The “Can Do” Recreation Center had an open house to introduce all the families on “Can Do” Street to the new programs that the “Can Do” kids could participate in during the fall and winter sessions. Oh, there were the old favorites, too, but new is always fun.
One of the programs, in the new brochure, caught Wendy’s eye…storytelling.
Given how much Wendy loves to write, she really wants to learn all she could about being a good storyteller. Just as Wendy was asking her mom if she could sign up for storytelling, Miss Sue, the director of the “Can Do” Recreation Center came into the room. Wendy and her mom took their seats and gave Miss Sue their full attention.
“Good morning everyone, and welcome to our new program session,” said Miss Sue. ” Who likes to listen to stories?” Just about everyone in the room raised their hands. “That’s good,” said Miss Sue, “because storytelling has been around as long as there have been people on this earth. Storytelling has been handed down from one generation to another. Before most people could read and write, stories were told by word of mouth. Certain people, in each village or town were given the job of learning the stories of their people and telling them to younger generations. The story teller was the town or village historian as well the person who taught life lessons through stories. Sometimes the storyteller would just tell funny stories.
Starting next Thursday, after school, one of our very own “Can Do” Street storytellers will be here to tell you a story and share with you had to make up your very own story. In November, we will have a storytelling contest, with prizes for the winners.”
By now Wendy and some of the other “Can Do” kids could not contain their excitement. Wendy called out, “When do we start? Miss Sue smiled and answered, “See you next Tuesday at 3:30 PM in room 10, when Storyteller Bill will be here to tell you a story. He’ll take a familiar nursery rhyme and change it into a story with a different ending.”
