I’d like to share with you a four-part storytelling game which I really enjoy playing with adults and/or children. I’ve played this with children of varying ages but find that 6 – 10 year old probably enjoy and benefit from it most. Sometimes I only do one or two parts of the game…..
I’d love to hear if and how they work for you so please do let me know by posting below. Thanks
PART ONE
Creating a Character in a Group (I suggest not more than 15 people in the circle). It works best when the group concentrates on the physical aspects of the character they are creating, although it doesn’t have to be exclusively so. I suggest, if working with children, that an adult starts the game to give the lead prompt and that any other adults present are spaced out in the circle. The character should be from the group’s imagination rather than one that already exists on film, TV, in a game or book etc. I don’t give too many instructions in advance of the game, as I find that the children follow the lead of the the person beginning the game:
In a circle, standing up to aid movement and gesture:
The first person describes one aspect of the character, for example ‘She was a very tall woman with huge deep blue eyes’. As they speak out the description use hand gestures too.
The whole group then speaks the same sentence again, using hand gestures
The second person describes a new aspect of the character ‘Her hands are old and covered in warts
The whole group speaks out both sentences (remember to include gestures to aid memory)
The third person describes a new aspect of the character ‘She is wearing a shiny red and green coat, with threadbare pockets and large brass buttons’
Everyone speaks out the description (including gestures to aid memory) ‘She was a very tall woman with huge deep blue eyes and her hands are old and covered in warts. She is wearing a shiny red and green coat, with threadbare pockets and large brass buttons’
Continue in this way round the circle until you have the picture of the character in your mind
PART TWO
Drawing/ Modelling
When everyone has added their own description, find a quiet space to work alone for a while and begin to draw or make a model of the character . When this process is complete share their unique character with someone, explaining specific details which have been added or are special to the character they’ve created.
PART THREE
Learning more about the Character
Gather back together to sit in a circle (maybe the following day) to discuss the character. Ask the group what else they know about the character? For example here are some possible questions:
What’s their name?
Where do they live?
How old are they?
Do they have family or friends?
What is their favourite meal / colour / animal / hobby?
PART FOUR
Create a Story about the Character (from Part One)
In groups of three, sit close together in that grouping, deciding who will be A, B and C.
Person A begins the story with this impulse: The Character has lost something which is precious to them and they begin to search for it
After 2 -3 minutes the leader/teacher rings a small bell and the story is passed to
Person B continues with the story with this impulse: Someone else (animal or person) comes to help the character but they meet an obstacle and try to overcome it
After 2 -3 minutes the teacher rings a small bell and the story is passed to
Person C continues with the story with this impulse to bring it to conclusion: the two characters find away to overcome the object and they find that which has been lost. They find the ending to the story
Finally
Each person writes up the story in their own way (this is likely to lead to differences even in the stories which have been created by the groups of three). Share these stories between the whole group….
Sometimes I hold a ‘Storytelling Festival’ at the end of this storytelling game . As a whole group we set up a ‘stage’ area and a space for the audience, with chairs or cushions, mats etc. On ‘stage’ we arrange a ‘story’ chair (maybe with a beautiful cloth draped over it), a table with vase of seasonal flowers or greenery, perhaps a candle and other symbols of storytelling….
Invite members of the group to tell or read their story (they could come up in their groups of three if this is easier and tell part of the story each). I love how we discover that this one character, created by us all, has become so many different people enjoying so many different adventures!
Enjoy!
Please do tell me how this game works for you and what else you discovered along the way…
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