CLASS NOTE: THE MAGIC OF STORYTELLING

Subject: Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA)
Class: Nursery Three (Ages 5–6)
Topic: Storytelling
Term: [Insert Term]

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1. INTRODUCTION: THE WORLD OF "ONCE UPON A TIME"

Imagine the sun has gone down, and the stars are twinkling like tiny diamonds in the sky. In many parts of Nigeria, from the rolling hills of the North to the green forests of the South, this is the time for "Tales by Moonlight."

Picture yourself sitting under a big, leafy mango tree. The air is cool, and you can hear the crickets chirping. Everyone gathers around an elder—perhaps a grandmother or a grandfather. Suddenly, the elder clears their throat and shouts:
"Story, Story?"
And all the children shout back:
"Story!"

This is the beginning of a magical journey. Storytelling is not just talking; it is a way to paint beautiful pictures in someone else's mind using only your voice, your hands, and your imagination. Today, we are going to learn how to become Master Storytellers!

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2. COMPREHENSIVE CORE CONCEPTS

A. What is Storytelling?

Storytelling is the art of sharing events and ideas using words, sounds, and body movements. It is one of the oldest ways people in Nigeria share their history. Long before people wrote books, they told stories to remember who they were.

In our culture, storytelling is a way to pass down "Omoluabi" (which means having a good character). We don't just use our mouths to tell stories; we use:

• Our Voices: Making it loud like a lion or squeaky like a mouse.
• Our Bodies: Using our hands to show how big a giant is or how fast a rabbit runs.
• Our Hearts: Sharing feelings like happiness, sadness, or bravery.

B. The Three Parts of a Story (The Story Train)

Think of a story like a train with three main coaches. If one coach is missing, the train cannot move!

1. The Beginning (The Engine): This is where the journey starts. We meet our Characters (who the story is about) and see the Setting (where they are). We usually start with special words like "Once upon a time..." or "A long, long time ago in a kingdom far away..."
2. The Middle (The Cargo): This is the biggest part of the story where the action happens! Usually, the character has a Problem. For example, the Tortoise is hungry, or a little boy is lost. This part is exciting because we want to know what happens next.
3. The End (The Caboose): This is where the story finishes. The problem is solved! The Tortoise finds food, or the boy finds his way home. We find out what happened to everyone and learn a lesson.

C. Characters: The People and Animals in Our Stories

Characters are the "Who" of the story. In Nigerian stories, characters can be:

• People: Brave hunters, wise kings, or kind mothers.
• Animals: The clever Tortoise (known as Mbe in Igbo or Alabahun in Yoruba), the strong Lion, or the fast Hare.
• Nature: Sometimes even the Wind or the Sun can be a character that talks!

Example: In many stories, the Tortoise is very clever but also very greedy. By watching him, we learn how to be smart without being selfish.

D. The Moral of the Story (The Big Lesson)

In Nigeria, every story has a "Moral." This is the most important part! A moral is a lesson that teaches us how to behave.

• If a story is about a girl who shares her mangoes, the moral is "Kindness is good."
• If a story is about a boy who tells a lie and gets into trouble, the moral is "Honesty is the best policy."

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3. REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES

We use storytelling every day without even knowing it! Here are three ways you are already a storyteller:

• Scenario 1: Telling "What Happened": When you come home from school and tell Mommy, "First, I played with my friends, then I ate my rice, and then I drew a house," you are telling a story! You have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• Scenario 2: Making New Friends: When you meet a new friend, you tell them about your favorite toy or your pet dog. This story helps your new friend know you better and makes you feel happy.
• Scenario 3: Family History: During festivals like Christmas or Eid, your parents might tell you stories about when they were little children. These stories help you feel proud of your family and where you come from.

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4. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: "THE STORY-IN-A-BOX"

Objective: To create a mini-theater to help you tell a story to your family or class.

Materials Needed:

• An empty shoebox.
• Old magazines or newspapers.
• Safety scissors and glue.
• Small sticks (like lollipop sticks or drinking straws).
• Crayons or markers.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Choose Your Story: Pick a simple story, like "The Tortoise and the Birds."
2. Make the Stage: Use your crayons to color the inside of the shoebox. Draw trees and grass if it’s in a forest, or houses if it’s in a village. This is your Setting.
3. Create Your Puppets: Find pictures of a tortoise and birds in a magazine. Cut them out (ask an adult for help if the paper is thick) and glue them onto the sticks.
4. The Performance: Hold the sticks and move your characters inside the box.
   • Beginning: Introduce the Tortoise.
   • Middle: Show the Tortoise trying to fly with the birds.
   • End: Show what happens when the Tortoise is greedy.
   • Pro Tip: Use a deep, slow voice for the Tortoise and a fast, high voice for the birds!

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5. HOME PRACTICE ACTIVITIES: THE "INTERVIEWER" GAME

Materials: Just your ears and your voice!

The Activity:

1. The Interview: This evening, find an adult at home (Mom, Dad, or an Auntie). Ask them: "Tell me a story about something funny that happened to you when you were in Nursery school."
2. Active Listening: Listen very carefully. Try to spot the Beginning (where they were), the Middle (the funny thing that happened), and the End.
3. The Retelling: Tomorrow morning at the breakfast table, try to tell that same story back to them.
4. Expected Outcome: This helps you practice your memory and helps you learn how to put events in the right order.

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6. LIFE SKILLS CONNECTION

Learning to tell stories helps you grow in many ways:

• Communication: It teaches you how to speak clearly so that people want to listen to you.
• Empathy: When you pretend to be a character who is sad or scared, you learn how to understand how other people feel.
• Confidence: Standing up to tell a story makes you brave. This bravery helps you speak up in class or lead a group.
• Careers: Did you know that people get paid to tell stories? Authors write them in books, Movie Directors tell them on TV, and Lawyers tell the story of what happened to help people in court!

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7. ASSESSMENT: SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW!

Option A: The "Picture Sequence" Challenge Look at three pictures: 1. A child waking up. 2. A child eating lunch. 3. A child sleeping at night.

• Task: Put them in order (Beginning, Middle, End) and tell a story about the child’s day.

Option B: The "Emotion Commotion" Performance Tell a very short story (only 3 sentences) about a "Very Angry Lion."

• Assessment: Did you use a "grumpy" voice? Did you use your hands to show claws? Did the lion learn to be calm at the end?

Option C: The Moral Compass Listen to this: "A boy found a pencil on the floor. He knew it belonged to his friend, so he gave it back. His friend was very happy."

• Question: What is the lesson (moral) of this story? (Answer: Honesty or Kindness).

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8. STUDENT REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. If you were an animal in a story, which animal would you be? Why?
2. Why is it important for a story to have an "End"?
3. What is your favorite story that your teacher or parents have told you? What did it teach you?

Remember: Storytelling is a superpower! Your voice is important, and the world is waiting to hear your story. Keep telling, keep shining!