Pick up a pen, step up on stage, sing a silly song or chat with a friend. On April 27th it’s National Tell a Story Day and there’s no wrong way to tell your tale!
National Tell a Story Day is all about stories and what they mean to us. Storytelling can be a great way to pass on family and cultural traditions, learn important skills and lessons, or let your imagination run wild by creating new, exciting worlds and the characters in them. Spending time together as we tell these stories also provides children the opportunity to connect with family and friends in a deep and meaningful way.
Celebrate this fun-filled day by sharing a special story from one from your favorite books, telling a tale of your own (did it really happen or is it made-up?), or listening to a story you’ve never heard before from a family member. And remember, stories can take many forms. They can be written down in books or poems, sung or acted out, drawn as pictures, or passed down from person to person through oral traditions, just to name a few. Each one is an important way of sharing information.
Learn new techniques to develop your storytelling skills and check out the videos, activities and games below to celebrate National Storytelling Day! Then keep the fun going with Learn Along Bingo sheets full of printable activities and everyday learning ideas for children grades Pre-K to 2.
Jump to article sections:
The Art & Power of Storytelling
What Is Storytelling | Young Explorers
Grades PreK-2
Abby Brown loves to help kids have fun while learning! In this segment, Abby teaches kids about storytelling. Whether you’re sharing about your recent adventures, entertaining your friends, or telling a cautionary tale, everyone has a story to tell!
A World of Stories collection
Grades PreK-12
Storytelling has been used as entertainment, cultural preservation, and a way to teach values. Stories are typically told orally and passed down from generation to generation. This collection contains stories from around the world.
Jad Abumrad, Radio Host and Producer | MacArthur Fellows Program
Grades 6-12
In this interview, 2011 MacArthur Fellow Jad Abumrad discusses the power of storytelling to engage new audiences in explorations of scientific and philosophical questions. As co-host and producer of the nationally syndicated program Radiolab, Abumrad integrates his background as a composer to orchestrate dialogue, music, and sound effects into compelling documentaries. Abumrad is inspiring curiosity within a new generation of listeners and experimenting with sound to find innovative ways to introduce ideas and tell a story.
Explore Tlingit and Unangax Culture in Art | Craft in America: Storytellers
Grades 6-12
Meet Tlingit and Unangax̂ multidisciplinary artist Nicholas Galanin whose works include totems, masks, jewelry, music and dance which deal with cultural perspectives and identity. Follow Galanin’s artistic process as he discusses his role as a storyteller, his inspiration, artistic process, cultural references and symbolism of his artworks.
Activities, Games & More
Adventure Stories | Clifford the Big Red Dog
Grades PreK-K
Clifford and his friends love to go on adventures. Your child can go on an adventure with Clifford too in these three interactive stories featuring space, pirates, and cowpokes – all while working on their reading comprehension skills.
Pinkcredible Story Maker Game
Grades K-2
Make up a story starring Pinkalicious and her friends. In this online game, your child can create pictures using characters and props to tell a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end.
Sharing Stories Activity
Grades K-3
Learn more about your family and friends with this collaborative storytelling activity from the PBS KIDS show Arthur.
Play a Storytelling Game| Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
Grades K-3
Roll homemade dice and use your imagination to tell a unique story! This fun game can inspire countless wacky tales and be played over and over again.
Storytelling with Words and Pictures
Grades 3-5
In this interactive lesson, students learn the basics of how stories are structured, gain vocabulary about storytelling elements, and explore how the arts, specifically drawing, can be a valuable way for students to tell stories.
Storytelling and the Future: Hope Inspires Action | A Brief History of the Future
Grades 6-12
Storytelling is used everyday to inspire new perspectives on the future and shape the actions people take today. Through case studies taken from A Brief History of the Future, students are introduced to people around the world who are using new narratives to create better tomorrows for themselves and their communities. This lesson aims to inspire students to recognize that storytelling and imagination can help them play a part in making the future brighter.
Learn Along Bingo
With Learn Along Bingo, children can view, explore, and play as they learn alongside their PBS KIDS friends on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel. We hope your family will use it to inspire learning each and every day.
This time, we’re learning about how our personal history helps us to see how our family changes and stays the same over time. Children can think about and capture interesting family stories with the activities in these packets.
Grades PreK-K
Play & Learn: In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning!
Grades 1-2
Play & Learn: In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning!
For even more games and educational resources for young learners, go to the Family Storytelling collection on PBS KIDS for Parents.