Use of Lesson Plans
Youth, adults, and seniors will learn storytelling through lesson plans either shared by master story facilitators or by people using approved lesson plans.
Free Lesson Plans
These following six 1-hour lesson plans were created by the following professional story artists: Lynn Wing, Karl Behling, and Janine Nishiguchi. An ideal storytelling residency lasts 8 or more hours. These six hours plus two hours of people practicing stories and being coached would develop stage-ready individuals. Please give these people credit when using these lesson plans or the sources cited.
Module One: Finding Your Story
Module One-Finding Your Story, Lesson One-Finding Existing Stories
Module One-Finding Your Story, Lesson Two-Finding Personal Stories
Module Two: The Teller–Role, Habits, Skills
Module Two-The Teller, Lesson One-Preparation
Module Two-The Teller, Lesson Two-Responsibilities
Module Three: Polished Performance
Module Three-Polished Performance, Lesson One-Body & Voice
Module Three-Polished Performance, Lesson Two-Imagination & Adaptability
Approved Books for Lesson Plans
Using any of these books already have been reviewed and approved for Story Crossroads storytelling residencies:
- Youth Tell: Starting a Youth Storytelling Festival by Nannette Watts
- Raising Voices: Creating Youth Storytelling Groups and Troupes by Judy Sima and Kevin Cordi
Both of these books are easily applicable to any age or group who wants to learn the art of storytelling. Email info@storycrossroads.org if you would like help ordering any of these books.
Once you own either Youth Tell or Raising Voices, then the following are recommended supplemental books:
- 101 Games That Teach Storytelling Skills by Anthony Burcher
- Teaching with Story: Classroom Connections to Storytelling by Margaret Read MacDonald, Jennifer MacDonald Whitman, and Nathaniel Forrest Whitman
- The Storytelling Classroom: Applications Across the Curriculum by Sherry Norfolk, Jane Stenson, and Diane Williams
- Social Studies in the Storytelling Classroom: Exploring our Cultural Voices and Perspectives by Sherry Norfolk and Jane Stenson
- The Storytelling Coach: How to Listen, Praise, and Bring Out People’s Best by Doug Lipman
- Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Project and Activities to Spark Children’s Storytelling by Emily K. Neuburger
Need Help Creating Own Lesson Plan?
You are willing to put in the time to create one or more story lesson plans. Here is some guidance in creating lesson plans:
- Generic Lesson Plan Helps–one-page
- Story Lesson Plan Template–Create Your Own–includes continued page
- Lesson Plan Template–How to Fill it Out with Your Ideas
- Sample of Filled in Story Lesson Plan–Finding Existing Stories
- Storytelling Games and Improvisational Play–8 pages
- Resources–List of Specific Links, Websites, and Books\
- Story Board-blank for developing stories
Enjoy a free booklet (with cartoons) created by Greg Draper and edited by Rachel Hedman. Click for Storytelling Basics–booklet with cartoons.
Position Statement–Importance of Storytelling in Education-17 key benefits
Like Materials from Story Crossroads Spectacular?
| Young at Heart | Story Crossroads-2020 Maze created by Joe Wos |
| K-6th Grades | Common Core Storytelling-K-6, 43 pages This publication was compiled by Lyn Ford from submissions created and generously donated by Lyn Ford, Joyce Geary, Sherry Norfolk, and Jane Stenson. © Lynette Ford for Youth, Educators, and Storytellers (YES), special interest group of National Storytelling Network, 2012, Permission granted to post on Story Crossroads site on 4/28/2020 through YES, can follow on Facebook |
| 6th-12th Grades | Common Core Storytelling-6-12, 81 pages This publication was compiled by Lyn Ford from submissions created and generously donated by Lyn Ford, Sherry Norfolk, Jane Stenson, and Andrea Permenter. © Lynette Ford for Youth, Educators, and Storytellers (YES), special interest group of National Storytelling Network, 2013, Permission granted to post on Story Crossroads site on 4/28/2020 through YES, can follow on Facebook |
| Ele.-Secondary | printable- Celtic Stories and Songs…plus Social Studies |
| Ele.-Secondary | printable- Tall Tales…plus Language Arts |
| Teens/Adults | Click here for NPR Article “How Stories Connect and Persuade Us: Unleashing the Brain Power of Narrative” (came out April 11, 2020) |
Submitting Your Own Lesson Plans
Upon approval of your submitted 6-hour+ lesson plan/curriculum, you will be considered a qualified Master Story Facilitator through Story Crossroads. You may or may not teach your 6-hour+ lesson plan/curriculum as part of a residency. You do have the option of having others teach your curriculum for a licensing fee cost of your choosing (ranging from $25-$50).
The Story Training Committee has the right to pend approval if there are any adjustments, clarifications, or additions needed.
Click here fill out the online form for your lesson plan.
You can edit the form once submitted. You can also write up the parts in a word processing program and copy and paste into the sections.
We accept lesson plan submissions year round.