Introduction
Engaging in conversations is an essential skill for students to develop, and story-telling plays a significant role in this process. When children share their experiences, they not only practice expressing themselves but also learn to listen actively and empathize with others. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that educators can use to help PreK students develop their story-telling skills and improve their social-emotional learning.
No-Prep Activity: Story Circle
This activity is designed to encourage students to share their experiences and practice story-telling in a structured manner. The Story Circle requires no preparation or materials from the educator, making it an easy and accessible option for any classroom setting.
- Have the students sit in a circle with the educator.
- The educator starts by sharing a short, personal story, keeping it to three or four sentences. For example: “This weekend, I went to the park with my dog. We played fetch and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a lovely day.”
- Next, the educator invites the student to their left to share a story, encouraging them to include details about where they went, what they did, and who they were with.
- Continue around the circle, allowing each student to share their story and practice their story-telling skills.
- After everyone has shared, the educator can summarize the activity by highlighting the importance of including details and keeping stories concise during conversations.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about story-telling and social-emotional learning:
- Why is it important to include details when telling a story during a conversation?
- How can we show that we are listening when someone else is telling a story?
- What are some ways to make our stories more interesting and engaging for others?
- How can sharing stories help us build relationships and connect with others?
- How do you feel when someone listens to your story and asks questions about it?
Related Skills
Developing story-telling skills is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other relevant skills for students include:
- Active listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and responding appropriately.
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
- Non-verbal communication: Expressing oneself through body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
- Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements and finding solutions to problems in a peaceful manner.
- Collaboration: Working together with others towards a common goal.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in discovering more activities and resources to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey, we invite you to sign up for free samples of our materials. You’ll find a wealth of activities, videos, and lessons designed to help your students develop essential communication and interpersonal skills. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your classroom experience and support your students’ growth!
