Storytelling With Small Characters
One of the projects I had hoped to be included in this book, was this one about telling stories. Storytelling is not only entertaining, it is powerful because in telling our own stories we begin to process our world as we know it and then, begin to imagine what could be.
Children are born storytellers and usually don’t need much to launch into a 3 act play. My daughter Penelope would make stories with anything – salt and pepper shakers, erasers, or paperclips. Now she draws her characters and writes her epic stories, which flow from her like water.
If you are beginning to feel a touch of cabin fever, which is quite contagious this time of year, think about inventing some stories. What is absurd? What makes you cry? What makes you laugh? Share your story of what is and share your story of what you’d like to be.
Below are some methods for creating characters and environments using oven baked clay and cardboard. Of course, a simple sock puppet or tiny figurine would work just as well.
Happy Storytelling!
Making Characters
Penelope, Abe, and I enjoyed making characters out of oven baked clay. (We used Sculpey Polymer Clay).
We created basic shapes and used bamboo sticks to score (or make scratches) for attaching details like eyes.
We followed the directions on the package for baking. Once baked, the characters are hardened and ready for play.
As you can see, your stories could be about anything from hamburgers to cacti to squirrels.
Diorama Environment
Got a shoe box?
Dioramas are such a fun way to create an environment for your characters!
Paint the inside walls and ceiling.
Cut paper and cardboard to create structures for the characters.
Use cottonballs for clouds.
The possibilities are endless!!!
Matchbox Bed Buddy
Small matchboxes and jewelry boxes make sweet beds for tiny friends.
You can use scraps of fabric or bits of fuzz to make a cozy bed, OR crochet, knit, or sew your own blankets!!!
Mini Dollhouse
Tiny boxes can also become miniature dollhouses!!!
Use cardboard to create “floors” and fancy papers for wallpaper.
Take your mini dollhouse everywhere you go, or stack up several to make an apartment building!
Plant Environments
Your characters might prefer a more natural environment like a potted plant, a hollow log, or maybe even the snow.
Puppet Theater
Hanging a curtain in front of a box makes for an instant puppet theater.
If you poke a hole in the bottom of your clay figurine, you can use a bamboo skewer as a handle for holding up your puppet!
Let the show begin!!!!