'Helicopter Stories' in Nursery Class

Date: 16th Oct 2017 @ 2:31pm

What are Helicopter stories? In its simplest form, this method of storytelling allows children dictate their stories to a nursery practitioner, which are written down exactly as they are told. The children then gather around a 'stage' and the stories are acted out. 

Alongside the simplicity of this approach is an ethos that is child-centred, creating a culture of curiosity and wonder at the dexterity of children’s imaginings during both the telling and the acting out of their stories.

The power of storytelling is used to develop key curriculum areas such as creativity, communication and language, personal, social and emotional skills in nursery class, consequently giving children's stories a voice in a safe and apprecaited space.

The benefits: 

• An inclusive, whole-class approach which values every child’s contribution;
• Facilitates high levels of engagement;
• Creates confidence and self-assurance;
• Supports the development of speaking skills as children express and share their ideas;
• Helps to develop accurate, active listening skills and understanding;
• Supports co-operative and collaborative and creative learning;
• Develops positive relationships within a shared storytelling experience;
• Allows children to explore early literacy and the power of words as they see their stories come to life, and develop their ability to use and adapt language to communicate;
• Offers children a bridge into the world of creative writing as they begin to see the links between the oral stories they compose and the words on a page.

Initially, stories begin very short and simple, for e.g. 'The dog saw a flower. The dog sniffed the flower. The mummy dog came to find the little dog at the flowers'. Throughout the year these stories becime longer and more detailed. 

We would ike to hear any simple storytelling that is happeneing at home - please write your childs story down and send it in to us to act out!