Unlocking the Magic of Storytelling: no-prep lesson plans

It was November – the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.

L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I love November, especially with the long, dark days that happen to be the best time to dive into the enchanting world of storytelling. There are so many reasons I enjoy sharing stories with my students. First of all, storytelling is a powerful educational tool: it ignites imagination, boosts creativity and improves students’ linguistic and communicative skills. But storytelling lets you know your students better, understand them and create the bond that will last longer than your lessons.

I’ve written some lesson plans revolving around storytelling, and I want to share them with you, because I believe everyone can find something useful – from absolute novices to the aces of tale-spinning.

Let’s explore the plans:

1. Storytelling: How to Start

It’s an enjoyable guide on how to start storytelling lessons. It will help both teachers and students grasp the basics of storytelling and create their own engaging stories based on the tales they already know.

Benefits for students:

• introduces basic storytelling skills
• supports creative expression
• develops writing abilities

2. Summer Songs and Stories

Stories are not only written tales – sometimes they go with music – and this lesson combines music and storytelling, encouraging students to create narratives inspired by music. And no mere music, but some well-known summer songs! I believe it’s a great idea for those who aren’t particularly fond of November.

Benefits for students:

• inspires creativity
• enhances listening skills
• helps understand the connection between music and storytelling

3. Storytelling for a Change: Stereotypes Are Silly

I find this lesson a must for all celebrating Movember! It’s based on an adorable animation about Bropunzel – and even if the video is targeted at girls, I use it to talk about boys – after all, what’s more thought-provoking than a good story?

Benefits for students:

• sparks a sense of social awareness
• encourages empathy
• empowers students to challenge stereotypes

4. The Cats of Ulthar

When you work with more advanced students, you should try one of the stories by HP Lovecraft – it doesn’t even have to be about the unspeakable elder gods! You can choose “The Cats of Ulthar” and take your students on a journey to the world of Gothic storytelling.

Benefits for students:

• introduces proper literature
• boosts literary skills
• encourages to create own Gothic tales

5. Aliens vs. Humans

Aliens are awesome – no wonder they make a great topic of various stories! You can use some simple prompts and think about some mundane aspects of our lives that can be pretty interesting from an outsider’s perspective.

Benefits for students:

• supports teamwork
• encourages problem-solving and creative thinking
• improves communication skills

6. Hansel & Gretel and the Police

I’ve always had a lot of fun with this lesson plan. Tell your students that you’re going to look closely at the tale of Hansel and Gretel, and then explore the legal aftermath of the Gingerbread House Incident.

Benefits for students:

• encourages critical thinking
• boosts classroom mood
• gives a fun twist on traditional stories

7. Kitbull by Pixar: Because Friendship is Magic

This is one of my favourite lesson plans ever, perfect for all ages and language proficiency levels, as it uses the material with no words spoken. It’s an emotional journey focusing on friendship and compassion that will probably make your students go “awwww…”.

Benefits for students:

• encourages empathy
• boosts emotional intelligence
• supports discussing complex themes through storytelling

Feel free to adapt and modify these plans to fit your teaching style. Remember: using stories in your classroom can transform your students into confident storytellers, critical thinkers, and empathetic individuals – and that’s at least as important as helping them become competent language users.

Enjoy!