An engaging activity to develop speaking skills, active listening, and narrative structure understanding.
30 minutes
Whole class or small groups
Listening & Speaking
Overview
The Storytelling Circle is an interactive activity where students take turns sharing stories from their own experiences or retelling stories they've heard. This activity creates a supportive environment for students to practice their speaking skills while developing active listening habits and understanding narrative structure.
Learning Objectives
Develop confidence in speaking to a group
Practice active listening skills
Understand and apply basic narrative structure (beginning, middle, end)
Expand vocabulary through exposure to peers' language
Respect turn-taking and appropriate audience behavior
Materials Needed
A comfortable seating area arranged in a circle
Optional: A special "storyteller's chair" or cushion
Optional: Story starter cards or picture prompts
Optional: A soft object to pass around (like a stuffed animal or "talking stick")
Timer (for keeping stories to an appropriate length)
Preparation
Arrange seating in a circle where everyone can see each other
Prepare story starter cards if using them
Review the rules for respectful listening with students
Consider modeling a short story to demonstrate expectations
Activity Steps
Introduction (5 minutes):
Gather students in a circle and explain the activity
Review the rules: one person speaks at a time, listeners show respect, stories should have a beginning, middle, and end
Demonstrate active listening behaviors (eye contact, nodding, etc.)
Storytelling (20 minutes):
Begin with a volunteer or select a student to start
The storyteller shares a personal experience or retells a familiar story
Encourage students to use expressive voices and gestures
Keep stories to 2-3 minutes each
Pass the talking object to the next student
Reflection (5 minutes):
Ask students what they enjoyed about the stories they heard
Discuss what makes a story interesting or easy to follow
Highlight positive examples of storytelling techniques observed
Differentiation
For students who need additional support:
Provide story frames or sentence starters
Allow them to tell their story to a partner before sharing with the group
Use picture prompts to help structure their story
For students who need additional challenge:
Encourage the use of dialogue and descriptive language
Ask them to incorporate a specific literary element (e.g., problem/solution)
Have them create a story based on a specific theme or incorporating certain words
Assessment
Observe and note students' abilities to:
Speak clearly and audibly to the group
Structure a story with a beginning, middle, and end
Listen attentively while others are speaking
Recall details from peers' stories
Follow the established rules for the activity
Extensions
Create a class book of illustrated stories from the storytelling circle
Record stories (audio or video) to create a digital storytelling library
Have students work in pairs to act out each other's stories
Connect to writing by having students write down their oral stories
Invite family members for a special storytelling circle event
Curriculum Connections
Oral Language Development: Speaking clearly and expressively
Listening Comprehension: Attending to and understanding spoken language
Narrative Structure: Understanding story elements and sequence
Social Skills: Turn-taking and respectful communication
Teacher Tips
"I use a special storyteller's hat that students wear when it's their turn. It helps them get into character and signals to others who has the floor."
- Ms. Johnson, Grade 2 Teacher
"For my shy students, I let them practice with a partner first or use picture cards to help structure their story."
- Mr. Garcia, Grade 2 Teacher
"We record one storytelling circle session each month to create a digital portfolio showing students' progress in speaking skills throughout the year."
