Luckily, no one handed me any lesson plans to use while subbing in fourth grade this morning, so I was able to do what I wanted. The kids often ask for stories, saying "You have so many stories!". I always tell them, "You do, too. You just have to tell them."
We started with a picture book from my childhood (see above). The following discussion was about why the author wrote this story, leading into why does anyone share a story? There were so many great thoughts. Then we talked about ways to share stories- writing, telling, painting, acting, singing (at that moment we burst into a rousing rendition of "Ghost Riders in the Sky"), and of course, stitching.
Pulling out a pile of my cloths, and sharing the stories- stories of birthdays and years, whimsy, frustration, dreams and wishes, sadness, and every day feelings. I loved it that when the cloths were put in the middle of the circle, they all reached for them, wanting to touch. A few even asked to see the backs.
I wonder what shape their stories will take?