NatureStory Newsletter
Connecting people and nature, one story at a time
Kevin Strauss, storyteller, author and speaker
http://www.naturestory.com v kevin@naturestory.com
 

    Storytelling is the art of live narrative performance shaped by audience response.

    Environmental Storytelling is using stories to teach people about the natural world.

©2007 Kevin Strauss

May/June 2007

1. Introduction
2. Environmental Story: Sun and Wind (Aesop)
3. Storytelling Tip #5:
4. Resources and Events

1. Introduction
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2. Environmental Story
Sun and Wind (Aesop)
    Once upon a time, Wind and Sun were discussing which of them was the most powerful. Finally, Wind decided that they needed a contest to settle the matter.
    "See that man down there? Let's see who can take off his coat!"
    Sun agreed. So Wind began blowing and blowing. But the harder he blew, the more tightly the man held on to his coat. Finally, the exhausted Wind gave up. Then Sun smiled down at the man. Sweat began to bead on the man's forehead and he took off his jacket under the Sun's warmth.

Environmental Lesson
Some people think that yelling and bullying or frightening people is the way to get them to do what you want them to do. But as this story shows, being a blowhard doesn't always work. If we want people to care for the environment, we should make sure that they understand how it is in their own best interest to care for the environment. While it is sometimes hard to get people to work for the common good, it is easy to get them to work for their personal good. And don't forget to smile.

3.  Storytelling Tip #6: Adding Character to Your Stories
One of the most surprising things I discovered as I started telling stories was how I didn't have to think about developing character voices or body language for my tales. While in theater, actors are trained to think about how their characters move and speak, storytellers don't need to bother with that ahead of time.

In my experience, after about 5-10 public performances of a story, the character voices and body language just starts showing up on their own. Of course that assumes that you are telling the same story several times a month. If you don't have that many public performances on tap, you can just tell the story to a tape recorder or to yourself (out loud). It may take a few more than 10 retellings, but the magic of your imagination and the power of the story will give you the voice that each character might need.

In many cases, if a storyteller wants to add character voices of body language to a story and is having a hard time doing it, it is usually because she hasn't told the story enough. So let those stories out to run around in the world. You'll be glad you did.
 
4. Resources and Events

Tales with Tails: storytelling the wonders of the natural world (Libraries Unlimited, 2006) by Kevin Strauss
    This book contains over 60 "environmental stories" from around the world, along with sections on adapting and creating environmental tales and how to make sure you have the science right in the tales you tell. This book is available at http://www.naturestory.com

Visit www.environmentalstorytelling.com to read summaries of over 100 environmental stories and discover other environmental storytelling resources. The site was made possible with a grant from the National Storytelling Network.

The Naturestory Store is now online! You can order any of your favorite environmental storytelling resources from Kevin Strauss via his new secure online store. Shop early to avoid the Father's Day rush. www.naturestory.com.



July 11-15, 2007, St. Louis, MO— National Storytelling Network Conference, www.storynet.org
Kevin Strauss will be presenting a workshop on "Teaching Natural Science with Stories" at this conference. The workshop focuses on the work he did with his NSN Brimstone Grant in 2006 to help classroom teachers and naturalists (scientists) use stories to teach about the natural world.

July 27-28, 2007, Clear Lake, IA—Iowa Storytelling Festival, www.cityofclearlake.com
Hear regional and national storytellers at Iowa's largest and longest-running storytelling event. The event includes ghost stories on a paddle boat out on mist-shrouded Clear Lake and tent performances in the park. For more information, visit the website above.