Young people and the world of work - Stories & Activities

Story 1

"The answer is in your hands"

proposed by Francesco Ghilotti

              Not far from a small village lived a wise old man. All the villagers were used to going to him to listen his advice. Whenever there was a problem, people went to see the old man, and he, with few words, always helped to find the solution.

          In the village there was also a person envious of the old man. He considered himself very smart, no less than the old man, and regretted that people were always asking advice to the old man and never to him.

         One day he decided to prove to everyone that the old man did not have the answer to all questions. He too could be wrong.

           He caught a small bird and he went to the old man. He said: "You can’t see it, but in my hands, behind my back, I hold a bird. Tell me now, you who are so wise, and tell to the people: is the bird dead or alive?".

            Thus spoke the man, and he thought to himself: in whatever way he will respond, the response will be the wrong one. If he says "dead", I will show that the bird is alive. If he says "alive", I will kill it with my own hands and I'll show to everyone the corpse. I have made you into a trap.

            But the old man, serene, said simply : "the answer is in your hands."

         It was like a slap to the man, who was unprepared and shocked. He faltered and the bird escaped from the hands, and flew away.

Summary

          A story about wisdom and cunning, about envy, awareness, responsibility. About questions that nobody can answer: just ourselves.

Where?

An indeterminate place, maybe modern, maybe ancient, maybe magic, maybe not.

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

Into a school.

Why?

This story can be used to deal several issues, from the most practical to the most abstract.

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

Learn to take responsibility for our actions, learn to think that everything has to start from ourselves. That we have the answer in our hands.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Super wisdom! Discussing some important and delicate issues such as what is "wisdom", what is "cunning", what is "empathy"...

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

           Before starting the story the teacher tells the guys that they are in a small village. He asks them to close their eyes and imagine this village. After a while he asks to describe it. Which sounds do they hear? Which smells? Is there water nearby? Is anyone working? What is the climate? There are women who are talking to each other ... what are they saying? ...

When all the children will know every detail of the village, the story will begin...

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

         Before giving the answer of the old man ("the answer is in your hands."), the teacher can ask the kids: "what do you think the old man will answer?". There are many interesting and alternatives answers, such as: "the old man says that the bird is dead, so the man will leave it alive ..."

 Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

        The children will continue, individually or in group, the story. The teacher can (or not) help them in different ways, for instance with questions: how does the man react? How does he feel? After that, does he become a better or worse person? Imagine we return to the village 20 years later, what is the man doing? Perhaps he has become the wise old man?

Story 2

"The Great Big Turnip"

proposed by Adriana Ioana Bârcean

Once upon a time an old man planted a turnip seed, in his garden.

It grew very big! The turnip was enormous! Very BIG

When it was ripe, the old man pulled on the leaves to get it out.

He tried to pick his turnip, but it wouldn’t come up.

So he called to his wife.

She came running to help

The old man pulled the turnip leaves and the old woman pulled him.

But they couldn’t pull up the turnip

The old woman called her granddaughter to help.

The granddaughter came running.

The old man, the old woman, and the granddaughter tried,

but they could not pull up the turnip.

The granddaughter called the black dog to help.

The dog came running.

The old man, his wife, the granddaughter, and the dog tried,

but they could not pull up the turnip.

The dog called the cat for help

The cat came running.

The old man, his wife, the granddaughter, the dog and the cat tried,

but the turnip did not move.

The cat called the mouse to help.

A teeny tiny mouse came running.

The old man, his wife, the granddaughter, the dog, the cat and the mouse tried.

They all worked together and the turnip popped out – ZABOOM!

They all fell, SPLAT!

They were so happy and excited that they ran to the kitchen with the turnip and ate it all up together!

Summary

A story about a whole family working together to pull out a big turnip.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

The story could be told in schools, highschools, asylums, in different storytelling workshops

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

Groups may not be keen onto artistic stuff

Groups may not feel comfortable wih discussing about family values, group identity or others.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Participants could feel more related to their families, family history, traditions

Participants could recall about their childhood, grandparents, family time.

Participants could relate the story to their everyday life and be able to sort out conflicts by underlining the idea of togetherness and peer support.

o The groups will discuss the spirit of belonging, team spirit, the need for help.

o The group will discuss group identity, raising questions and dillemas of nowadays’society

o The goups will discuss inclusion and diversity.

o The groups will discuss family values.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

Depending on the age of the audience, you could:

- Ask the audience to close their eyes and be open to be taken on a beautiful trip to a beautiful land – the storyteller tells them a short story about their trip.

- Ask the audience if they can tell their favourite childhood stories. Write them down on the board.

- Encourage the audience to make themselves comfortable and be prepared to listen to a wonderful story.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

       Storyteller tells story and by the time the characters appear in the story, s/he shows up the puppets made out of newspaper and tape.

The family and the turnip

The great big turnip

Grandad

Grandma

Granddaughter

         When the other characters appear: the dog, the cat and the mouse, the storyteller just shows up their picture. All the characters will be put up on top of a box and the turnip will be <planted> in a hole in the top of the box.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

          The storyteller offers the audience a box and asks them to pick one small note. In the box, there will be as many notes of different colours as many people there are in the audience. On each note it is written a character from the story: GRANDAD, GRANDMA, GRANDDAUGHTER, DOG, CAT, MOUSE, THE GREAT BIG TURNIP.

· Organise the groups relating to the characters picked up.

· The character-groups should reinvent the story from the point of view of their character

· The character-groups should retell the story in a more modern context: the way the characters relate, the way they are dressed, the way they speak, etc.

· The character-groups will make up a new story book based on the new story with lines and drawings.

Story 3

"Hedgehog and Hare"

proposed by Ilze Zvejniece

        Once there was a hare living in the forest. He was a nice guy buy also boastful, always talking about himself and how fast he can run.

       One day new neighbors moved in the forest next to the Hare. It was a hedgehogs family with twin brothers who liked joking around. As the Twin hedgehogs heard about boastful Hare they decided to hum/gag/joke him.

       There was a long ditch in the forest. One hedgehog hid in the beginning, other hid in the end of the ditch. Then the first hedgehog said to the Hare "Hi Mister big Hare! I have heard that you Mister are a great athlete. Wanna compete? Let`s run from the beginning of this ditch until the end!" The Hare was a bit surprised, he thought that the Hedgehog is a little bit ... hmmm... how to say it...mental. "Are you sure Mister Hedgehog?" The Hare asked. "I wouldn`t like to hurt your feelings" the Hare continued. "Whatever!" the Hedgehog answered with a tiny mysterious smile on his face like Mona Lisa has.

       So they both agreed to compete. The Hedgehog suggested that he runs along the bottoms and the Hare can take the top. The Hare ran away like tornado and he didn`t even noticed that the Hedgehog had stayed still. When the Hare got to the end of the ditch he couldn`t believe his eyes! The Hedgehog was waiting for him looking a bit bored and saying "Hi Mister! Why did you make me wait so long time here? I am starting to feel cold!". The Hare (very confused) said "No, no, no, no, it can not be true. Let`s run once more!". And the Hare and the Hedgehog were on the line again. The same happened 3 more times until the Hare shamefully admitted the victory of the Hedgehog.

Summary

      Twin brothers hedgehogs decide to fool the Hare who is a big runner. One of the hedgehogs challenges the Hare for a run from the beginning until the end of the ditch. Meanwhile the other hedgehog has hidden on the other side of the ditch and he is waiting for the Hare.

      The Hare runs until the end of the ditch and meets the Hedgehog. The Hare is very confused. They do it 3 more times until the Hare shamefully admits the victory of the Hedgehog.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

The world of ethical choices.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

      Is it ok to fool others? In which cases it is ok? Is it acceptable to fool someone if he or she has been boastful? Should the fooled one should know about it afterwords?

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Empathy, ability to look at the situation from different perspectives.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

Depending on the age of audience you could:

· Create “the scene” (environment of the story);

· Make poppets – the Hare and 2 hedgehogs;

· Create a simple map of characteristics of each character.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

Depending on the age of audience you could:

· Use created poppets and “the scene” to illustrate the story;

· Invite the audience to illustrate the story;

Invite the audience to imagine and express emotions of each character in certain situations.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

Depending on the age of audience you could:

· Divide the room in two parts (Yes and No part). Prepare some statements regarding the story and ethical choices connected to it.

Read a statement and invite everyone to choose the Yes or No side. After that you can ask extra questions about people`s choices.

· Invite people to continue the story based on the maps of characteristics that were created before the story.

Story 4

“The Old Man`s Mitten”

proposed by Jolanta Krivina

        An Old Man was walking through the forest one day with his Dog. He walked and he walked and he dropped his mitten.

         Just then a Mouse came scuttling up and when he saw the mitten he stopped and climbed right in and said:

"This is where I'm going to live."

After a while the Fly, queen of all the flies, came up and when saw the mitten, stopped and called out:

"Bzzzz! Who is living in this mitten?"

"I am. Crunch-Munch the Mouse. And who are you?"

"I'm the Fly, queen of all the flies. Let me in!"

"All right. Fly in!"

        So the Fly, queen of all the flies, flied in and the Mouse moved over and the two of them made their home in the mitten.

After a while a Rabbit came scurrying up and when he saw the mitten he stopped and called out:

"Hello there! Who is living in this mitten?"

"We are Crunch-Munch the Mouse and the Fly, queen of all the flies. And who are you?"

"I'm Fleet-Feet the Rabbit. May I join you?"

"All right. Jump in!"

So the Rabbit jumped in and the Mouse and the Fly moved over and the three of them made their home in the mitten.

After a while a wolf came stalking up and when he saw the mitten he stopped and called out:

"Hello, friends! Who is living in this mitten?"

We are Crunch-Munch the Mouse, Fleet-Feet the Rabbit and the Fly, queen of all the flies. And who are you?"

"I'm Howly-Prowly the Wolf! Let me in!"

"Very well. Go ahead!"

       So the WoIf climbed in and the Mouse and the Fly and the Rabbit moved over and the four of them made their home in the mitten.

       By and by with a crackling of twigs a bear came lumbering up and when he saw the mitten he stopped and bellowed :

"Hello, good people! Who is living in this mitten?"

"We are Crunch-Munch the Mouse, Fleet-Feet the Rabbit, Howly-Prowly the Wolf and the Fly, queen of all the flies. And who are you?"

"Ho,ho-ho! I'm Grumbly-Rumbly the Bear. And though you're quite a crowd, I know you'll make room for me!"

"How can we? We're cramped as it is!"

"Where there's a will, there's a way!"

"Oh, all right, edge in, but don't forget that you're not the only one."

        So the Bear squeezed in, too, and now there were five of them inside and they were so cramped that the mitten was fit to burst.

        It was just about then that the Old Man missed his mitten and decided to go back in search of it. He walked and he walked and his Dog ran and ran until at last he saw the mitten lying in the snow and moving!

"Bow-wow-wow!" went the Dog.

       And the seven friends inside the mitten were so frightened that out they jumped and away they ran as fast as their legs could carry them.

Then the Old Man came up and he picked up his mitten and that was the end of that.

Summary

        In the cold, cold winter an old man went to a forest to look for some wood for fire. As he was walking he decided to have a smoke. While he was looking for matches and pipe he lost one mitten. At the same time animals found the mitten as a good place to live in.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

World where everyone can become friends friendly living together, helping each other, trying to trust each other.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

Getting over the stereotypes and personal inner fears.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Developing imagination, group working, putting yourself at other`s (animals) place.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

Depending on the age of audience you could:

· Greet audience giving each of them a handshake wearing a mitten;

· During winter we wear extra types of clothing, what are these clothes? May show pictures with clothes, pay attention to mitten;

· Brownian movement – audience imagine walking at the forest and all acting like 1) a fly, 2) a mouse, 3) a rabbit, 4) a wolf, 5) a bear, 6) a dog, 7) an old man.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

Depending on the age of audience you could:

· Use clothes (scarf, gloves/mittens, coat) to describe the season and the weather;

· Using sounds that makes each of the mentioned animals (in different languages, nations they are different as well);

· Multilingual story – telling story in different languages, e.g., English and Latvian.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

Depending on the age of audience you could:

· Divide audience in groups, give them one animal and ask to write their thoughts how that animal could feel in the mitten; read and discuss the feelings;

· Divide in groups and tell story from the view of 1) the old man; 2) fly; 3) mouse; 4) rabbit; 5) wolf; 6) bear; 7) dog;

· Divide in groups and write dialogue that could happen inside the mitten. Make a short sketch;

· Ask how does audience feels after listening and working with story, what have they learned.

Story 5

“Where Would You Be If…”

proposed by Magda Krzysik

          Not so long ago in a little town in southern Poland there was a shabby, dark bar called Slug Pub. Despite the fact that it was not a very respectable place it had a doorman. The doorman was a very simple person and he couldn’t read or write.

          One day the owner of the pub changed. The new manager decided to upgrade his business - to make it more luxurious. He called all employees for an interview and when he learned that the doorman was illiterate he decided to fire him.

          There was no jobs in the town at the time, so the doorman decided to leave his home and travel the world. He walked for miles and miles passing villages, towns and cities, meeting people and admiring the landscapes. When he was short of money he would stop on his way and ask people if there was anything he could fix or mend for them as he was really handy. People would pay him a little money for his jobs and after a while he discovered that he had enough to buy some tools he could use when doing those small repairs. He decided to settle in a pretty little town and after a while he became really well known for his skills that he developed and mastered. His business was doing so well that he earned enough money to open a little workshop. People would come to him to get their equipment and furniture fixed, but also just to talk to the man as he was a good listener, always ready to serve his visitors a cup of coffee and a piece of advice. He became so popular in the little community that after some time he was elected to a town council. He worked with passion for his community and after a while he became a mayor of the town and then a governor of the whole province.

          Everybody knew about his true devotion and fair judgment and he became really famous in the surrounding provinces and then in the whole country.

       One day he gave an interview to a national paper. When the journalist finished with her questions, she asked the man to have a look at the text she had written just to make sure that everything was all right.

       The man looked at the piece of paper and said: “I’m sorry but I cannot read or write”. The journalist opened her mouth in disbelief and cried out: “If you got so far without knowing how to read or write, imagine where you would be if you could do it!”

       The man replied in a calm voice: “Oh, I know exactly where I would be then…. I would be a doorman at the Slug Pub”.

Summary

          It is a story of a simple man that couldn’t read or write but despite that fact became successful and respected. It’s about accepting change and adapting to new challenges and circumstances. It also talks about trusting your virtues as opposed to focusing on your shortages.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

It’s suitable for teenagers and adults and can be used in all kinds of environments.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

         The story addresses fear of changing circumstances and of adapting to new situations. It talks about trusting in your virtues as opposed to focusing on your shortages. It also breaks the stereotypical thinking about what characteristics we need to become successful and respected in life.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

1. Understanding how important it is to adapt to change.

2. Willingness to learn

3. Building self-confidence.

4. Developing tolerance

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

          Divide participants in three groups and ask each group to draw a silhouette of a doorman at a shabby pub (group 1), a craftsmen in a little town (group 2) and a governor of a province (group 3).

          When they are ready, ask them to fill the shapes with the competences, skills and qualities they think each of those jobs requires). Ask them to present and discuss it with the whole group.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

1. Ask the participants to look at the drawings they made and ask them how they feel about what they wrote after listening to the story.

2. Ask them to work in pairs. One person takes a role of a protagonist of the story and the other of an interviewer. Ask them to role play an interview.

Story 6

“Little Daisy”

proposed by Jana Ligurska

(emotional music, everybody gets a pinch of Provense herbs)

          Long time ago there was an enchanting kingdom. All the people living there were really good at planting herbs. The royal garden was designed in impressive geometric ornaments. But instead of roses and tulips you could find there lines of rosemary, thyme, mint, oregano, basil and chives plants. Therefore the empire was called Scented Kingdom. The welcoming nice smell was spreading out beyond the borders.

         And one day the very new fragrance appeared inside the castle. You could smell something really gentle, pure and touching. Do you know how the new scent could emerge in that old castle? Well, it was a defenceless fragrance of a newborn baby. Yes, the little princess was born. She was as tiny and fragile as a meadow flower. The king and the queen decided to call her Daisy.

        The roayal parents loved their daughter very much. She was their only child. As the little princess has been growing, the king and the queen started to worry about her.

(warlike music)

"What if she is kidnapped by a dragon or a wizard?" the king told. "How will we cope with that?"

"What if she falls asleep for hundred years suddenly " the queen inquired. "What will we do?"

And then the royal parents decided: "We have to protect Daisy from every danger in the world."

         The next day, it was just misty winter morning, the king commanded to build a high wall around the castle and the royal garden. The wall was 5 metres high and a thick net was stretched from one edge of wall to another like an invisible roof above the castle. Now the king and the queen felt that their Daisy is really safe.

(silence)

Poor Daisy! She lives her life in absolute safety. What is she allowed to do all day long?

           She can read books in her room. But she cannot bring and put them on the shelves because it is too high for her.

         She can eat delicious dishes. But she cannot help the cook with preparing them because she could cut or burn her fingers.

        She can stroll very slowly in the royal garden and smell the herbs. But she cannot carry the watering can because it is too heavy for her.

         What else can she do? What cannot she do and why?

(The audience will continue.)

       One day Daisy was just having a slow walk in the royal garden. Suddenly she could hear a strange sound. It was a small kitten mewing somewhere behind the wall.

        "What shall I do now?" Daisy hesitated. "My parents keep telling me I must be careful, because I am too weak, too tiny. And the world behind the wall is said to be extremely dangerous. Maybe the kitten is mewing because there is a dragon or a lion. But I must do something. The kitten is calling me."

         Daisy decided to act quickly. She came quickly to a sleeping gardener and stole the key from the back-gate from his pocket. Then she silently tiptoed towards the back- gate. Daisy put the key into the keyhole, opened the old gate and closed it very quickly. She had such a huge fear! But no dragon or a lion appeared. There was just a small kitten holding the high branch of the pine tree. Daisy was not allowed to climb up the high shelves, but how could she help the kitten without climbing? She climbed up the pine tree and took the kitten down.

          The kitten told he in human speech: "Thank you very much, my dear friend. You have saved my life. Please, take me with you. I will become your good helper. Every time you will be afraid I will whisper in your ear how brave and strong you are. You will see that it will be the best help you can get."

(emotional music)

            Daisy took the kitten in her arms and went back into the royal garden. Nobody knows whether Daisy has revealed the secret that her kitten can speak. But for sure her life has been changing from that time.

Summary

        A story of a tiny girl called Daisy who will find one day that she is much stronger that everybody can imagine.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

Scented Kingdom (protectiveness) and Magic Forest (challenge)

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

Fear of the unknown, no-confidence, lack of self-reliance,

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Self-confidence, courage, trust in people

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

          The storyteller brings three puppets or pictures (the princess, the queen, the king). Now we have three characters from ordinary fairy tale. The caring royal parents love their daughter very much. They are afraid of many things which can happen to their princess.

          The storyteller will divide the group into three teams (the princesses, the queens, the kings). The teams will get the puppet/picture, a white poster and a marker pen, Each team will discuss the individual fears of their character. All the ideas will be written on the poster.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

- music and silence (emotional music in the first part of the story when the princess was born; warlike music in the second part when the parents are worried and the castle is fortified; silence in the third part when the princess gets out of the castle, emotional music in the last part when the princess returns home)

- smell (each listener gets a pinch of Provense herbs)

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

           What happened when Daisy with the kitten returned home? How did she change her behavior?

Divide the audience into small groups (2-3 people). Each group will perform a short story.

Story 7

“The Three Little Frogs”

proposed by Katarzyna Burak - Kasia

            Once upon a time there were three little frogs. They were young and curious and they loved to play together. They were careless, but meantime they had their own dreams, like all frogs doJ. Three little frogs lived close to a beautiful cottage, in a pretty deep pond. One day, while they were exploring, they saw something that intrigued them. It was a big saucepan that was standing on the top of the cottage’s porch. Normally frogs wouldn’t go too close to the house, but that day they found the smell from the saucepan so nice, that they decided to go and see it. As you already know they were little bit careless, so they just decided to jump in. One, two, and three they counted together and jumped into the saucepan. Then they found themselves in a saucepan full of cream! It smelled nice indeed, but it wasn’t easy to swim in it. And the walls of the pan very smooth and slippery, so they couldn’t get out of it. After just few minutes the first frog decided that the situation is hopeless, she gave up and drowned. Two other frogs were still swimming, even if it was more and more difficult and they were getting quickly tired. When the second frog became very tired, she gave up and drowned as well. The third frog didn’t want to give up. She kept thinking that if she has survived for so long, then maybe somebody will come and rescue her at any time. The cream seemed to get thicker and thicker. She was getting exhausted and out of breath, but she kept moving and telling herself that she needs to survive for little longer and little longer. And when she was just about to drown, the cream turned into the butter!!

Summary

This story tells about how to be courageous and not to give up easily.

Where?

· Magical land(the context in which it is used)

 

Mainly for older kids, teenagers and adults as well.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

In difficult situations it is easy to give up.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

          You never know how long you need to fight for your dreams to come true, so don’t give up on them, because they are maybe just about to happen.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

          Depending on the age of the people you can bring 3 little robber/paper frogs and a saucepan, or ask the audience if they believe that their dreams will come true – make some sort of research.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

         You can use the wooded frog that you can imitate real frog’s sounds with or make up the sounds yourself. Show the frogs that you brought while making sounds.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

         Ask people which frog did they identify with? Do you think that similar situations happen often in our life, but maybe we are not aware of how close we were to make our dreams come true?

Story 7

“Like salt in food”

proposed by Ana Fiț

Once upon a time there lived a king who had three daughters.

One day the king asked the oldest daughter:

- My girl, how much do you love me?

- Father, I love you as much as I like honey, she replied.

- God bless you, my daughter.

Then he asked his second daughter:

- What about you? How much do you love me?

- As much as I like sugar.

- God bless you too!

Then came the turn of the youngest daughter:

- How much do you love me, my dear?

- Father, I love you as much as I like salt in food, answered the girl.

Her sisters started to laugh, the king turned red with anger and said:

- How can you say something like this? That’s your gratitude for how much I work to raise and teach you? Go away from my house!

He left, leaving the girl crying.

          Seeing the king’s anger, the youngest girl took some ragged old clothes and left. She went from village to village until she arrived at the court of another king.

         There she worked as a servant. She was nice, clever and very hard-working and so the prince from the castle felt in love with her and decided to marry her. At the wedding, they invited kings from all around the world, including the girl’s father.

         The wedding day came. All the attendants were having fun and enjoying the delicious dishes, except the bride’s father. After just one bite he left his food untouched.

But way?

The bride had a very special request. Only sugar and honey should be used to prepare her father’s meal, no salt at all.

The king finally realized his daughter’s wisdom and he apologized.

The girl kissed his hand, all harm was forgotten and they all lived happily ever after.

Summary

           Once upon a time there was a king who had three daughters. Because the youngest one told her father she loves him as much as she likes food in her food she was thrown out of the castle.

           The young girl left and eventually reached at the court of another king. She worked there as a servant and the prince of the castle felt in love with her.

          The girl’s father, the angry king, was also invited at their wedding. The bride had a very special request. Only sugar and honey should be used to prepare her father’s meal, no salt at all. It was then when he realized his daughter’s wisdom and asked for her forgiveness. All harm was forgotten and they all lived happily ever after.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

Teenagers, 14-19 years old from high schools or placement centers.

Suitable for a group of 8 to 15 people.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

           Feeling comfortable with who you are, standing-up for what you truly believe in, finding your own voice, having difficulties fitting in, accepting the fact that each one is different with his own desires, his likes and dislikes

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Self-discovery, self-esteem and communication

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. Pick a random teenager and ask him/her if he/she likes eating chocolate?

All the kids that like chocolate should join the group of the teenager if he/she says yes, of not they should form another group.

Do this again, following the same principle and ask about classical music and cooking this time.

Write the 3 topics in 3 different corners of the white board (chocolate, classical music and cooking).

2. Give each one of them post-its (the same color), and ask them to write why they enjoy chocolate/classical music/cooking.

Then invite those that want to come and stick the post-it on the white board/flipchart in the correspondent corner.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

· Get them into the mood with some medieval music as a background noise.

· Pause after the girls answer and ask them what they think will happen next?

· Pause after describing how all the wedding attendants were enjoying the wedding and their dishes, except one. Ask them who was the exception and why?

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

Get them into the mood with a song about teenagers (example: We are golden - Mika)

Hand them a paper sheet (let them choose, each one should have a unique color – a metaphor for unique voice) with a table containing:

· Things that I like (you can start with those from the beginning and add others to the list)

· Why? (Is it because you truly like them or only because others like them?)

· Choose one thing from the list of things you like and invent a personal metaphor to describe how much you like it

· Congratulate yourself for something, it can be for anything. Write down the message

They will keep the paper for themselves, does that feel like sharing, reading to the others can do it.

• Things that I like

• Why do I like them?

• Create a metaphor for describing how much do you like something

• Congratulate yourself for something. Write down the message

Story 8

“The Snow Maiden”

proposed by Jana Buresova

             Many years ago, in a distant Czech village, there lived a peasant, by name Ivan, with his wife Maria; they lived in a small wooden hut, where they spent their days in love and harmony; but children had they none. This was a very sore point with both of them, they used to sit by the window or at the door of their little hut looking at their neighbours' children playing about, and wished that they had some of their own; but finding that it was no use wishing, they at last became sad in their old age.

           One cold winter's day, when the snow lay thick upon the uneven country roads, and the little village boys were running about throwing snowballs to keep themselves warm, and making snowmen and women, old Ivan and Maria sat by their window looking at them in silence. Suddenly Ivan looked up at his wife, and said, laughing, "Maria, what do you say to coming out into the road and making ourselves a snowman or woman, like those little boys yonder?"

           Maria laughed, too, it seemed such a queer thing to do at their time of life! "Yes, if you like," she replied; "let us go, it may cheer us up a bit; but I don't see why we should make a snowman or woman, let us rather make a child out of snow, as Providence does not seem to wish us to have a real one!"

           "I do believe you are getting quite clever in your old age, Maria! Come along, then, and let us set to work."

          Off went the old couple, laughing at themselves all the while, and sure enough they commenced making a snow child! They made the legs, arms, hands, feet, and a snowball for the head.

           "What, in the name of wonder, are you up to?" exclaimed a passerby, stopping suddenly in front of the two old people.

             "A snow child!" laughed Maria, as she began to explain everything to the stranger.

             "May the saints help you!" said he, as he went his way.

            When they had got the legs, arms, hands, feet, and head fixed up together, Ivan began making the nose, two holes for the eyes, and was just drawing a small line for the mouth, when he suddenly, much to his surprise, felt warm breath come out of it. He took his hand away quickly, and on looking up at the two holes made for the eyes, beheld two real, beautiful blue eyes; the lips became full and rosy, and as for the nose, it was the dearest little nose ever seen.

"Good heavens! what does this mean? Is it a temptation of the Evil One?" cried Ivan, crossing himself several times, while the snow child threw her arms round his neck, and kissed him as though she were alive.

           "O Ivan! Ivan!" cried Maria, trembling with joy, "Providence has at last taken pity on us, and sent us this child to cheer us in our old age."

        She was about to throw her arms around the snow child and embrace it, when, to the astonishment of both the old man and woman, the snow fell off, and left in Maria's arms a beautiful little girl.

         "Oh, my little Snow Maiden! my little darling!" cried the happy Maria, as she led the lovely child into their hut. Meanwhile, Ivan could not get over his wonder. He rubbed his head, and felt sorely puzzled; he did not know whether he was asleep or awake, but felt almost sure that something had gone wrong with him somewhere.

         But to return to the Snow Maiden (as Maria was pleased to call her). She grew very rapidly -- not only daily but hourly -- into a tall, beautiful, and graceful girl; the peasants were delighted with her – Ivan had come to the conclusion that it was all right -- their hut was now always in constant mirth. The village girls and boys were frequent visitors to it; they played, read, and sang with the Snow Maiden, who understood it all thoroughly, and did her best to amuse all around her. She talked, laughed, and was altogether so cheerful and good natured, that everybody loved her dearly, and tried to please her in every possible way, -- at the same time a better and more obedient daughter never was. She had the most lovely white skin, just like snow; her eyes were like forget-me-nots, her lips and cheeks like roses; in fact, she was the very picture of health and beauty; with her lovely golden hair hanging down her back, she looked just like a girl of seventeen, though she was only a few days old.

        "Ivan," said Maria, one day to her husband, "how good Providence has been to us; how Snow Maiden has brightened us, in these few days, and how wicked we were to grumble as we did."

        "Yes, Maria," returned Ivan, "we ought to thank Providence for all that. He has done for us, and thank Him that we have mirth instead of gloom, in our little home."

        Winter passed, the heavens rejoiced, the spring sun came out, the swallows began to fly about, and the grass and trees became green once more.

        The lovely peasant girls gathered themselves together, and met their young cavaliers under the trees in the forest, where they danced and sang their pretty folk songs. But the Snow Maiden was dull.

       "What is the matter with you, my darling?" asked Maria; "are you ill? You are always so bright and cheerful as a rule, and now you are so dull all at once. Has any bad man thrown a spell over you?"

        "No, mother mine; nothing is the matter with me, darling," the Snow Maiden replied, but still she continued to be dull, and by degrees she lost her beautiful colour, and began to droop sadly, greatly to the alarm of those around her.

         The last snow had now vanished, the gardens began to bloom, the rivers and lakes rippled, the birds sang merrily; in fact all the wide world seemed happy; yet our little Snow Maiden drooped and looked sad.

          She sat with her hands folded in the coolest part of the hut. She loved the cold winter, it was her best friend, but this horrid heat she hated. She was glad when it rained a little, there was no broiling sun then. She did not mind the winter sun, but the summer sun was her enemy; and quite natural, too, poor thing, when she was born in the winter in the snow! At last the great summer feast arrived, the village youths and maidens came to the Snow Maiden and asked her to join them in a romp through the woods, and begged Maria to let her go with them. At first Maria refused, but the girls begged so hard that at last, on thinking it over, she consented, for she thought it might cheer Snow Maiden up.

          "But," said she, "take care of her, for she is the apple of my eye, and if anything happens to her, I don't know what I shall do!"

         "All right! all right! we shall take care of her, she is just as dear to us! "cried the young people, as they took Snow Maiden and ran off with her into the forest, where the girls wove themselves wreaths, while the young men gathered sticks, which they piled up high; and at sunset they set fire to them, and then they arranged themselves all in a row one after another, boys and girls, and prepared to jump over the burning heap. Our Snow Maiden was the last in the row.

        " Mind," said the girls to her, " don't stay behind but jump after us."

          One! two! three ! and away they went, jumping over the flames in great delight. Suddenly they heard a piercing scream, and on looking round discovered that Snow Maiden was missing.

       " Ah," cried they, laughing, "she is up to one of her tricks again, and has most likely gone and hidden herself somewhere. Come, let us go and search for her."

        They all ran off in pairs in different directions, but nowhere could they find their missing companion. Their happy young faces soon turned very grave, and their joy gave place to sorrow and alarm. They met at last in the road outside the forest, and began asking each other what they had best do.

         "Perhaps she has run home," said one.

        This seemed a happy thought; so they ran to the hut, but no Snow Maiden was there. They looked for her all through the next day and night, and on the third, and fourth. They sought her in the village, hut after hut, and in the forest, tree after tree, bush after bush; but all in vain, nowhere could they find her. As for poor Ivan and Maria, it is needless to say, that their grief was too great for words, no one could comfort them. Day after day, night after night, did poor Maria wander into the forest, calling like the cuckoo, "Oh, my little Snow Maiden! Oh, my little darling."

           But there was no answer to her call, not one word from that sweet voice did Maria get in reply. Snow Maiden was not to be found, that was certain, but how had she vanished, and whither had she gone? Had the wild beasts of the forest eaten her up? or had the robber-bird carried her off to the blue sea? No, it was not the wild beasts, nor was it the robber-bird, but -- as our little friend was jumping over the flames after her companions she evaporated into a thin cloud, and flew to the heights of the heavens.

Summary

           Childless peasants Ivan and Maria made a snow doll, which came to life and growe up quickly into a beautiful young girl. A group of girls invite her for a walk in the woods, after which they make a small fire and take turns leaping over it. When Snow Maden turn comes, she starts to jump, but only gets halfway before evaporating into a small cloud.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

Whoever is looking for themselves.

Whoever is trying to find own place in a group of other people.

Whoever feel to be outsider or stranger.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

A fear of being different.

A fear of being out of group.

A fear of talking about your own needs and feelings.

A desire to take after (follow) other people and forget yourself.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Don´t be afraid of being different.

Be able to relinquish a group and do things your own way.

Be able to talk about your own needs and feelings.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. Fortunately & Unfortunately

One person begins a random story with a word „fortunately“ at the beginning and stops after a few sentences.

The next person picks up the story thread and continues it whit a word „unfortunately“ at his firs sentens, then stops again after few sentences. Next person adds to it again with „fortunately“ and an other one with „unfortunately“. And so on until the tale comes to a resolution.

2. Soundtracking/sound collage

Use realistic or stylised sounds to accompany a beggining of The Snow Maiden story. Let´s them close their eyes and slowly create together a mood and a mysterious atmosphere for „ a cold winter day at a village“ by using their voices or making sounds.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

1. The Snow Maiden´s spring

Let´s imagine all together, what was The Snow Maiden´s beginning of spring like? How did she feel? Which places and situation was she avoiding?

2. Jumping-over-fire song

Imagine an atmosphere of the sunset in a forest at the final part of the story. Find a rhythmic song everybody know, which is suitable for a jumping over fire cheerfulness. Sing it together begin very quietly and slowly and gradually into louder and faster.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

1. Change the end

Imagine you have magic stick and you can change one moment of the story to change the sad end. Choose the moment of the story you would like to change and substantiate why.

2. Send a message to characters of the story

Take a paper and write a message to whichever character of the story. Write whatever you want – advice, motto, tiding, inspirational sentence. If you want you can write more messages to more characters.

Story 9

“The bear that lost its tail”

proposed by Raluca Istrate

          Once upon a time, there was a very sneaky fox. It was looking all night long for something to eat but there was no luck; it didn’t find anything and it was very hungry. In the morning, deadly tired, it lay in the bushes near the road thinking of what to do to find something to eat.

         Staying in there, it sensed the smell of fresh fish. Looking around, it saw a cart coming, so it was thinking of a plan to eat the fish straight from the cart. It lay in the street pretending to be dead.

        The peasant stopped the cart when seeing the beautiful fox. He was happy and said ”what a beautiful fox! I could make a nice, warm fur coat for my wife out of it”. So he took the fox, put it in the back of his cart on top of the fish, but the poor man didn’t see the fox wasn’t really dead. When the cart started to move, the hungry fox started to throw the fish one by one onto the street. When all the fish was done, the fox jumped off the cart and went along the street to gather it. The fox took all of it to its house and started to eat. While doing so, the bear sensed the smell of fish. It was a fat bear with a beautiful, long tail. The bear approached the fox and asked it for some fish as it was very hungry, too.

          But… the fox said NO!!! You should work hard to get your food, as I did. If you are so hungry, go over to the lake and catch it with your tail.

         The bear said he doesn’t know how to fish by tail so the fox told him: Go to the lake late at night and put your tail into the water and stay like this until next morning, when you have to pull your tail out. I’m sure you’ll catch two or three times as much.

         Hearing this, the bear left excited and went to the lake later that night. The weather was very cold. It put its tail into the dark, cold water waiting for the fish. It was freezing outside and started to feel its tail heavy, assuming it was full of fish. The lake was frozen and the bear’s tail was all covered in ice. In the morning, the bear was all frozen and starving and couldn’t take it anymore. It once again felt its tail heavy and tried to pull it out of the ice, but it didn’t move. It tried again and did it so hard that the tail broke and the bear was left with no tail.

         The bear got very angry. It went into the forest to find the fox and take revenge. As the fox heard the bear come, decided to hide in a hollow and started to make fun of it.

         ”Ha, ha, ha, Where is your tail? Did the fish eat your tail? How could you be so stupid to believe that you could fish with your tail?”

           So the bear took a stick and started to look for the fox in the hollow. But the fox was so clever! When the bear pulled the tree, the fox yelled: „Ohh, please don’t pull as you’ll break my leg!” and when the bear pulled the leg, the fox yelled: ”Keep doing this as you’ll pull the tree.”

          So the bear tried harder and harder, but couldn’t take the fox out and decided to go home. And if you ever hear a bear moaning, it is probably because it remembers how the fox tricked him.

          And this is the end of our story, the story of the clever fox and the bear that lost its tail.

Summary

         It is a story of a bear who lost its tail because he trusted fox who told him that he can rod by tail in a cold water.

Where?

        Youth workers can use this story with children aged 3-5 years old, in library, kindergarden, in the forest…

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

This story is a good point of start talking about goodness and honesty.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

Children will find that it is not good to lie and to be sneacky.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Children will find through this story that it`s not good to foolish or to lie people. Children will learn that it is ok to make mistakes and to forgive.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

        We will talk before telling the story about the forest, how it looks like. They will fiind about wild animals who live in the forest.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

We will have puppets (toys) : a bear, a fox, fish.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

Children will receive coloured pencils and they will draw and colour the bear and the fox.

Children will be divided in two groups and they will receive the scenes of the story and they will have to put in logical order.

Story 10

"Would you rather be the carrot, the egg. or the coffee bean?

proposed by Natalia Niemiec

“A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling and wanted to give up.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water.

In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minute she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee into a cup. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. Then she asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.

The granddaughter then asked, “What does it mean grandmother?”

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity… boiling water – but each reacted differently. The carrot was strong and hard. However, after being in the boiling water, it became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after being in the boiling water, it became hard inside. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked the granddaughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Summary

It is a story about each of us, to reflect on our personal behavior.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

In a youth center or in a school for Young people aged between 12 and 18 years old.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

This story is good to empower young people to have a positive thinking and attitude.

Young people have the chance to reflect on their personal behavior.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

Young people will discover themselves, how they act in different situations.

           Preparation of the activities:

          Depending on the learning objective, the context in which the story is told, in a youth center or in a school and the target group, prepare the story, know your story and prepare the classroom/ any room and even an outdoor place, in a park, that feats your number of persons: put the tables and chairs aside and prepare:

1. Two sets of 10 questions related to coffee, the color orange, and the way people prefer to eat the eggs. For example: Who’s favorite colour is orange? Who eats his eggs very soft? Who drinks 4 coffees per day? Who doesn’t drink coffee at all? Who eats only row food? Who eats boiled vegetables? Who cracks eggs for Easter? Who’s favorite colour is brown? Who drinks his/her coffee with a lot of milk?

2. A real carrot, a real egg and some coffee beans;

3. Colored thread; super-glues and scissors;

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. Invite the participants to play the game: “Find someone who…” Give them only 2 mintes to fins as many persons who are answering yes to the questions.

2. Show them the three elements of the story: the carrot, the coffee beans and the egg and invite them individually or in pairs to come up with a short story. Share the stories within the big group or in groups of four.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

          Be aware of your voice, tone, volume, pitch, use gestures and pauses in order to underline the different stages of the story. You can use the three elements of the story, a real carrot, some real coffee beans and a real egg in order to underline the specificallity of each.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

1. Invite the participants to answer the last question of the story by free writing what are they, a carrot, an egg or an coffee bean. At the end they can share if they what with the group.

2. Create a bracelet from thread and glue a coffee bean on it, as a souvenir of the story.

3. Invite the participants to write inspiring messages for strangers that might face the problem of the young women from the story and give them on the streets to passengers and by this organizing a Delivery Life moment in which they would stop the passengers and give them the inspiring quotes and tell them a wish for the future.

Question to reflect upon:

• Which am I?
• Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I become soft and lose my strength?
• Or am I the egg that is fragile, but changes with the heat? Do I after death, a break up, a financial hardship, or some other trial, become like a stone? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter with a hardened heart?
• Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you change, get better and change the situation around you.
• “How do you handle adversity?”

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?”

Story 11

"The town musicians of Bremen"

proposed by Serena Zampolli

         Once upon a time there was a donkey whose master had made him carry sacks to the mill for many years, but whose strength began at last to fail. His master began to think of getting rid of him, but the donkey, guessing that something was wrong, ran away and took the road to Bremen because he was very good with rhythm and thought he might get an engagement as drummer.

         After a while, he found a dog lying by the side of the road panting, as if he had run a long way. The donkey asked the dog what happened and the dog explained that his master was going to kill him, because he has become too weak to hunt. The donkey told the dog about his plan and it turned out the dog could play guitar. So he decided to join him.

        They were walking together and then they met a cat, sitting in the road, wet and looking sad. The cat explained he was too old to hunt mice and that her mistress tried to drown him. The donkey and the dog shared their plan with him and asked him to be their bass player, because he could make low notes with his purrs. The cat gladly accepted and joined the group.

        After a while they met a rooster who was half flying, half running and looked like he was escaping from something. The rooster explained he overheard his master wanted to turn him into soup and so decided to escape. As for the others, he liked the idea of performing all together and was happy to become the singer of the group.

         Bremen was far and the trip took several days. One day the four animals were sleeping in a forest when they were awaken by some lights. They were curios and followed the lights. They found out the torches belonged to a group of robbers, who slowly approached a house and then kicked the door open and entered. Through the windows, the animals saw there was no one inside, but the house was full of food and drinks.

         They consulted together how it should be managed and at last they hit on a plan. The donkey was to place his forefeet on the window-sill, the dog was to get on the donkey's back, the cat on the top of the dog, and lastly the rooster was to fly up and perch on the cat's head.

          When that was done, at a given signal they all began to perform their music.

        The donkey brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the rooster crowed; then they burst through into the room, breaking all the panes of glass. The robbers fled at the dreadful sound and fled to the wood in the utmost terror. Then the four companions sat down to table, made free with the remains of the meal, and feasted as if they had been hungry for a month.

Summary

         A well known story about a group of animals who decide to get together and find a new purpose, in a new place. Their encounter and their working together saves their hose and secures a new location for them.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

The story can be used in a context of team work and when trying to solve a task in which everybody has to use their own abilities but also need to rely on the others.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

The fear of failure due to too many responsibilities or due to a lack of self-confidence

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

- Cooperation

- Taking responsibility for your actions

- Working in a group

- Different roles in team

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. The participants are divided into four groups. Each group is asked to draw a character together: one group draws a donkey, another one a dog, another one a cat and the last one a rooster. They all have to take part to the drawing and there must be one drawing for each group.

2. This is a proposal in case the participants are active and willing to try. The participants are divided into groups. Each group is assigned an object. The members of the group have to use their bodies to recreate the object. It is possible do ask the group to repeat the exercise and have them create a sequence of objects, increasing difficulty.

For example: a table (simple), a boat (more difficult), a clock mechanism (very difficult). It is also possible to ask them to create each one of the animals of the story (one group one animal, not one person one animal).

3. In case this story is assigned as a reading and the person has to work on her/his own, it is possible to ask him/her to answer these questions:

- When you work in a group, what's your attitude? Do you stay silent or do you take part to the discussion? Are you a leader or do you tend to follow others?

- If someone you know needs to learn to do something you're able to do, do you help him/her? Try to think of a time you found yourself in this situation.

- What is your talent, the thing you do best? How do you feel if someone asks you to teach him/her or help him/her with that?

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

1. Write or tell the other participants a personal memory of a time when you had to work in group and cooperate with others. Try to tell it as if it was a fable, using the same narrative structure of the story you've just heard/read.

2. Write or tell an alternative ending: what would have happened if each animal decided to fend for itself only?

Story 12

“Cherry the clown”

proposed by Ioana Trifa

           There was this colorful, funny clown, dressed in a dotted costume with a large black hat on his head, curly orange hair and with cheeks red like the cherries. He lived in a small house with his family, Marta, his wife, and their 3 beautiful children, 2 girls and a boy, but they weren’t clowns like Cherry.

            It was a summer day, but one of those days when the Sun was kind, it wasn’t hot and not could either, a perfect day for a picnic in the garden. They were all in the house preparing the food for a tasty lunch and all of a sudden the doorbell rings. Marta goes and opens the door and with a large smile on her face welcomes the guests inside. They were her children friends with their parents, she invited them for lunch but she forgot to tell her husband about this. Cherry was a good and understanding man so he didn’t get upset for not knowing about the guests. This was the first time when they received people in their house because they had recently moved in this town. They were friendly people and wanted to get to know the members of the community and to socialize with them.

            Marta invited them in the living room and Cherry served the drinks and some appetizers but when he entered the room with the tray the parents were stunned of the way he looked, big orange hair, red round nose, colorful clothes and big clowny shoes. They didn’t understand who is he and why he was dressed like that. Cherry introduced himself “Hello, I’m Cherry the father and I’m very happy to have you in our home”. The children were very excited and happy to see him. The parents instead were confused, they didn’t understand why he was dressed up like that and they were asking him a lot of questions: “do you have a job as a clown?”, “do you wear these clothes every day?” and many other similar questions. Cherry explained them that he has a normal job but this is the way he dresses every day because he likes it and he feels comfortable. This answer confused the parents ant they thought that he is a weird person, unsuitable to be a parent and they wanted to take their children home, to stay away from him. But the children were having so much fun, they loved Cherry and didn’t want to leave so they continued playing.

          All of a sudden the floor started to vibrate, the furniture and the objects that where on it were moving slowly, it was like the entire house was wallowing.

         Cherry sensed it and he realized what is happening so he took the children under the big table from the living room and he started fooling around, entertaining them with some improvised games so that they don't realise that it is an earthquake. The other parents panicked and they also got under the table and saw what Cherry was doing. They calmed down because they knew that the children are safe. Luckly the earthquake wasn't violent and it took only about 10 minutes. After those almost 10 minutes under the table, Cherry and the children went outside in the garden to play . The parents were grateful for what he had done and they realised that he is a good and responsible parent although he looks different.

The End.

Summary

         A story about a parent wearing clowns clothes and the process of him being accepted in the community.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

         This story can be used when dealing with issues of diversity and of perosnal choice. Also when dealing with the age differnce and how we perceive reality at different ages and when having different responsibilities.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

The way personal choice and diversity is seen.

The need to comply to a certain pattern.

The search of our own true voice.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

To become aware of one’s own voice and character

To see beauty in diversity

To accept one’s nature

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. There’s a clown in the tree

Ask participants to draw a clown performing different activities (e.g. their own favourite one- playing tennis, climbing a tree, eating ice-cram, going to the seaside). You can use these images then while telling the story. Hold a discussion based on the typical environment of a clown and what happens when you take it out from that context.

2. On my catwalk

Ask participants to describe an outfit they feel represents them and try to walk and talk (on an imaginary catwalk) as if they had to take part in an auction. Change the element of clothing with an element representing their personality and do the same.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

- show the pictures created above

- use the metaphor of a peculiar element among similar ones (eg. Stones of a similar colour and another one strikingly different)

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

1. Drawing and sharing

Using face painting each of the participants draws something that characterizes them on their face and then meet others and share their experiences.

2. The living newspaper

Ask a few people replay the story stating what each participant is thinking. From time to time stop the play and invite other members from the audience to add coments or to add more characters that would be affected by the behavior of the people in the story (e.g. grandparents fof the children or the principle form the school, the clown’s wife or his children, the media, the rescue team sent after the earthquake)

Story 13

“Dogbone”

proposed by Joao Rodriques

            This is a story of a Portuguese boy raised in a traditional Portuguese family… Or should we say a conservative family… This boy was dressed and perceived as a little adult. That’s what children after all right? Of course not….

            So this story is passed a few years ago in Portugal, this boy was so proud of his tie, because he felt like he was his hero…. His father. This boy was so loved by his parents, especially by his mom. He felt so good, so happy, so loved that he was always laughing. He was founding pleasure and fun in everything and he laughed a lot. In fact, this was his problem laughing, laughing all the time.

            Can you make an exercise for me? This exercise was made by Jango Edwards, a famous clown artist:

            Smile as much as you can, for as long as you can. Within a minute, your face hurts… We are not meant to be smiling and laughing all the time right?

          But this boy was different. At school he started to be a problem, teachers found him a disturbing element of the class…

 

“SILENCIO JOAO PEDRO!!!!!!!!!!!!” says the teacher.

           And the boy, looking at the face of the teacher, so angry, so nervous, he tried to hold his laugh with the hands. He moved from school to school quite a few times. But the problem remained. Disturbing element of the class, bad grades, punishments… Laughs, laughs, laughs.

        He attended the church, so on Sundays he and his family used to go to the mass and that environment, so silently drove him crazy… He was always trying not to laugh but come on, it was so funny for him… SHHHHHHHHH people said.

          He didn’t have many friends because he was always laughing and the other kids thought that he was making fun of them…

         So one day, a Sunday, after church his family was gathered to a typical family lunch. His aunt was picking up the salad and slipped and fell on the floor, the boy burst with giggles at the same time he was eating a rib… He swallowed the rib but it got stuck on his throat.

          The lunch ended on the hospital… one broken ankle and the rib stuck into the boy’s throat

x-rays and more x-rays the doctor comes up and tells the parents that the boy’s condition is delicate.

“he has a dogbone” the doctor said.

         A dogbone is a medical condition very dangerous. It got the name because a lot of dogs die from eating bones, the sharpen bones got stuck into the throat and can rip the veins on the neck. So the doctors couldn’t do anything because the rib was pressuring a vein and if they tried to take it out the boy could die.

       The rib was so big that was possible to see it on the boy’s neck. When he got to school everybody made fun of him, including the teachers of laughed a lot with the other teachers, at the church the priest smiled, the kids from his neighborhood mocked him. And the boy started to feel sad.

He never smiled again…

End of story.

• Do you believed in this?
• What if I told you that this boy was me?

        I still have the rib. (ask somebody from the audience and suddenly bark loudly as a dog the minute the member from the audience touches you)

Summary

        A story about child who is different form all the others even though he wishes very much to please everybody. An unexpected ending – playing a trick on the audience.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

This story can be used when dealing with the idea of fitting in, of having or not a disturbing behaviour.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

The way laughter can be seen as something exagerated and negative.

The need to comply to a certain pattern.

The search of our own true voice.

The need to feel accepted.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

To become aware of how our behavior can influence the way in which we are perceived.

To accept one’s nature

To become aware of how expectations can influence your life.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. The Emotions Kaleidoscope

Using paper or cardboard make a tube which will be used as a kaleidoscope so the participants can look trough it. Everybody should look through the tube while your give the name of an emotion. They all have to say what they see (people, places, actions), when hearing the same emotion. Discuss the diversity of prceptions.

2. The statues

Working in pairs, ask the participants to choose a word which describes an emotion and put the other in the posture that represents that feeling. They are the sculptors of their colleague. They can then check with the statue to see what feeling they have in that particular posture

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

-ask the audience to smile when the boy smiled and try to act like him

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

1. Cravatta party

The participants make ties (like the one worn by the main character) from coloured paper and write on them two things that represent them and one that is a lie. They then mingle and discuss their partner characteristics and try to spot the lie.

1. Take me as I am a Poster

The participants make a poster with quotes, colours and images sending a strong message for accepting people as they are and bringing the best in them. They can even think of a way of presenting this in a flashmob so that the community can get in touch with the message.

Story 14

“The Baker of Aljubarrrota”

proposed by Nuno Liborio

I’m going to tell the story of a hero, that is not a woman neither a man.

Brites de Almeida, half-man, half-woman, was a tall ugly creature, with a muscled haired body, deep voice and with eyes full of courage and ferocity. This woman with a manly appearance was born with something special, she had six fingers in each hand.

But Brites was a normal person, wasn't a noble or a madam she belonged to the people.

Brites started working as a little kid in her father´s tavern and when clients started to make trouble she would slap on their faces and kick them out from inside.

A very normal person.

At the age of 20 becames orfan, takes the possession of their parents and leaves home, starts to wonder village by village and learns to handle the sword.

One day, a very unpolite, arrogant and macho soldier, proposed to her in marriage, Brites was offended, she glances her eyes at him and sais:

-We will fight, if you win I'll marry you.

They fight, but Brites hits the soldier with a strike that he didn't defend, he fell on the ground dead, still Brites didn’t do it on purpose.

However, the crime was commited, she fled by boat to Spain, but when acrossing the Mediterranean, by karma or misfortune, the boat was taken by a group of Moroccan pirates and for Brites surrender, it would take not one nor two man, they were necessary 10 man to arrest Brites.

Brites is sold in slavery market to a Argelian Lord, but why did he want a woman so ugly and so macho??!!

This Lord had a fetiche, a special fetiche, he liked ugly woman, so Brites became is personal puppet, he had a leash for her, and he even tried to have sex with her, oooohhhhhh!!! But Brites cannot be oppressed, she will not! Is not her nature, she's fearless.

Brites waits, after the third day, aside is Lord, when he sleps, with love and affection she offers a knife to his throat.

Brites releases 3 portuguese and they escape in a stolen boat, they go north along the Portuguese shore, they pass throw Lisbon, Peniche and they decide to stop in Nazaré, but the waves are monstrous, and the boat sinks, the other Portuguese dissapeare, Brites swims and with the effort that only a warrior has, she reaches the beach.

Well, to not be recognized, Brites cuts her hair and pretends to be a man. And so, she goes passing Alcobaça and stops in a tavern of a small village by the name Aljubarrota, while drinking a glass of wine, she hears two man saying that the baker needs a servant, and so she goes there, and the owner, an old lady, sees that strong man very helpful.

Brites was happy, she had a wonderfull work, she was calm and relaxed. The owner dies and Brites earns the Bakery, she was really happy.

While this, we are at the end of the XIV century, and Portugal was in a really bad situation.

The King of Spain marries the Portuguese princess, a very suspicious marriage, all the arrangements made by the count Andeiro, a traitor of our country that was the lover of our portuguese Queen, very recently widow, the portugese king had just passed away.

And so, the king of Spain, El Rei the Castela, very concern about the interests of his Portuguese wife, proclaims the throne of Portugal and decides to bring 30 000 soldiers to fight the 7000 portuguese soldiers.

At the 14 of August, comes the great battle of Aljubarrota, the day of the great decisions, to defend the nation everyone grabs what they have in on hand, and Brites wasn’t different.

In the quietness of the bakery, she hears the clamour of the battle, the sound of the bells and the rhytm of the trumpets. Brites wasn't just some person, her animal nature starts to manifest, her breathing starts pumping like a dragon, her eyes became black, a salient wrickle on her forehead, Brites grabs her baker peel and follow s into the battle.

After the battle, a lot of skirmish, Portugal won, The great general D. Nuno uses the strategie of the square created by the Alexander the Great, bringing advantage for the smallest army.

Brites left the battle field with pride and glory, she knocked down more that 100 man with the baker peel, back home with a bloody body, she was a happy mess.

Inside the bakery she notice the stove door was close, and is always open, gets closer to the stove and hear some strange sounds from inside, she opens the door. And suddenly ten Spanish soldiers get out from the stove and surround her, with the baker peel on the hand, she strikes on the head one by one, they fall all in the ground.

And so, every 14 of August in the procession of Aljubarrota , in celebration of the independence, the baker peel goes at the front raised by a carriage, still waiting to be carried by a new six finger hero.

Says the Legend, after some time, a farmer full of love, asked Brites in marriage, her heart spoke up, they married and had children.

Summary

A story about a heroic character and her glorious fight, placed in historical Portugal.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

This story can be used when dealing with different cultures and their origins or when dealing with people who are seemingly different (people coming from poor backgrounds, or persons with dissabilities) and trying to see this from a new perspective

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

The way dissabilities or inacuracies are seen.

The need to comply to a certain pattern.

The search of the hero within.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

To become aware of one’s importance and uniqueness

To see particularities of character or physical disabilities as something positive

To accept one’s nature

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

1. Try to hold a debate on what is norm and who imposes this norm. Show pictures of a well grown tree, straight and blooming and of another one crooked and having some broken branches. Try to see the importance of both from different points of view: the fruit they have, the ground that holds them, shade they create, their roots, the birds that nest in them.

2. Do a bit of a research on the battles and the fights that took place at the birth of the nation of the people you are working with. Make space for discovering and celebrating a culture’s identity and heroes. Draw the interest upon a new culture , the Portuguese one.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

-show pictures from Aljubarrota and the places mentioned in the story.

-You can use a glove with six fingers and ask the audience to try it on and imagine what the main character might have felt.

Leaving the story(post-telling activities)

1. Drawing and act

After the story, ask students to draw their own hands on a A4 white paper, lay down the hand under the paper and outline with a pen. Then each student writes a skill or ability in each finger, and on the back draw a six finger, and write the special power. After that I suggest a small representation of the special power, using mimic without verbalize, and the public must to guess the special power.

2. Debate

This story can origin a debate about heroes, starting making a few questions.

You know some hero in your daily life?

What are the qualities of a hero?

You have one of these qualities? Describe

What does it take to be a hero??

In the case of the bakery, was she a common person or had something special?

Story 15

“Sprīdītis”

proposed by Agnese Grebže & Sandra Legzdiņa

           A little boy is livingin in a farmhouse with his evil stepmother, grandmother and Lienīte. He is being of small stature, that’s why he is called Sprīdītis, Tom Thumb.

         One fine day Sprīdītis gets into a fight with his stepmother and with his best friend Lienīte. He decides to go out into the world and to seek his fortune. Sprīdītis takes his father’s big shovel and plops a hat on his head, and then – off he goes!

          Soon Sprīdītis finds himself at the swampy forest. The castle of Mother Wind can be seen above the trees. Mother Wind apperas at the door of her castle. Having learned, that Sprīdītis is looking for money, she offers him a job. He must guard her four sons – four winds. The boy cannot hold the winds. Mother Wind knows that a good will is a good thing and she gives Sprīdītis a little flute. Whenever the flute sounds, people will have to dance.

           In the forest he meets an Ogre who had kidnapped children from the village. He was about to engful them because he was very hungry. Sprīdītis gets in his way and plays the flute. The Ogre starts to dance until he is tired to death. He promisses Sprīdītis that he never again will not do anything bad to children. Mother Forest watches Spridītis. She gives him a magic stick as a gift for a job well done. Anyone who touches it will be stuck.

          Late in the evening Sprīdītis arrives at an ugly hut, where lives Stingy. There is a storm outside. Sprīdītis asks permission to stay overnight. He may stay in, but for that he must guard the house. Someone knocks on the door. The boy opens the door and finds an old man. Stingy sees the man and tells Sprīdītis, that if he wants the old man to stay, he will have to survive three torturs. Sprīdītis becomes angry. He takes the stick, Stingy grabs it...and is stuck. The old man tells Sprīdītis, that no one is perfect, not even Sprīdītis. Tke old man presents the boy with a ring, which he can use, if he wants to travel to the place, where everything is wonderful. The old man passes through the wall and disappears.

          Sprīdītis goes ahead and arrives at the castle, where two King’s daughters have been carried off by the devil. Only The youngest daughter is still in the castle.

         The king promisses the half of the kingdom and princess Goldie for wife, if Sprīdītis will release them from devil. The devil arrives and boy strts to play his flute, and the devil must dance.When the devil is exhausted, Sprīdītis hands him the stick. The devil is stuck. The boy break off one of his horns. That means, that devil will not come back to the surface for the next 1000 years. The King is prepeared to fulfil his promisses, but princess Goldie finds a witch and asks her to smoke out the boy. The plan fails.

         Sprīdītis remembers his grandmother and Lienīte. Everything is nice in the castle, but the life seems better at home. Sprīdītis walks to the lake, turns his ring, claps his hands three times and calls: „Little swan, little swan, move your feet! Take me to the land of fortune! He looks around. The swan has taken him back to farmhouse. It turns out that the land of fortune is...home!

Summary

          The Latvian story “Sprīdītis” (means one span tall boy) tells about a little boy, who wants to go out into the wide world and find his own fortune. He leaves the farm, where he was born, crosses fields and mountains, dark forests, overcomes difficulties, acquires life experience and understands that The Happy Land is your own homeland.

         This is the story, which helps everyone to understand moral values and teaches us to be brave and honest, to love our homeland and to stand against evil force.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

Students at school, readers in the library, children in camps, foreign visitors and friends.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

It can be difficult to understand a foreign language, difficult to understand other people's traditions, living style and culture.

May be reflected moral values are not important for today's young people.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

• Lerning to learn - active listening, looking/seeing, seeing and hearing, saying and doing.

• Communication in mother tongue - gaining experience working in the group, learning to cooperate with each other

• Communication in foreign language - skills include listening, speaking, memorization, reading, writing, getting new knowledge about Latvia and Latvian traditional stories.

• Interpersonal, intercultural and social competences and civic competence - gaining experience working in the group, within the group, you share responsibility to participate and collaborate, take advantage of each participant’s strengths, and rely on each other for good project management and effective communication, studying about moral values and training to distinguish what is good and what is bad, encouraging children’s desire to use their goodwill on helping and understanding those who are in misfortune.

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

· Explore the map, to understand where is Latvia.

· Using flashcards, pictures or video provide an insight about characters involved in the story and different places. For example: Sprīdītis, Lienīte, King and princess Goldie, swan, devil, Ogre … and places – on the farm, in the forest, in the castle e.t.c.

· You can use puppets, too. It may be more interesting way to introduce with characters.

· Play the introduction game – write a name of the character on the small note paper and ask some members of the group stick these names to their clothes. Then they walk around the room and introduce themselves: “Hi, I am Lienīte a friend of Sprīdītis.” or “Hello! I am Ogre. I am very big.” And “Nice to meet you. My name is Sprīdītis.”

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

· You may stop telling in English and show a short piece of cartoon http://www.pasakas.net/pasaku_kino/spriditis/spriditis/?bigPlayer=1&popup=1

“Sprīdītis” in Latvian and then ask some questions to the audience:

1) What characters did they see?

2) What familiar words did they hear?

3) Where was it?

Then retell this part in English.

· Using sounds: what you can hear on the farm - all the domestic animals, in the forest in the day time and at night - winds are blowing, trees are shivering, different animal sounds, birds are singing, children are crying, magic flute, in the castle – horse and coach noise, trumpet call, music and princess Goldie’s crying, the noise when devil arrives……….

· Using movement: dig and delve to find the buried money, holding the winds, dancing, stuck to the stick, fly the swan.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

• Brainstorm.

You need two posters. One to write on bad qualities other to write on good qualities you had noticed during listening to the story about Sprīdītis. Two groups are working.

• Draw a picture.

Draw a picture of the character which is the most interesting in your opinion. Then we can see which is the most popular.

• Use the magic ring.

We put in the circle names of all the places where Sprīdītis had traveled. Everybody turns the ring around finger and says the magic words from the story and appears at the place they have chosen. Then all are split in groups. And according to the place where they are.

• Prepare characters fashion show.

Finishing the story from the point of view of Stepmother, Grandmother, Mother Wind, Stingy, King, Devil…………

Story 16

“Locked in friendship”

proposed by Ioana Trifa & Magda Krzysik

           Anna was a middle-aged Norwegian housewife always busy with attending to her five children who couldn’t sit for one minute and one grumpy husband. She didn’t have much time for herself and for many years she hadn’t even dared to dream.

         Nevertheless, one day fate − quite unexpectedly − decided to smile at her. Anna won the lottery! She was shocked at first, then thought of investing the money in refurbishing the house but in the end (to a great surprise of her relatives) decided to go on an adventure. She bought a plane ticket and went to Spain – the land of Sun and flamenco she loved so much. And yes, she went alone.

         She got to the city of Malaga and walked into a little hotel that had a strange smell but otherwise seemed clean and cozy. All smiley and happy she came up to the reception desk only to meet the most bitter and rude man in the city of Malaga. Alfonso, the owner of the hotel, was a bald, crumpled skinny person who never smiled and liked to pour his misery on others. And so he did when he saw Anna. The woman could leave… But she thought that for once she had to learn not to let people push her around. She got fed up with being the victim and decided to teach Alfonso a lesson.

          Anna became a sheer nuisance. She complained about everything, called Alfonso every two minutes just to tell him how disappointed and unhappy she was. She hated the food, the view, the color of the walls and most of all she hated the smell. And she really had time to go wild with her imagination because the moment she first open the door to the hotel it started raining cats and dogs.

          One day, when they were both already really tired of fighting the Sun finally appeared in the sky! Forgetting about her mission to spoil Alfonso’s mood Anna ran to the door to go out. She grabbed the handle and pulled but the door didn’t want to open. Desperate she called Alfonso who at first thought it was one of her tricks but soon realized that the door lock had to be broken. They both tried pulling and using different objects but it didn’t want to give way. Finally, when they got really tired of trying they called for help. The firefighters didn’t seemto concerned and said they would come in an hour.

          Anna could have gone to her room and hide but for some reason she stayed with the old man and sat beside him on the floor. Alfonso started to talk. He told Anna that once he also had had a wife and a family but his wife had decided to leave him and had taken the kids. He still loved her and to remember her he sprayed himself and his hotel with rosy perfume every morning. Anna also learnt that the angry expression on his face was the result of a terrible paralysis that he suffered. He complained that nobody ever understood him… That he was very lonely… Anna felt terrible… She also told him her story. She confessed how invisible and gray she felt even around her beloved ones, she said how frustrated and sad she felt not being able to follow her dreams and goals.

          It took firefighters over three hours to come. After they finally unlocked the door Alfonso and Anna stood up from the floor, smiled at each other and walked out to walk in sunshine… As friends.

Summary

        A story telling the journey of a woman from her roles as a wife and a mother who had the chance of taking a break and seeing things from a different perspective. On this journey she meets a man who is, in his way, misunderstood and lonely.

Where?

· Magical land (the context in which it is used)

        The story can be used when dealing with different roles, the freesoms and responsibilities they imply, and perceptions regarding the ones around us. The theme of escape and of undergoing a process of self-discovery.

Why?

· Dragons (the challenges addressed)

           The fear of failure due to too many responsibilities or the theme of lonelines and of burnout due to being misundertood.

· Super-powers (Competences developed)

o Self-expression

o The power within

o Coping with the novelty of the situation

o Risk taking

o Fighting prejudices and stereotypes

Entering the story (pre-telling activities)

· Lock game – one piece of lock and multiple keys for each team. Find the key that can open the lock.

· Who’s there in the mirror? Bring a mirror or make a frame with the participants. They take it in turns to look in the mirror or through the frame and count all the roles they might have in the eyes of the others. They can then swap roles and imagine being in someone else’s shoes. Reflect upon the feelings, action taken.

During the story (using the senses to make the story more vivid)

· The listeners could draw Alfonso (while reading the story) and after that there could be some discussions about how they see him, what kind a person they think he is.

Leaving the story (post-telling activities)

· Lottery game – imagine you've won the lottery, what would you do with the money? Choose 3 different things. Work in teams.

· Create a story – put on the table different objects that have some connection with the story, and each team has to come up with a story using those objects.