Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling

by Emily K. Neuburger

Overview

Encouraging children to let their imagination run wild, Emily K. Neuburger offers 40 inventive projects and activities that will inspire kids ages 5 to 12 to express themselves through storytelling. Younger children will love making story stones and a storytelling jar, while older kids will open up and thrive as they embark on guided story walks and inspiring journaling exercises. Sparking creativity while developing a child’s love of language, Show Me a Story will kindle a lifelong passion for both writing and telling original stories. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603429887
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	08/28/2012
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	8.05(w) x 10.05(h) x 0.55(d)
Age Range:	5 - 12 Years

About the Author

Emily K. Neuburger is a writer, artist, and freelance art and creative writing teacher. She is passionate about encouraging people to get pumped about creativity, especially when it comes to the intersection of words and art. She is the author of the award-winning book Show Me a Story (Dr. Toy Best Picks, Family Choice Award, National Parenting Products Award honors, USA Best Books, International Book Awards finalist) and writes regularly about creativity and unexpected treasures on her website, emilyneuburger.com, as well as in print magazines and around the web. She lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and three children.
 

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction
-Tell More Stories (They're Good for You)
-Be Inspired
-Play!
-Go!
-Observe!
-Using This Book

Story Starters
-Story Disks
-Cut and Tell
-Story Pool
-Story Dice
-Story Blocks
-The Parts of a Story
-Beginning, Middle, End
-Story Grab Bag
-These Are the Stories in My Neighborhood
-Magnetic Story Board
-Story Sparks

Story Evolution
-Story Stones
-Traveling Puppet Theater
-Memory Cards
-Story Mat
-Storytelling Jar
-Storybook
-Story City
-Story Map
-Story Soundtrack
-Storytelling Kit

Story Activities
-Storytelling Walk
-Picture Tales
-Truth or Tale?
-Fill In the Blanks
-Story-Disk Chain
-Build a Story
-Word Tags
-Word Lists
-The Reference Desk
-Create the Past
-Story Ping-Pong
-1,2,3 Scribble & Tell
-Story Timeline
-Timing Is Everything

Story Play
-Magical Mailbox
-Magic Pebbles
-Magic Flower Wand
-Story Sets
-Adventure Kit
-Story Scenery

Materials
Templates
Puppet Theater
Puppets
Photo Credits
Acknowledgments
Index
Puppet Theater Backgrounds

What People are Saying About This

mommycoddle.com Molly Balint

"There’s nothing more inspiring and limitless than a child’s imagination. Emily’s book does an amazing job of helping parents encourage the storyteller living inside every kid. The projects engage their senses and creative spirits and help jumpstart the magic of storytelling. Each page had me wanting to drop everything, gather my kids around the kitchen table and dive into one of Emily’s projects!"

Molly Balint

"There’s nothing more inspiring and limitless than a child’s imagination. Emily’s book does an amazing job of helping parents encourage the storyteller living inside every kid. The projects engage their senses and creative spirits and help jumpstart the magic of storytelling. Each page had me wanting to drop everything, gather my kids around the kitchen table and dive into one of Emily’s projects!

Laurie Elish-Piper

"Show Me a Storyis a one-of a kind book that invites children, parents, and teachers into the joyous world of storytelling. Using the creative ideas in this book such as the story grab bag, storytelling jar, story ping pong, and magic pebbles, you can sparka love of storieswith the young and young-at-heart in yourlives. This is a must-have book for families, teachers, and others who work with and care about children and adolescents. With the creative story starters, activities, and projectsin this book, children will be able touse their imaginations, build their communication skills, solve problems, and establish a love of stories that will last a lifetime.“

Molly Balin

There's nothing more inspiring and limitless than a child's imagination. Emily's book does an amazing job of helping parents encourage the storyteller living inside every kid. The projects engage their senses and creative spirits and help jumpstart the magic of storytelling. Each page had me wanting to drop everything, gather my kids around the kitchen table and dive into one of Emily's projects!
—Molly Balin(mommycoddle.com)

Dean McCartney

"Emily Neuburger’sShow Me A Storyis a road map for children and adults as they chart a story from inception all the way to ‘ever after.’ It’s filled with ideas for parents and teachers alike to nurture young minds and help them see the world as a story to be told.

Dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education Dean McCartney

"Emily Neuburger’sShow Me A Storyis a road map for children and adults as they chart a story from inception all the way to ‘ever after.’ It’s filled with ideas for parents and teachers alike to nurture young minds and help them see the world as a story to be told."

Alexandra Kennedy

"In this charming new activity book, Neuburger shows parents and teachers how to tap into the creative power that lies within every child. Dozens of projects, all simple to set up, draw on that magical blend of story and art that is so irresistible for kids — and a great foundation for their learning."

Editorial Reviews

Best Picks winner in Dr. Toy's 2012 Best Children's Products Program

—Cool Mom Picks

Honors winner in the Book category

—Homeschool.com

“Parents, teachers, and child-care providers will find plenty of inspiration in these projects, and children will enjoy using them in their creative pursuits.”

—Washington Family Magazine

“Low on tech, high on terrific”

—Scrapbooking & Beyond

“Have you ever thought about combining craft projects and story telling?  What an ingenious idea!”

—MassMoms

“This book is truly a great resource”

—San Francisco/Sacramento Book Review

“What memories and people – especially families – are all about: stories (both true and imagined), told and retold within groups of people. This is an official rave.”

—NBCLatino.com

“Each craft project is presented in an easy-to-follow way, with colorful photographs of the adorable and fun-looking projects.”

—The Deseret News

“Emily K. Neuburger’s guide to inspiring storytelling in children welcomes readers as easily as a mother on a playground. … the book makes storytelling simple … Show Me a Story is a necessary book for parents, educators, and those who might be searching for new ways to spark the creativity of young people.”

—School Library Journal

“A must-have book for parents and teachers, this amazing book is full of creative ideas to develop a child’s storytelling skills. From story stones to picture tales to story maps, your children’s imagination will blossom as they enjoy the activities listed in this book. Regardless of their reading level, this book is a great tool for developing reading comprehension, sequence, characters, setting, plot, and so much more.”

—Parenting Magazine Group

“Unique and beautiful … this book can be the beginning of endless hours of creativity for both kids and the grown-ups who spend time with them.” 

“Public and school libraries will want this rich, innovative craft book in their collections.”

Winner of a 2012 Family Choice Award

From the Publisher

Have you ever thought about combining craft projects and story telling?  What an ingenious idea!”

MassMoms

Low on tech, high on terrific”

Scrapbooking & Beyond

Each craft project is presented in an easy-to-follow way, with colorful photographs of the adorable and fun-looking projects.”

The Deseret News

Parents, teachers, and child-care providers will find plenty of inspiration in these projects, and children will enjoy using them in their creative pursuits.”

Washington Family Magazine

A must-have book for parents and teachers, this amazing book is full of creative ideas to develop a child’s storytelling skills. From story stones to picture tales to story maps, your children’s imagination will blossom as they enjoy the activities listed in this book. Regardless of their reading level, this book is a great tool for developing reading comprehension, sequence, characters, setting, plot, and so much more.”

Parenting Magazine Group

Honors winner in the Book category

Homeschool.com

This book is truly a great resource”

San Francisco/Sacramento Book Review

What memories and people – especially families – are all about: stories (both true and imagined), told and retold within groups of people. This is an official rave.”

NBCLatino.com

Best Picks winner in Dr. Toy's 2012 Best Children's Products Program

Cool Mom Picks

Best Picks winner in Dr. Toy's 2012 Best Children's Products Program

Dr. Toy

Honors winner in the Book category

2012 National Parenting Publications Awards

Best Picks winner in Dr. Toy's 2012 Best Children's Products Program

Toy

Creative play is vital for children's development, and teacher and craft blogger Neuburger focuses on a variety of crafts designed to inspire and encourage creative play in children from grade school through early adolescence. The craft projects are generally simple and low-cost and do not require specialized supplies, and age ranges are provided both for crafting and using the finished product. Neuburger supplies prompts and directions for each craft, as well as a variety of tips specifically for teachers using these projects in their classrooms. VERDICT Parents, teachers, and child-care providers will find plenty of inspiration in these projects, and children will enjoy using them in their creative pursuits.

Library Journal

This collection invites children between the ages of 5 and 12 to create stories about their everyday lives and imaginings. Divided into four sections ("story starters," "story evolution," "story activities," and "story play"), the book provides a variety of projects to make and use. Each one includes a list of materials, clear step-by-step instructions, teaching tips, and other ideas that can be adapted for younger or older children. Bright photographs feature boys and girls engaged in each activity. Story prompts painted on wooden disks and worn as necklaces; a pretend neighborhood created with wood, paper, and craft foam; a story terrarium in a glass jar; and a traveling puppet theater with tongue-depressor puppets are among the projects. A reference desk game provides information, a time-line mural promotes sequencing, and word lists inspire characters and settings. Outside activities encourage children to observe and think like storytellers, and their stories-whether written or told-come together. With binoculars and treasure maps from their adventure kits, they can experience the stories they have created. Back matter includes templates and puppet-theater backdrops. Public and school libraries will want this rich, innovative craft book in their collections.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

School Library Journal