Yarn / Story Telling

I'm not a good story teller, I prefer to read stories such as the "Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls" by Christopher Milne, but if you are interested in telling stories from top of your head, or wouldlike to give it a try, here are a couple of items that may help.

Hints on Story Telling	_{from Iain Killips of Toohey Mtn.}

The Story Teller has been a popular and privileged person in every age, right back at the dawn of our world when little Cain and Abel said "Please tell us a story".

Fathers and mothers and aunts and uncles and teachers and preachers have been telling stories ever since, hopefully with some learning behind each story.

In this modern day and age, we find that the young person still has the will to listen and the ability to imagine himself or herself as part of and involved in the story.

In many instances, the ability to imagine in ones mind the events and happenings has to be re-learnt, as the medium of television has robbed many of the will, interest or necessity to be involved in what they are seeing or hearing.

The story teller must surely hone his or her skills to be able to re-introduce this form of communication and learning.

A few basic essentials to remember:

Make the story real, (maybe true) but certainly real.
Know the story thoroughly. The start and the finish and the meat on the bones, the middle.
Introduce adventure if possible.
Use simple vocabulary. Story telling is not the place to show off big words.
Don't forget how little you knew between the ages of eight and twelve and peg your explanation accordingly.
Don't bore them with loads of facts which won't be remembered and won't matter anyway.
Don't use slang. Children don't expect it, and think no more of you for it.

All this must sound common sense. It is. But we need constantly to remind ourselves of these points. We usually come to our pack meeting or our story telling time at very much an adult level, we need to drop our guard and our level of tolerance to hear and accept our young charges.

Happy Story telling!!!

Story Telling	_{from Cub Scout Expo 2001}

Introduction

Story telling is as old as time itself. The culture of whole nations has survived due to storytelling. Some cultures never developed writing and had to rely entirely on storytelling.

Who can tell a story

Anyone! Leaders, Cub Scout Instructors, Patrol Leaders, Cubs or Visitors. We all tell stories in our daily lives and to our children. We can all tell yarns to our Packs.

When do we tell story

Anytime! Stories can be told at anytime and can fit into any occasion. Stories can be told for:

Pure pleasure;
To express a point of view;
To give a message, or
To teach.

Suitable times for stories:

To set a theme (for a meeting, game or holiday);
After the first game of a meeting to lead into the next;
To change the tempo of a meeting - to slow things down after active games;
To illustrate a point during Boomerang training;
During a meeting to occupy cubs who have finished an activity while waiting for others;
Campfires;
Scout's Own;
On outings to allow cubs to rest;
On Holidays - especially at bedtime;
Anytime!

How to choose a story

Choosing a story is easy. Well� mostly. The more stories that you know and have read, then the more you have to draw upon for your purpose. Your story should have these qualities:

It should appeal to you. If you don't like it, you will have trouble remembering it and telling it with enthusiasm;
Simple. Don't confuse yourself and your Pack;
Illustrate the point that you are trying to get across.

You can also apply a story to a point. Remember how Baden-Powell told yarns about his escape from Zulu warriors to point out the need for physical fitness; or how a drowning to ask what knots would a scout have used.

And if you can't find a suitable story, make it up!

How to learn a story

How do you learn a story?

Read it;
The read it again. This time, make notes or draw a diagram of the main points for the story;
Read it again and refine your notes;
Tell the story to yourself - aloud. In the shower, in the car, etc
Tell the story to someone: friends, family, sixers - practice

How to tell the story

Get everyone comfortable
- Sit your Pack facing you
- On your level if possible
- Make sure you can see all of them
  - You have control
  - You can judge if they are interested
  - Use other leaders to move around to calm down cubs
Get them interested from the start - maybe a big opening;
Create the atmosphere - use props and surroundings;
Forget yourself and how nervous you are - 'live the story';
Speak clearly, slowly, naturally, use simple language - be yourself;
Use character voices;
Use gestures relevant to the story if possible. This not only adds to the story' but is also more interesting. But don't make distracting gestures;
If the cubs get bored, bring them into the story. Talk directly at them, ask questions. "What do you think happened next?";
Use pauses to illustrate points or to make your cubs curious about what will happen next;
When you are finished - simply stop talking.

Should I read the story or must I memorise it? For the most part, it is better to remember it. You can still keep eye contact and control of your pack. You can also add far more interest and excitement into the story if you are not reading. Sometimes, however it is important to get the words right. Then it is best to read the story. You should be familiar with the story so you can look up and also to add gestures and voices.

In most cases it doesn't matter if you remember the story word for word. The story may evolve a little each time you tell it. What is important is the way you tell a story - your expressions, gestures and actions.

If you enjoy telling the story - your cubs will enjoy listening.

Where to look for stories

Anywhere! There are so many sources of stories out there including:

Libraries;
Magazines, newspapers, pamphlets;
Internet;
Garage sales;
Throw out bins;
School fetes;
Personal experiences; and
Cub Scout Leaders Handbook, Scout magazines, Wasp and Tonic, Cub Scout Files and Best of Cub Scout Files;
And Old Scouters!

Examples

Around the circle	Get everyone in a circle. Hand around an object and each person has to continue the story of this object; or Hand out words on slips of paper. Each person uses their words to continue the story. Other leaders can be positioned in the circle to bring the story back on track. Before starting, remind the cubs about inappropriate subjects and words.
Make up a yarn	Break up into smaller groups (4-5) Make up yarns on a set of topics appropriate to your theme Why do kangaroos jump? Why can't pigs fly? How the kookaburra got its laugh Why the emu can't walk backwards.
Use an object as a focus	Pick up and object and tell a yarn about it. You could ask cubs to pick objects from a basket. You have, of course, prepared stories for all objects in the basket beforehand.
Continuous Yarn	Start a meeting or holiday with part of a story. Play a game or activity relevant to that part of the yarn. Then tell the next part of the story and so on.

Storytelling is a very rewarding activity. Most of us would have warm memories of our parents telling us bedtime or stories from their childhood. Believe it or not, our cubs aren't as critical or hard to please as we often think. Start with short and simple stories. You will eventually learn to enjoy telling stories as much as your cubs will enjoy listening to them.

If you require more help, Storytelling courses are run by Branch a couple of times during the year. If you are unable to attend in Brisbane, please contact Branch and something may be arranged locally.

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