Telling Pattern Stories
Children love stories. However, in this day of television and electronic books, many children have no experience listening to a story told without pictures, actions, moving characters and electronic voices. Listening is an essential learning skill, and the child who listens to stories will have a better imagination because he will learn to create the pictures in his own mind. He will learn to read chapter books easily for the same reason. In addition, a parent who can tell a story can keep children occupied in waiting rooms, long lines and boring car rides. She can also liven up her family home evening lessons with stories a child will never forget.
When you are first learning to tell stories, you might want to begin with simple pattern stories. These are stories that repeat an essential action over and over. They are easy to learn and children can participate in them since they will soon figure out the pattern. Let’s start with an old-fashioned folk tale. There are many ways to tell it, (In fact, I suspect the first book in my right margin about the potato is the same story in an Irish version) but this is how I have told the story since my teenaged years:
The Giant Turnip
Once upon a time, a farmer planted a little tiny turnip seed. (Act this out.) He watered it, and watched over it and it grew. It grew…and it grew…and it grew! (Say this very dramatically, and raise your hand each time to show how big it is. Finish with your hand high over your head, as high as you can reach.)
“I’m going to pick that turnip and have it for dinner!” the farmer said. (Use a deep man’s voice and be enthusiastic.)
So the farmer grabbed hold of the turnip… (pretend to grab hold of a giant turnip and then pause) and he pulled…and he pulled…and he pulled. (As you say this, pretend to pull on the turnip very hard. Lean way back as though you are really straining. Make your voice, still deep and farmerish, sound strained.)
But the turnip wouldn’t come up! (Say the last three words slowly and emphasize them. Make your eyes big with surprise. Place both hands out to the side, bent at the elbow. This is the gesture many people use to say “What do you want me to do?” Move your arms up and down with each of the last three words.)
He called to his wife. “Wife, wife, come quick!” (Wave her over.) “I pulled the turnip and it-wouldn’t-come-up. (Emphasize the words with dashes between them. Use the same gesture you used when you said it wouldn’t come up the first time.)
[Note: From here on out, you will repeat the gestures each time you repeat a part of the story. You can choose gestures that feel natural to you.]
The wife said, “I’ll help you!” (Use a voice for this that is different from yours.)
So the wife grabbed hold of the farmer, and the farmer grabbed hold of the turnip and they pulled…and they pulled and they pulled. (To show grabbing onto the farmer, bring your arms out wide and mimic wrapping them around someone’s waist. Pull hard.) But the turnip wouldn’t come up! So the wife called to the daughter.
(The story follows the same pattern. Use the identical words for each new repetition. First they call the daughter, then the dog, and then the cat. Use voices for each. I make the cat slow and silky. Remember to repeat each person in the chain of those pulling. The cat round sounds like this:
The cat grabbed hold of the dog and the dog grabbed hold of the daughter and the daughter grabbed hold of the wife and the wife grabbed hold of the farmer….and they pulled…and they pulled….and they pulled. But the turnip wouldn’t come up! So the cat called to the mouse, “Mouse, mouse, come quick. We pulled the turnip but it wouldn’t come up.” The mouse said, “I’ll help you.” “Don’t be silly,” said the cat. “You can’t help. You’re too little.” “Humph!” said the mouse. “I could do it all by myself if I wanted to. I’m not too little at all!” So the mouse grabbed hold of the cat, and the cat grabbed hold of the dog, and the dog grabbed hold of the daughter and the daughter grabbed hold of the wife and the wife grabbed hold of the farmer….and they pulled, and they pulled and they pulled. And suddenly the turnip came up. Everyone fell down (you and your children will enjoy toppling if you are home) and the mouse said, “See! I told you so!”
As you can see, the story is a very simple pattern. The hard part is learning the list of characters. Get the picture firmly in your mind. The first times I told it, I did it as a flannel board story. Later, I practiced telling the story from memory.
To memorize the story, write it out line by line with the instructions under each line in a different color. Memorize the first line with the gestures. (The gestures will help you remember the story.) Use full expression each time you tell it so you memorize the way your voice sounds and you can tell it without thinking. Now memorize the second line. As you say each sentence, imagine the scene in your mind. When you feel completely sure of the second sentence, put the two sentences together and say them as a unit. Continue until you have the entire story. Practice the story as you do housework, walk or rest. When you feel comfortable, tell the story to your children. Children don’t expect miracles from you. They will enjoy hearing you tell your story. If they aren’t used to hearing stories, it may take them a while to get used to listening, but because this story has gestures, and you can encourage them to help you pull the turnip, they are more likely to listen to this particular story. In fact, I’ve found preschoolers will listen to this one four or five times in a row without a break, especially if they get to fall down at the end.
When you’ve mastered this story, look for other pattern stories, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears to practice. Memorize several to tell on a moment’s notice.
More Resources:
Sign of the Owl Scroll down to the list of pattern stories. I have told many of these with great success.