TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS: Read the story then act it out.
THE TURNIP STORY

Once upon a time, grandpa found a turnip seed. He went to his garden, dug a hole, and put the seed in. As he covered the big seed with dark earth, he sang, "grow sweet, grow strong, grow big." That turnip surely did grow. It grew and grew and grew until it was enormous. When the turnip was as big as it could get, Grandfather decided to pull it up and make turnip soup. Well, he pulled and he pulled and he pulled, but he couldn't get it out!

He called grandmother to help. Grandmother pulled on Grandfather. Grandfather pulled on that turnip. He pulled and he pulled and he pulled, but he couldn't get it out! So grandmother called her grandson. The grandson pulled on grandmother. Grandmother pulled on Grandfather. Grandfather pulled on that turnip. He pulled and he pulled and he pulled, but he couldn't get it out!

So the Grandson called on the dog to help. The dog pulled on the Grandson. The grandson pulled on grandmother. Grandmother pulled on Grandfather. Grandfather pulled on that turnip. He pulled and he pulled and he pulled, but he couldn't get it out!

The dog called on the cat to help. The cat pulled on the dog. The dog pulled on the Grandson. The grandson pulled on grandmother. Grandmother pulled on Grandfather. Grandfather pulled on that turnip. He pulled and he pulled and he pulled, but he couldn't get it out!

So the cat called on the mouse to help. The mouse pulled on the cat. The cat pulled on the dog. The dog pulled on the Grandson. The grandson pulled on grandmother. Grandmother pulled on Grandfather. Grandfather pulled on that turnip. He pulled and he pulled and he pulled, and kerplop- up came the turnip. And Grandfather said, "At last we can have turnip soup."

Applying the story to your class:

1. Bring a turnip to class. Discuss the color, texture, smell, shape of it. Write out key words for students to see. After reading this story to your students, allow them to act it out!
2. Create a pocket book. Make a pocket book by dividing one sheet of paper into four, six, or eight sections, then draw a picture in each section that corresponds with the story. Put it in your pocket and take it home to tell someone else! Be sure to let your students taste the turnip!

KINDERGARTEN

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Look into the magic mirror (the magic mirror enables you to see past, present, and future) and tell what you see happening to yourself, a friend, or parents!

Applying to your class:

1. You can bring in an old mirror or students can create individual mirrors out of cardboard and aluminum foil. Explain that the mirror is magic ( you can give the mirror any special powers so the students can use their imaginations in creating!) You might want to share your story first so the students can catch your excitement of imagining make believe!
2. Create a magic mirror booklet with the children's stories inside!

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring in a large cooking pot. Decide what meal Mama is cooking and tell what she needs to add to the pot!

Applying to the class:

1. Allow students to choose the meal, and tell what needs to be added to the pot!
2. Create a "Recipe Cookbook," written by the students in their handwriting one of their mom's favorite meals.

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Choose a mask and create a story based on the mask you choose.

Applying to the class:

1. Allow students to create masks and then tell stories based on their mask!
2. Make a photo album with card stock and plastic wrap (Saran wrap) and allow students to take pictures of them wearing their masks along with their story.

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Choose one item from nature, come back in and light the candle, tell a story based on what you found!

Applying to the class:

1. Allow students to sit in a circle and tell stories.
2. Go outside and pick any object from nature, come back in and write a story -- let their imaginations run wild--how did the object get there? or how was it created? or turn it into a fantastical make-believe object with special characteristics

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring in a large pickle jar to be turned into a storytelling jar!

Applying to the class:

1. Create your own storytelling jar, include any interesting story starters (Your students may contribute their own story starters)
2. Write your story on paper, making sure to leave a place for the younger students to draw and color pictures. Allow your students to share their stories with the younger kids one to one!

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring in a pair of old shoes or other object.. Have fun making up stories that tell what happened to the old shoes!

Applying to the class:

1. Bring in any old or unusual object and dare kids to figure out where it came from or what happened to the object! Then allow students to bring in their own items.
2. Let kids write their own book, entitle it "Tales of the Old, Worn, and Unusual"

TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS:

Choose a newspaper clipping and tell a story about it!

Applying to the class:

1. Allow students to tell a story based on a newspaper clipping.
2. Pair off students, and allow them to share true stories from their lives. Students must share the stories with the class. Let them choose who's story they are going to tell. The class has to guess whether the story really happened and whose story it is!