Commercial Games – Once Upon a Time by Atlas Games – Players create a story together using cards that show typical elements from fairy tales. Once Upon a Time; Dark Tales by Atlas Games – Similar to the one above but with trolls, evil stepmothers, wraiths, etc. Oh-Cards has a variety of sets of cards that can be used to inspire stories.  Oh, Saga , Mythos , 1001, and Persona Nanofictionary by Looney Laboratories – Played like rummy until each player has a complete set of character, setting, problem and resolution cards, and then the storytelling begins. Story Crafters – contains who, where, what and additional story element cards. Fabrication by Chuckle Game Co. - You have up to 60 seconds to tell an outrageous tall tale in a continuing story. You must “work in” the fabrication line selected from your game card. Fib or Not by Gather Around Games – Players tell stories and see what their friends will believe. Life Stories by TaliCor Inc. – Everyone contributes a story from their lifetime in this game. Malarky by Patch Products – This is a bluffing game.  You bluff answers to questions like “why did pirates wear earrings”. Toon by Steve Jackson Games – Based on cartoons with a system of attributes and actions.   Other Games - Charades – Players act out something and the group tries to guess what it is First Lines – Pass around a story book without opening it.  Participants make up first lines for it and the group votes on the best one. Magic Story Bag – Small interesting objects are put into a bag.   Each person draws a specified number of objects and creates a story involving the objects chosen.  A variation on this theme is to have them choose one object and it will be “magic” in the story they create. Spinning Yarns – You will need a ball of yarn with knots tied at 3 to 5 feet intervals.  The first person begins telling a story as they unwind the yarn.  When they reach a knot the next person continues the story, and so on. Circle Story – Students sit in a circle.  One person begins the story and the next person continues the story and starts with “fortunately or unfortunately”.  This continues until the story ends. Family photos – Have students bring in family photos and tell a story associated with the photo.  Encourage them to fill in details not visible in the photo. Liar’s Contest – Read some tall tales to the group and then have them make up their own tall tales.  Hold a contest to see which one can tell the best outrageous story. Stories from the past – To encourage the telling of stories from the past, have students bring in something from their past.  They will tell how the item was important to them and share a story about it. Secret Place – To stimulate students to think about setting, read the description of the secret garden from Frances Hodges book, Secret Garden.  Have students describe what their own secret place might be like.  Have students get in pairs and give each other a tour of their secret place, stepping over rocks, bending low under branches, etc. The Other Perspective – Take a story that everyone is familiar with and have them re-create the story from another character’s perspective.  For instance, the Three Bears could be told from one of the bear’s perspective. Red Riding Hood could be told from the wolf’s perspective, etc. Character change – Have students take a story they know and give the main character a personality that is not in the story.  For instance, what if Goldilocks were really whiney or hyperactive?  What if she was French or had a lisp?  You could go anywhere with that. Give a present – In a group one player will mime giving a gift to another one.  By using only body language the giver will try to help the rest of the group figure out what it is. Photo Stories - Bring in photos from magazines, etc. and have children make up stories about them. Storigami – Give students a piece of origami paper.  Show them how to fold the paper as you tell a story. When the story is completed they will have a completed simple origami.  Give them a new piece of paper and ask them to retell the story while creating the origami.  (Directions can be provided.) Mask Stories – Have students make appropriate masks for a simple story like The Three Little Pigs.  Have them tell the story using the masks in the appropriate places in the story. Name Game – Have students look up the meaning of his or her name.  Students will then create a story using their name and its meaning. Sound game – Read some onomatopoeia words, (words that sound like the sound they identify, example; gurgle, click, whoosh) describe actions or things that make sounds, like drinking water, slapping your thigh, river sounds, scratching, wind blowing, machinery, etc.  Have them think of words to describe these sounds and use them in a story. Group Story – Have a group tell a story together.  Use a story like Joseph’s Little Overcoat that has well defined parts.  Each person will take a different part of the story to tell. Situation Cards – Make up cards for different situations.  Have students use body language to act out the card chosen.  Example, walking in deep mud, being chased by bees, getting a gift you really love, being very tired, excited about going to Disneyworld, etc. Voices – Write down different characters on strips of paper.  Have students draw the strips and use the voice and body language of that character.  Example, an old woman, a baby, a strong man who’s really mad, a delicate little fairy, a really boring teacher, etc.   Some Ideas Have students tell their stories to younger children.  This is not as threatening and it gives them experience in performance. Suggest different ways of delivering a story.  Have the student try different ways and then let him/her choose the way he/she likes best. Expose student to many different types of storytelling through modeling, guest speakers, and audiovisual materials. Give plenty of practice in using body language, different voices and using a microphone. Encourage students to flesh out characterization and settings in their stories. Give lots of positive feedback.  This is a confidence builder and kids need that. Give students many opportunities to tell.  Every time they tell a story they will get better at it.   Helpful info Storytelling Tips for Teachers Storytelling Games and Activities Storytelling Worksheet - To help students develop their stories. Working with student storytellers