Two EASY & FUN Storytelling Classroom Games for The End of The School Year

I had an end-of-the school-year conversation with my 9 year old daughter- we'll call her Z- last night. Here's how it went:

Z: "There's only 19 daysleft of school! I'm so overwhelemed by that."

Me: "Why's that?"

Z: "I want to spend the last days at school celebrating, but also everyone is starting to act all crazy."

Sound familiar? If you need some focused fun to bring you around the corner to the end of the school year- I've got three easy storytelling classroom games that you can play with your students.

These games are awesome for this time of year because:

They get some sillies out
They are fun and imaginative
They encourage narrative thinking and confidence

A storytelling teacher leads a circles of kids in a game called Yes, Let's! — Playing the storytelling game Yes, Let's!

Yes, Let's!: At The Beach

Students stand in a circle. One student is selected to begin the game. That student calls out and mimes an activity you would do at the beach (you could also change this theme to any topic that makes sense. Yes Lets!: Favorite Weekend Activity, Yes Let's!: On A Hike, etc.). Everyone responds with: Yes! Let’s ____(activity)____. Then the whole circle mimes the activity at the same time.

Not only is this game fun and has some movement in it, but it teaches the concept that everyone's ideas and input is important.

2. Story Statues: At The Beach

Building on Yes, Let’s!: At The Beach, one student comes up to the front of the classroom and freezes in a beach or ocean-inspired position. Another student comes up and freezes in another beach or ocean inspired position that somehow builds the “story” of the first pose. The scene/story is built until five statues are frozen up front. One student from the audience is chosen to “tell the story” of what’s happening in the scene.

This is a really fun way to encourage observation (noticing what's already in the scene and connecting to it), collaboration (building on each other's ideas), and narrative confidence (observing the schene and then telling the story that's happening.

Did you try these in your classroom? How'd it go? Let us know in the comments!