Keela Lupton

 Children are telling personal stories through visuals. They explore printmaking as a way to shape the story. How can a single image tell a story? How does this story represent you? What are the story’s visual elements? Children can develop characters, craft a story and write, draw, and even print a mini booklet, comic strip, or series of prints...and it all starts with a little bit of paint!

A dance, like a song, often tells a story, with a beginning, middle, and end.

At its most basic, Helicopter Stories involves scribing stories from children and supporting them to act out their narratives. These two key elements always happen on the same day and require only a few things:  ,paper, a pen and some masking tape. While simple, this approach seeks to nurture and enthuse children of all backgrounds and abilities, using the power of story.

Putting our beginning, middle, and end down on paper.

As children interpret and build on narratives with their own imagination, storytelling as a cultural practice involves even the youngest of a community. Children raised with folktales, myths, legends, and more can bring the stories to life through play inspired by the characters, setting, and stories shared with them. The most accessible tools for children to share and build stories are toys that can be used to interpret the beliefs, practices, and imagination of their culture.

Small worlds, in addition to being fun, are the ideal platform for nurturing children's imaginations from a young age.  This play provides them with an opportunity to explore new materials, act out scenarios from real life, build language, practice social skills, and gain an understanding of the world.

Children learn best through playful inquiry...Food is one of the most delicious ways to tell a story.

-Mila, Age 5-

How do works of collaborative art help build community?  What stories do you see in our collaborative art?

-Ananya, Age 4-

Time to take the stage...even a stage made out of duct tape comes alive!

What story do you see in these materials?