STORYTELLING IDEAS
Early Childhood Education
Clothesline Stories

Suspend a
clothesline near
the circle time
area. Hang
pictures
sequentially as
the story is told.
OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

Use the overhead
projector as a
storytelling aid.
Material Ideas:
 doilies, colored
acetate, die cut
pieces, string,
lace...

Story in a Box
Put various props
in a box to tell a
story or nursery
rhyme.
 Slowly pull the
pieces out of the
box or put them
in the box as you
tell the story.

Draw and Tell Stories


Draw a story while
you tell a story. It
can be drawn on a
chalkboard,
whiteboard or a
large sheet of paper.
Typically one section
is drawn at a time
resulting in a
surprise at the end
Magnetic Stories

Tell a story with a
steel cookie sheet or
magnetic white
board.

Back the characters
with magnetic tape
or use magnetic
letters etc.
Make a Classroom Book
Write a book that
includes all of the
children in the
classroom.
 Use real
photographs of
the children or
their drawings.

Act out Stories
Choose simple
stories that can
be acted out
easily.
 Try to have quite
a few characters
so that a group of
children can
participate.

Peeker Stories


Die cut or cut out a
shape that is integral
to the story (fish,
dinosaur etc.) from a
file folder
Change the color of
the shape by slowly
pulling colored paper
out of the folder
Flannel Board Story


Tell a story with a
flannel board and
flannel or milk filter
pieces
Have children
participate by
putting the pieces on
the board after the
story has been told
once
Props






Use a prop/s that
corresponds with the
story
Beanies
Hats
Masks
Noses
Real objects
Acrylic Board Stories
Make an acrylic
plastic board, use
a white board or
a window to tell a
story
 Use stickees or
window clings to
tell the story

Flip Books

Use transparency
sheets that have been
bound for the book
pages – use glue dots
to glue pieces to sheet.

You could also use a
ping pong paddle for
the base.
Story With An Extension
Some stories can be
extended into other
activities easily
 You may be able to
connect a cooking
activity, nature walk,
or an art activity to a
story

Finger Plays

Finger plays are a great introduction to stories
and encourage rhyming and rhythm prereading skills

Make finger plays come alive with props, die
cuts and real objects!
Story on a Stick
You can use a
yard stick or a
paint stick
attached velcro
 Place the pieces
on the stick as
you tell the story

Story Apron
Use an old apron or
make one with
special material that
velcro can stick to
 Place the pieces in
the pocket and pull
them out as you tell
the story
 Better yet – make
one for a child!
