Texas Library Association Annual Conference
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Stories Alive! Using Creative Dramatics in Storytime
Presented by Toni Simmons and Jiaan Powers
Use call and respond in stories.
React, be animated, use hand gestures, set an expectation of the audience, give perspective to the story.
Guide the audience to improvised participation.
Movement - must have motivation, i.e. don’t move for the sake of moving.
Not every story can have drama added! You must look at each story and think about where you can add drama to it.
Directed participation - Be the narrator to maintain control in case the situation gets out of hand.
Suggested stories for directed participation: The Enormous Turnip, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Little Red Hen, Henny Penny.
“Building” stories can have audience participation, too. Caps For Sale is an example.
Is your group out of hand? End the story.
Use a microphone to make your voice louder than the audience. This will give you more control over them.