 Adirondack
Curriculum
Project - www.adkcurriculum.org 
National Standards
- Language
Arts: Writing, Reading, Listening & Speaking
- Arts: Theatre: Uses
acting skills; directs
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Title: Adirondack Storytelling
Grade Level: 4th/ELA
Author: Aimee Barney & Joanne McCormick, Potsdam CSD
Email:
jmccormi@potsdam.k12.ny.us
abarney@potsdam.k12.ny.us
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Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
___ Natural History
_X_ Human History
_X_ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation &
Life Skills |
Investigative Question or Issue: How can we use our
knowledge of Adirondack folklore and history to create an entertaining
original story?
Challenge:
 With the help of
your teacher, arrange yourselves into teams of no more than 3. Write
and orally present from memory an original story using information you
have learned about storytelling and our Adirondack region. Give a
written copy of your story to your teacher before you present. (Student Hand-Out)
Context for this Challenge:
In preparation for this challenge, the teacher needs to model or
provide examples of the following storytelling techniques:
- Taking on the voice of character
- Candle lighting
- Stick puppets
- Simple costumes (ie hat, bonnets, apron,
shawls etc.)
- Masks
- Narration by one member while others act out
the story
- Setting of the scene
The elements of form required for the
project will need to be introduced or reviewed and may certainly be
modified as needed.
Appropriate resources about the Adirondack region will need to be
provided.
Examples of Student
Stories
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Quality Standards:
Product:
- An Original Adirondack Story
Form:
- Story is creative, original and oral version
uses at least 3 storytelling techniques.
- Story has a title
- Story has an introduction that includes
background information
- Story is in a narrative form
- Story describes a sequences of events
- Story has a beginning, middle, and end and
shows both conflict and resolution
- Oral storytelling performance is at least 2-3
minutes in length and will not exceed 5 minutes.
- Story makes sense
- Story involves interesting vocabulary
- Story has sentences that are varied
- Story has correct spelling/punctuation
- Story is written in complete sentences
- Story is handwritten neatly or typed
- Written version of story Includes a list of
the references you used.
Content - both the written and
oral version of story contain:
- A description of an Adirondack village
- A description of an Adirondack animal
- A description of an Adirondack person
from the past
- A description of an Adirondack body
of water
- Language that sets the story in a
specific time period (i.e. early 1800’s, 1930’s etc.)
- Celebrates/describes people and
events from the Adirondacks
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Adapted for the Adirondack
Curriculum Project from
the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC
©ACP 2002
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Northern Forest Partnership.