Helicopter Stories is based on the Storytelling and Story Acting curriculum of renowned Early Years practitioner Vivian Gussin Paley.
During a Helicopter Stories session, children dictate their stories to an adult scribe. Later that same day, the whole class gather around a taped out stage and the stories are acted out. The approach is suitable for children aged 2 to 7 years old.
‘Boosts confidence in Communication and Language’
She says: “Helicopter Stories not only reinforces the connection between spoken and written words, but also gives pupils the chance to see how ingenious mark making and letters can be, which can in turn inspire them to explore writing in their own way. The approach has been shown to boost confidence in literacy and improve vocabulary skills, which enhances communication through speaking and listening.”
The approach shows practitioners what really matters to the children in their setting and can also help pupils to deal with negative issues in their everyday lives.
William Clark, a Key Stage One teacher and Helicopter Stories deputy, says: “The children play with the building blocks of identity and decide who they want to be. They can experiment with their sense of self and develop socially and personally as well as academically.”
The child’s story helps the practitioner understand the child. “It sets their imagination free and leads to accelerated learning. In many ways, Helicopter Stories is a means of unlocking children’s voices.”
“The children become storytellers, actors, and an audience, and their teachers emerge as scribes, narrators and stage managers: the classroom is transformed into the make-believe worlds that children love best.”
