StoryCrafters
The StoryCrafters method is a simple, inexpensive, and time-efficient way to help children learn through whole body integration – it tickles the senses and stimulates those parts of the brain that otherwise may not get enough attention during the day.
StoryCrafters is primarily a storytelling technique, and so lends itself most obviously to language learning, but careful choice of stories will allow a teacher, librarian or storyteller to incorporate social studies, geography, history, even math and science into storytime.
What is required for success in StoryCrafters is simple craft materials (clay, ribbons, buttons, pipecleaners), a classroom of children willing to play, and a storyteller willing to be a little bit silly. Small risk, great reward.
Materials:
Lots of different materials can work for the craft portion of the StoryCrafters program. The best are products that are interesting to touch and feel. Markers, crayons, etc. and paper are not ideal, as I have found that drawing is such a visual and focused process that it actually pulls the children’s attention from the story, rather than engaging them as you would like. Fingerpaints are appealing, and certainly fulfill that need for tactile stimulation, but messy.
My favorite is clay or craft dough. It is brightly colored, pliable, and doesn’t lend itself to any particular end-product. I make my own dough for StoryCrafters. Simple and inexpensive, it is ideal for keeping the kids’ hands engaged while not distracting them from the story. I add peppermint scent to the dough to add another sensory element to the StoryCrafters experience.
Other favorite materials are pipecleaners, mini pom-poms, buttons, google eyes and wax sticks.
