales and new short stories, available in  twenty-one  languages. The stories may be read and listened to online or downloaded for free. 

My thanks to Kate Dudding for sharing this site.
http://www.worldstories.org.uk/

And if you missed any of the previous “Slow and Steady…” blog posts here are the links to the series so far.

2007

January February 2007
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/06/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e.html
March April 2007
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/06/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_30.html
May June 2007
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/07/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e.html
July August 2007
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/07/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_15.html
September October 2007
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/07/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_20.html 
November December 2007
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/07/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_29.html

2008

January February 2008
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/08/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e.html
March April 2008
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/08/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_11.html
May June 2008
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/08/slow-and-steady-wins-race-may-june-2008.html

Summer 2008
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/08/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_25.html
Fall 2008
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/09/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e.html

2009

January February 2009
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/09/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_10.html
May June 2009
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/09/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_14.html
July August 2009
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/09/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_21.html
September October 2009
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/09/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_29.html
November December 2009
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/10/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e.html

 2010

January February 2010
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/10/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_13.html
April May 2010
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/10/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e_28.html

July August 2010
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/11/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-july.html
September October 2010
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/11/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling.html
November December 2010
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/11/slow-and-steady-wins-race-stor-e.html

2011

January February 2011
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/11/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-january.html

April May 2011
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/11/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-april.html 
July August 2011

http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-july.html

September October 2011
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling.html
November December 2011
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-november.html

2012

January, February, March 2012

http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-january.html
April May 2012
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-april.html
June July 2012
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-june.html
August September 2012
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2013/12/slow-and-steady-stor-e-telling-august.html

Karen Chace 2013 ©

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.

'Tis the Season - Christmas Stories From Around the World

“Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”
~ Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

The Christmas holiday is just around the corner and it's time to add some fun, facts and mirth to your day, and stories to your repertoire!

A bit of background on the man in the red suit; he is known by a variety of names around the world. Whether you call him Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus or Sinterklaas, may you feel the magic he brings to the season and surrounded by those you love.

• In Holland, Santa Claus is known as Sinterklaas tradition.
• In Spain, every year Santa Claus comes by steamboat.
• In the United States Santa Claus is described as a plump, cheerful, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, red trousers and white-cuffed, and a black leather belt and boots (picture of himself rarely has a beard with no mustache)
• Santa Claus as we know him in the United States and Canada became popular in the 19^th century.
• In the UK and Europe, he is usually called Father Christmas.
• The real Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey and was buried in the city of Bari, Southern Italy.
• It is said he was born at Patara in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor and was known for his extraordinary devoutness, passion and many astonishing miracles. He died at Myra, and was buried in his cathedral.
  The above details came from the following website:
  http://www.legendsbreakfast.com/the-history-of-santa-claus-and-christmas (This site is no longer in service.)

STORIES

A Gift from St. Nicholas – United States
http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/08/a_gift_from_saint_nicholas.html

A Small Fish Story – Ireland
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/small-fish-story/

The Baker’s Dozen – United States

http://www.aaronshep.com/storytelling/GOS07.html

The Cat of the Dovrefell - Norway

https://www.worldoftales.com/European_folktales/Norwegian_folktale_14.html#gsc.tab=0

The Children’s Book of Christmas Stories – Thirty-five stories, published in 1913 by Elizabeth Harrison. “In this book you'll find stories by such well known authors as Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Anderson. You'll also find stories by author's you've never heard of, but relax and know that every story represented here has been read and enjoyed by thousands of children.”
https://archive.org/stream/thechildrensbook05061gut/cbcst10.txt

Christmas in Legend and Story – Public domain book published in 1915 by Elva Sophronia Smith containing forty stories of the season.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11014

The Christmas Cuckoo - Ireland
https://mythologystories.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/the-christmas-cuckoo/

The Christmas Fairy of Strasburg – Germany
https://kraftmstr.com/christmas/books/gs-christmas_fairy.html   

The Christmas Orange – England   
https://spellbinders.org/the-christmas-orange/

Elijah the Prophet and St. Nicolas – Russia
https://surlalunefairytales.com/book.php?id=124&tale=4101

The Icon’s Warm Bread – Greece
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/icons-warm-bread/

My Merry Christmas.com - “Christmas has ancient roots in many societies. The passage of time has perpetuated tales of legend surrounding the very icons we treasure these days during the season.” Enjoy fifteen legends associated with the holiday. Note: Unfortunately, the page is no longer active on the website. However, it may still be accessed via this link via the Wayback Machine.
https://web.archive.org/web/20060205011209/http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/christmaslegends.php

The Silver Pinecones – Bohemia – My blog post from 2009 with the story and a few complementary crafts.
https://karenchace.blogspot.com/2009/12/the-silver-cones-christmas-tale.html

World of Christmas

Twenty-two tales to delight and share with your audiences. The site also offers information on Christmas symbols and superstitions and a plethora of all things Christmas piled high under their tree.

http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/

CRAFTS

Paper Bag Reindeer Puppet – http://tinyurl.com/39yppmg

Paper Plate Poinsettia - http://tinyurl.com/39jmkws

Christmas Crafts and Printables - http://tinyurl.com/yxwong

Holiday Origami - Spice up your holiday stories with two easy to do origami folds; a star and a Christmas tree:
http://www.planetpals.com/ppcraft2.html
http://www.tammyyee.com/origamitree.html

GAMES 

World of Christmas – This link will lead you to a wide variety of games to entertain the children throughout the holiday. 
http://tinyurl.com/ykcoxud

MUSIC

The Hymns and Carols of Christmas -The site offers downloadable midi files, some sheet music and also highlights the poetry of the Christmas season.  http://tinyurl.com/ygmnjv

SOMETHING EXTRA

Christmas At Sea – Interesting historical information about how the sea is connected to the season.
https://mymerrychristmas.com/x/christmas-at-sea/  

Karen Chace 2011 ©

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.

Crayons, Crafts and Coloring Oh My!

"Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up." 
                                       ~ Pablo Picasso


If you subscribe to my bi-monthly newsletter you know that along with the stories, curriculum, etc., I also highlight various craft and activities links. While there is a google search tool on the newsletter site I have categorized and compiled them here as another way for you to access them easily.

So get out the paper, paint, crayons and glue and help your students make something beautiful!


AIRPLANES
Airplane Coloring Page - http://tinyurl.com/2w32bvk
High Flying Airplane Bookmark - http://tinyurl.com/2dschv
10 Paper Airplanes – Ten easy to fold airplanes with video instructions. http://www.10paperairplanes.com/


ANIMALS

Jungle Tiger Activities - http://tinyurl.com/y97eyce
Tiger Mask to Cut and Color - http://tinyurl.com/ya4vvdg
Aesop’s Fables coloring book pages. Bats, birds, fox, hare and more are just waiting to be brought to colorful life! http://tinyurl.com/ng7elr
Dalmation Cookie Bank – http://tinyurl.com/2f5j8bg  
CD Dog - http://familycrafts.about.com/od/cdcrafts/ss/cdanimals_4.htm
Puppy Coloring Page - http://familycrafts.about.com/library/color/blcoldogbowlbug.htm

AUTUMN

Apple Activities & Crafts for Kids - http://tinyurl.com/no6xhl
Autumn Tree Craft - http://tinyurl.com/lwwsxa
Paper Bag Trees - http://tinyurl.com/6pyoz3
Scarecrow Craft - http://tinyurl.com/kp2cgg
Word Jumble - http://tinyurl.com/ycfsfj6
Fall Word Search - http://tinyurl.com/ya3cux8
Autumn Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/6jvvwm
Build A Tree Leaf by Leaf - http://tinyurl.com/68y23p
Paper Bag Trees - http://tinyurl.com/6pyoz3

APRIL FOOLS

Bestkidsbooksite.com - Strut your stuff on April Fool’s Day with this Jolly Jester’s Hat at http://tinyurl.com/cvdew8 and tons of Easter coloring pages to keep you coloring in or out of the lines! http://tinyurl.com/cwqyfo

BACK TO SCHOOL

Back to School bookmarks your students can print out and color - http://tinyurl.com/ls287p
September Bulletin Board Project - Welcome your students back to school in style! http://tinyurl.com/m6z2sp
Teacher’s Survival Kit – School is in session and the teachers in your child’s life will love you for thinking of them. Put together this easy and charming “survival kit” and add a smile to their year! http://tinyurl.com/2frdeng
KinderArt - A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r
Bug Jars - Children will learn to look at the details of bugs and plants as they learn about symmetry and asymmetry. This is a craft and lesson plan all in one! http://tinyurl.com/dlooot
How to Plan a Scarecrow Storytime - http://tinyurl.com/yckv2ge
KinderArt - A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r


BASTILLE DAY

O la la…some crafts to help you celebrate. Build an Eiffel Tower http://tinyurl.com/mzspa7  
or Arc de Triomphe - http://tinyurl.com/npueoq

BIRDS AND BUGS

Happy Feather’s Day - http://tinyurl.com/cyuybg
Easy Bird Feeder - http://tinyurl.com/cf43t8
Paper Bag Crow Puppet - http://tinyurl.com/n4kojy
Bug Jars - Children will learn to look at the details of bugs and plants as they learn about symmetry and asymmetry. This is a craft and lesson plan all in one! http://tinyurl.com/dlooot


BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month Activities - http://tinyurl.com/23ekb2y
Diversity Banner - http://tinyurl.com/djfymu

BOOKMARKS

Arthur Character Bookmark - http://tinyurl.com/llurp9
Bookworm Bookmark – http://tinyurl.com/2f26sl4
Beaded Bookmark for the older students - http://tinyurl.com/nn7qf7
Curious George - http://tinyurl.com/nx7gxn
Scarecrow “If I Only Had A Book” - http://tinyurl.com/lntj54
Back to School bookmarks - http://tinyurl.com/ls287p


CHINESE MOON FESTIVAL

Chinese Moon Festival Coloring Pages – From the Moon Goddess to moon cakes, many choices to choose from. http://tinyurl.com/3yyorka
Follow up with a lesson plan and activity on painting watercolor Chinese Dragons. http://tinyurl.com/8jutqw  


CHRISTMAS

Origami Star - http://www.planetpals.com/ppcraft2.html
Christmas Tree - http://www.tammyyee.com/origamitree.html
Christmas Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yk5uu4a
Paper Bag Reindeer Puppet – http://tinyurl.com/39yppmg
Paper Plate Poinsettia - http://tinyurl.com/39jmkws
Christmas Crafts and Printables - http://tinyurl.com/yxwong
Gingerbread Man Ornaments - Preschool http://tinyurl.com/5g6pon  
Holiday Origami - Spice up your holiday stories with two easy to do origami folds; a star and a Christmas tree:
http://www.planetpals.com/ppcraft2.html
http://www.tammyyee.com/origamitree.html
World of Christmas – This link will lead you to a wide variety of games to entertain the children through the holiday. http://tinyurl.com/ykcoxud


CINCO DE MAYO

Kaboose.com - Say “Ole!” with these crafts and activities to help you say celebrate Cinco de Mayo. http://holidays.kaboose.com/cinco-de-mayo/
Mexican Bird Craft - http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mbirdrattle.htm


DIWALI

Diwali Diya Mobile - http://tinyurl.com/ya64rf5
Diwali Door Hanging - Traditional embroidered door hanging to welcome visitors and hopefully the Goddess of Fortune Lakshmi. http://tinyurl.com/ydr5pch
Diwali Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/ykwu7dt%20


EARTH DAY - RECYCLED CRAFTS

Cutlery Wind Chimes - The summer cookout season is over. Here’s a clever craft to recycle all of the leftover plastic utensils. http://tinyurl.com/mt76o7
Brown Paper Kites - For grades K – 6. http://www.kinderart.com/crafts/bagkite.shtml
Milk Carton Pen Pot - For grades 2 an up. http://tinyurl.com/mxn6sg
Puzzle Piece Picture Frame - For grades K– 2 http://tinyurl.com/n96pxw
Earth Day Crafts - Dig around; there are plenty of crafts here to help you celebrate. http://tinyurl.com/ba67fb
Earth Day Litterbug - Using recycled items help your students make their Earth Day litterbug. http://tinyurl.com/d6mpxq
Ladybug Rocks - Of course, my favorite! http://crafts.kaboose.com/earth-ladybug-rocks.html

FATHER’S DAY

DLTK.COM - Lots of things to make that special man smile on Father’s Day: Crafts, poems, printables, recipes and songs! http://tinyurl.com/nrssk

FLOWERS

Giant Tissue Paper Flowers – Decorate with this lovely flowers. No watering required. http://tinyurl.com/3438nvo
Handprint Lilies – Cute and easy craft for ages 5+. http://www.dltk-holidays.com/mom/mlilies.htm
Flower Coloring Pages – A garden of choices. http://flowercoloringpages.org/


FOURTH OF JULY

Enchanted Learning - Crafts and Activities for Flag Day. http://tinyurl.com/ce59vx
For some extra fun, a word search and maze to celebrate our country's anniversary:
Maze: http://tinyurl.com/n7curj 
Word Search: http://tinyurl.com/lss2pe
Kaboose.com - Lots of fun Fourth of July crafts to make your holiday sparkle! http://tinyurl.com/nymrap
USHistory.org - It was said that Betsy Ross could cut a five pointed star in one snip of the scissors. Learn how to make your own star the same way. http://tinyurl.com/ywoo8r

GRANDPARENT’S DAY

Activity Village - A wonderful page full of activities, printables and information on Grandparent’s Day, sure to put a smile on your face no matter what age! http://tinyurl.com/lbu8t2
Coloring pages and crafts for Grandparents Day - http://tinyurl.com/l88g79
Grandma or Grandpa Apron - http://tinyurl.com/njaamh

HALLOWEEN

Halloween Crafts - Bats, and pumpkins and vampires oh my! Lots of fun, spooky crafts to make your Halloween craft time as easy as saying, trick or treat! http://tinyurl.com/lbffm7%20
FamilyFun.com - Lots of spooktacular ideas for Halloween fun; activities, recipes, games, costumes, crafts and more. http://tinyurl.com/583jd
Kinderart.com - Ghosts in the Graveyard – Using recycled egg cartons you can create your own ghostly setting. Suitable for all ages. http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/ghosts_in_the_graveyard.shtml
How to Plan a Scarecrow Story Time - http://tinyurl.com/yckv2ge


HANUKKAH

Menorah - http://tinyurl.com/yl82unf
Star of David - http://tinyurl.com/yg9gvvs
Window Sparklers, Star of David and more. http://tinyurl.com/yjqn5ce
Milk Carton Dreidel - http://tinyurl.com/2dknzg9  
Easy Cut and Fold Star of David - http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/jewish/starofdavid.htm

KWANZAA

Kwanzaa Crafts for Children - http://tinyurl.com/yb9fy9m
Kaboose.com Kwanzaa Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/yht48lk
Kwanzaa Coloring Pages- http://tinyurl.com/yffaodm
More Kwanzaa Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/3aceesk
Kwanzaa Placement – http://tinyurl.com/256u4nv  


LA POSADA

Pinata - “One piñata tradition says: You go around life with your eyes covered, trying to find the good things and working hard to get them.” The original, traditional shape of the piñata is the six pointed star although today countless forms are used. http://tinyurl.com/y9uhmlw


MARDI GRAS

Celebrate Fat Tuesday - http://tinyurl.com/yfxxg55
Mardi Gras Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/cusd89  
Mardi Gras Masks - http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/mardig


MISCELLANEOUS

Origami Peace Crane - http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/peacecrane.html
Peace Lantern - http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/peacelantern.html
Peace on Earth - http://tinyurl.com/yknakrv 
Sea Serpent Games and Activities - Lots of creativity swimming around these pages! http://tinyurl.com/mkubfj
Mermaid Paper Doll - Children can color her pretty with your own paints and crayons! http://tinyurl.com/mvkgn5
DLTK 'S Holiday Crafts - "Crafts to help you decorate, games to help you celebrate, worksheets to challenge your mind and songs to sing together!" http://www.dltk-holidays.com/ 
KidsStuffCanada.com - Creative, downloadable coloring pages to complement the stories of Grimm and Andersen. Also, interactive pages for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, etc. Enough activities to keep you coloring outside the lines until the New Year! www.kidstuffcanada.com/en 


MOTHER’S DAY

Bath Salts for Mom – http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/mother7.shtml
Flower Doorstop for Mom – Just in time for Mother’s Day! http://tinyurl.com/32mrspl
Kinderart.com - Crafts and gifts to make for Mom including Mother's Day, May, Arts and Crafts Activities, Lessons, Coloring Pages, Ideas, Recipes and Treats. http://tinyurl.com/cagxwy


MULTICULTURAL

Activity Village - Make your own carp kite or origami to celebrate Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day). There are many other crafts, activities and printables to make this Japanese national holiday shine! http://tinyurl.com/cxwwv3
Children of the World Necklace - http://tinyurl.com/l6cqsu
Egyptian Crafts– A great selection of Egyptian crafts for all ages. http://tinyurl.com/344bmh8  
Hieroglyphics Bookmarks – Two choices, one with hieroglyphics and another with a maze on the back. Mazes have been in existence since ancient Egypt, when Amenembet III built a funerary temple consisting of 3000 chambers. http://tinyurl.com/38hxvnj  
Japanese Kokeshi Doll - http://tinyurl.com/cscr76
King Tut Mask – Definitely for older children but this would be a wonderful art project to complement an Egyptian unit. http://tinyurl.com/3xenscl
Hawaiian Lei Flower Necklace - http://tinyurl.com/ysydbf
New Zealand Koru Art - “The koru is the Maori name given to the new unfurling fern frond and symbolizes new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Maori carving and tattoos.” http://kinderart.com/multic/koruart.shtml
Origami Doll - http://tinyurl.com/ddo8w2
Peace Dove - http://tinyurl.com/n4wfwh
World Neighbors: Handprint Craft and Poem - http://tinyurl.com/l45smb


RAMADAN

Children’s Activities for the Month of Ramadan - http://www.submission.org/YES/child2.html
Make a Ramandan Collage - http://www.theholidayspot.com/ramadan/crafts.htm


SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
Leprechaun Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/yl3rmq9
St. Patrick’s Day Wreaths – http://tinyurl.com/yz4bw29
St. Patrick’s Day Word Jumble - http://tinyurl.com/ykjhtf8
St. Patrick’s Day Word Search - http://tinyurl.com/ylx8537
St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yz7guar
St. Patrick’s Day Crafts and Printables -http://tinyurl.com/cxfe9a
St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/cy9pwd

SPRING CRAFTS

Frog Pouch Craft – Ages 3 and up http://tinyurl.com/ykjkko5
Frog Paper Bag Puppet – Ages 2 and up http://tinyurl.com/yjc9cbd
Frog Paper Crafts – Ages 2 and up http://tinyurl.com/yjb5tok
Spring Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/adaz63  
Flowered Hat - http://tinyurl.com/b36hnx
KinderArt - A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r

STORYTELLING

Fables Theme: Preschool Activities and Crafts - “Visit a theme to find activities that include easy instructions and a list of materials needed related to Aesop's and other fables. You will find crafts, printable activities, and related resources.” http://www.first-school.ws/theme/fables.htm 
Story Sack - ‘This is a fun way for parents and children to read stories together. Grandparents, teachers, childcare providers, babysitters and anyone else who spends time with children will also find these useful!” http://tinyurl.com/27pwh8j
Fairy Tale Crafts - From dragons, to princes, knights and wizards, lots of crafts to keep everyone busy. http://tinyurl.com/an3lay

SUMMER

ChildFun.com - Summer brings a bounty of fresh fruit so why not have some fruity fun! http://tinyurl.com/m99dj4
DLTK Crafts – Lots of flavorful ice cream crafts to keep you cool through the summer months. http://www.dltk-holidays.com/summer/national_ice_cream_month.htm
Danielle’s Place - A great site full of very creative, easy and inexpensive paper plate and paper cup crafts for kids. http://tinyurl.com/lyd6cy
Kids Summer Crafts and Summer Printables - http://tinyurl.com/njew6g  
Kinderart - Summer is tine to take the children to the zoo. Download some cute animal printables to keep your students and children roaring with delight long after the field trip! http://tinyurl.com/mfoajz


THANKSGIVING

Blessing Boxes - http://tinyurl.com/5zuk4x
Thanksgiving and Fall Crafts for Children - http://tinyurl.com/ylfuhze
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yauxtpy


VALENTINE’S DAY

Educational Valentine’s Day Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/yawdrqt
Valentine’s Day Word Search - http://tinyurl.com/c6lldr
Kaboose.com - Valentine’s Day word searches, math puzzles, and more. http://tinyurl.com/bfrrnt
Kaboose.com - Lots of easy crafts to make your heart flutter for Valentine’s Day.
http://tinyurl.com/ackzdb


VETERAN’S DAY

Veteran’s Day Activities - Coloring pages, crafts for kids, word searches and more. http://tinyurl.com/kslkv7


WINTER

Family Fun.com - Tons of winter fun; crafts, games, activities, printables and more! http://tinyurl.com/9n2gyt
Kaboose - Winter clip art, games, activities and crafts to help warm your spirit. http://holidays.kaboose.com/winter/
Kinderart - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…Decorate your classroom or library with an array of beautiful paper cut creations. http://tinyurl.com/94n9gj
Penguin Fun! Coloring pages, mazes, worksheets, songs, riddles and more! http://tinyurl.com/5g6pon
Polish Gwiazdy – Beautiful paper cuttings that look like snowflakes but they have eight sides not six. http://tinyurl.com/22jo2gd

The Silver Cones - A Christmas Tale

Photo by Karen Chace

THE SILVER CONES
Adapted from a story by
Johanna Spyri
Found in Educating by Storytelling Published in 1918

In the mountain land of Bohemia there lived in the long ago a miner with his wife and little daughter. They were happy in their hut in the forest, but after a time the father and mother died, and the child was left alone in the world. She had no money, and no aunts or cousins to take her in, and it seemed as if she would have to go hungry. But always there are kindly hearts among the poor, and one of the miners opened his house that she might have a home. He had six children of his own and little bread and meat to spare, but his good wife said, "We will divide what we have," So little Hilda became one of the family, and they grew to love her very much.

It was midwinter, and Christmas day not far away. The children thought of nothing but the coming of St. Nicholas, who they hoped would not forget them on the Holy Night, when every boy and girl in Bohemia expects a visit from the gift bringer. But when they spoke to the miner about it he shook his head and said, " Do not set your hearts upon his coming. Our hut is very small and stands so far in the forest that he may not be able to find it."

Gretchen, his little daughter, had a very different idea. She declared St. Nicholas could find a house in the dark if it were no bigger than an ant hill, and went to bed to dream of the toys and sweetmeats he would bring.

Day after day passed, and nearer, nearer came the season of Christ's birth. The children talked of him as they sat by the fire at night, as they picked up dead branches in the forest, and as they bedded the goats and shut them in, for Bohemian mountain folk are a toiling people, and even boys and girls must work.

At last the day before Christmas came, and in the afternoon little Hilda started out with her basket to get some cones. She wanted the fire to be brighter and more cheerful than ever that night, and perhaps if she met a servant from the castle, he might take some to feed the prince's fire, and give her a silver piece.

"And if he does," she thought as she trudged on her way, "I can buy something for the miner and his dear children."

Rübezahl

by

Moritz von Schwind, 1851

Now, in that land of Bohemia, on the summit of a lofty mountain, a creature named Riibezahl made his home. He possessed all magic powers, and was so mighty that his sway extended to the very center of the earth. There he had chambers of gold and silver, and diamonds and jewels without number, and often gave of his treasures to those who were good enough to deserve them. He could change himself at will into any form. Now he was a bat flying in the night, now a country swain selling his wares at the fair, and now a woodman cutting down trees in the forest, because thus he was able to find out who was worthy and who unworthy, and to reward or punish them as they deserved.

Hilda had often heard of the strange ways of Riibezahl, and wondered if he would ever cross her path.

"I suppose not," she murmured, "because I am just a little girl."

As she came near the fir trees, a tiny white-haired man walked out of the shadow. He had a long white beard and a jolly red face, and looted as if he were the friend of children.

"What are you doing?" he called to her.

"I've come to gather cones," she replied; "some for our fire and some to sell, if the servant from the castle will only buy."

Then she told him of the miner's family, of how eager she was to get some money that she might buy a gift for his children, and of her hope that St. Nicholas would not forget them on the Holy Night.

The little old man seemed much interested, and when she finished her story he said, "The largest cones are on that tree. If you hope to sell, gather the best ones."

He pointed to a great, dark fir just beyond them, and then went back into the shadows of the forest.

Little Hilda thanked him and ran to the spot. She could see the cones like beehives on the branches, and just as she came under them there was such a downfall of beautiful brown things it frightened her and she began to run. But thinking of what she could do with such big ones, she went back, filled her basket, and started homeward.

It was very heavy, and the farther she went the heavier it grew.

"I'll have to ask little Gretchen to help me take it up the hill path to the castle," she thought. But by the time she reached the hut it had become such a load she could not move it, and the miner had to carry it in himself.

"They are lovely big ones and of a beautiful brown color," she said as the children crowded around to see.

But when they looked at the basket again, they saw no brown at all. Instead there was a gleam brighter than that of the moonbeams through the fir trees, for a wonderful thing had happened. In the twinkling of an eye every one of those cones had turned into shining silver, which sparkled and glistened so that they dazzled the eyes.

Then the little girl remembered the old man in the forest and told the miner about him.

He nodded his head in a knowing way and said, “Surely it was Riibezahl, and he has rewarded you for being sweet and gentle."

All of which seemed like a dream to little Hilda, but when she looked into the basket she knew it was true. And so knew all the other mountain folk, when the stars of the Holy Night shone out and the children went from door to door distributing silver cones. The good folk who gave her a home received so many that never again were they poor. They built a fine house with a porch and twenty windows, and were as rich as anyone in Bohemia.

To make things lovelier still, St. Nicholas found the hut, just as Gretchen had said he would, and left some sweets and toys for the children. He laughed loud and long when he saw the shining cones, for he had heard all about it from Riibezahl himself.

Pronunciation - Riibezahl (re'be tsal)

For another story about Silver Pine Cones visit my friend Granny Sue's beautiful blog at http://tinyurl.com/ykgulqg

CRAFTS

When you are done reading bring the fun indoors with some easy pine cone crafts to entertain the children.

Pine Cone Tree
http://tinyurl.com/yzlnovc

Pine Cone Angel
https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/pinecone-angels/

A Song of Interruptions

Today on the Storytell listserv we were having a grand time sharing tales of the myriad of interruptions we have contended with while performing. They ran the gamut from the usual school fire drills to the more unusual, a pair of mating, and quite loud, turtles.

The discussion got me laughing and thinking so I sat down and wrote The Twelve Days of Stories, a parody on The Twelve Days of Christmas. Sing out everyone!



The Twelve Days of Stories
Karen Chace 2008 ©

On the first day of stories
my audience gave to me
A fly buzzing all around me

On the second day of stories,
my audience gave to me
Two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the third day of stories
my audience gave to me
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the fourth day of stories,
my audience gave to me
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the fifth day of stories
my audience gave to me
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the sixth day of stories
my audience gave to me
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the seventh day of stories,
my audience gave to me
Seven copters whirling
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the eighth day of stories
my audience gave to me
Eight birds a squawking
Seven copters whirling
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the ninth day of stories,
my audience gave to me
Nine bats a soaring
Eight birds a squawking
Seven copters whirling
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the tenth day of stories,
my audience gave to me
Ten ponies riding
Nine bats a soaring
Eight birds a squawking
Seven copters whirling
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the eleventh day of stories
my audience gave to me
Eleven pipers piping (I get to reuse this one because of my friends bagpipers :)
Ten ponies riding
Nine bats a soaring
Eight birds a squawking
Seven copters whirling
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
two mating turtles
and a fly buzzing all around me

On the twelfth day of stories
my audience gave to me
Twelve bands a playing
Eleven pipers piping
Ten ponies riding
Nine bats a soaring
Eight birds a squawking
Seven copters whirling
Six fire drills
Five toppling trees
Four flying Elvis
Three topless women
Two mating turtles
And a fly buzzing all around me