Storytelling for Year 1
Many teachers feel uncomfortable trying to tell stories (all in English) to year 1 students who barely know any English. There is a strong temptation (or felt need) to translate into BM as you go.
However, it is not necessary for the children to understand every word they hear in order to
After all, those are the reasons why we are telling the story. If they are having fun they will be curious to hear the story again (and again) understanding more each time and joining in with the bits they already know.
Here is a little made-up story which includes
However, it is not necessary for the children to understand every word they hear in order to
- enjoy the story - increasing their motivation
- benefit from the story - improving their language learning
After all, those are the reasons why we are telling the story. If they are having fun they will be curious to hear the story again (and again) understanding more each time and joining in with the bits they already know.
Here is a little made-up story which includes
- a (hopefully) very familiar topic
- pictures to help with vocabulary
- parts to join in with along the way
- an action song to sing before, and after, and at other times
- a 'moral' about behaviour.
You can read the booklet here (click on full screen in the bottom right-hand corner) and/or download the file below. The song is at the back of the book.
dont_put_your_fingers_in_your_mouth.pdf | |
File Size: | 862 kb |
File Type: |
Remember, you can print a PDF file as a booklet (printing on both sides of the paper) if you look for that option on the print menu and follow the instructions relevant to your printer.
Telling the story
There is a difference between telling a story and reading a story, and of course they both have their place. To tell the story you need gestures and/or pictures to help with unknown vocabulary, and to keep up interest.
There is a difference between telling a story and reading a story, and of course they both have their place. To tell the story you need gestures and/or pictures to help with unknown vocabulary, and to keep up interest.
Other than this picture of 'Hani' in the story (which I drew), the pictures in the story were all downloaded from 'Google Images' (and therefore do not belong to me.
Feel free to download and use the Hani picture, the others will need to be taken from the booklet or downloaded yourself.
I printed the pictures on to card and stuck a straw to the back, handing each one to a child to hold during the story. The kitchen utensils would probably have been better served by bringing along the real thing, and maybe even the salt, flour, and sugar as well.
They learnt the song before the story, and sang it again after.
[You can get the Hani picture by right-clicking and choosing 'save image as' or you can download the file below.]
Feel free to download and use the Hani picture, the others will need to be taken from the booklet or downloaded yourself.
I printed the pictures on to card and stuck a straw to the back, handing each one to a child to hold during the story. The kitchen utensils would probably have been better served by bringing along the real thing, and maybe even the salt, flour, and sugar as well.
They learnt the song before the story, and sang it again after.
[You can get the Hani picture by right-clicking and choosing 'save image as' or you can download the file below.]
hani.jpg | |
File Size: | 78 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
storytelling_for_year_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 311 kb |
File Type: |