Introduction

Storytelling is an essential skill that helps children develop their communication abilities and social-emotional learning. In this blog post, we will focus on teaching kindergarten students how to tell stories effectively by providing enough information for their listeners to understand. The concept of the Background Brief will be introduced as a framework for students to think about what their listener needs to know to follow their story. This includes sharing the when, who, what, and where of their story to avoid confusion and enhance understanding.

No-Prep Activity: Picture Prompts

Here is a simple, no-prep activity that educators can use to help students practice using the Background Brief when telling stories. This activity requires no materials or preparation, making it an easy and effective way to engage students in learning.

1. Choose a picture that depicts a scene with multiple characters, objects, and events. This could be a picture from a book, a photograph, or an image found online.
2. Show the picture to the class and ask them to study it for a moment.
3. Invite a student to come up and tell a story based on the picture.
4. While the student is telling their story, remind them to use the Background Brief by providing the when, who, what, and where of their story.
5. After the student has finished, facilitate a brief discussion about the story and ask the class if they understood it well.
6. Repeat the process with different pictures and students to give everyone a chance to practice using the Background Brief.

This activity not only helps students practice storytelling but also encourages them to pay attention to details and think about their audience’s perspective.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Picture Prompts activity, use the following discussion questions to stimulate further conversations about using the Background Brief in storytelling:

1. Why is it important to provide enough information when telling a story?
2. How did using the Background Brief help you understand the stories better?
3. Can you think of a time when someone told you a story, and you felt confused because they did not provide enough information? How did it make you feel?
4. How can we remember to use the Background Brief when telling stories to our friends and family?
5. What other situations might require us to provide enough information for others to understand?

Related Skills

Teaching students to use the Background Brief when telling stories is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that educators can help students develop include:

• Active Listening: Encourage students to listen attentively when others are speaking, ask questions, and show empathy.
• Nonverbal Communication: Teach students to recognize and interpret body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
• Conflict Resolution: Help students learn how to manage disagreements and find solutions that work for everyone involved.
• Collaboration: Promote teamwork and cooperation by teaching students how to work together effectively on group projects and activities.

Next Steps

Now that you have an understanding of the Background Brief and its role in effective storytelling, it’s time to put these skills into practice with your kindergarten students. To access free sample materials for teaching this skill and others, sign up at Everyday Speech’s Sample Materials page. These resources will help you create engaging lessons that promote social-emotional learning and support your students’ overall development.