School Programs

“Three” makes story magic for young children.  They’ll get to help tell each of these classics with their hands, faces, and voices.

Engaged three ways, they learn to listen.  They’ll better comprehend by retelling or re-enacting their favorite parts.  

The children get help drawing three big moments of the Bears, Billie Goats, or Pigs! 

Children turn their hands into animal characters to follow along with “The Sunny-Time Bunny,” an adventure based on a Margaret Wise Brown book. ”

Next, they help a little girl guess what animal could be the “purrfect’ pet. Sound effects and gestures help them identify animals and follow the tale.

We discover too how to stop losing things with “Little Bear’s Dancing Pants.”  

They’ll draw a picture of their favorite part of each story to make a “Take Home Tale” to share with their families. 

Imagine, a colorful kindly piped piper arrives in school. Taking the stage with a “talking stick,” a curious array costumes, he seeks stories in the air.  Instantly children join in catching tales, “tossing” them into their storyteller’s heart.  “Tales are best told by heart.” He explains. 

 Ideal for elementary school children, Story Theater takes them deeper into folk and fairy tales.  Stepping into the story on stage, participating as an audience they experience more and better understand.  Jonathan tells and directs, gently guiding the children through each tale.  Occasionally, he transforms the audience transforms into the sun, trees,  thunder, or a roaring dragon.  Count on spontaneous surprises and magic moments with the children stepping into folk and fairy tales.   Every show comes with a common core based activity guide.  You can invite Jonathan to give story-making workshops with your class, using his “Ingredients for a Good Story.”

Using simple masks, caps, and colorful capes,  take parts in the tales. Six to eight  join Jonathan on stage to help tell the shows five or six folk and fairy tales.   There’s cat mask to help tell The Puss in Boots. It may take wings to perform the Magical Wonderful Bul-Bul Bird. Sometimes children don a dragon head, become troll, or even a two-headed ogre.  

Story Theater is best tailored for a grade level assembly.  

Ever since children have asked why, there have been stories made up to answer, especially in Spanish-speaking countries. 

Your students will listen to two or three “Porques?” or “Why?” Tales.  Why is the Sky so Far?  Why Do Dogs Bark and Cats Meow?

Why Does Spider Have Crooked Legs? Why is Rabbit on the Moon? Why Does Rhino Have Rough Skin? What will your Why tale be?

Let folklore teach students about varied cultures. A country’s lore reveals its geography, animals, plants, people, and values. 

They’ll be rapt by tales from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.  Ask for a tale from a country, or culture in your curriculum. 

Students experience diverse countries and cultures on a “story journey” around the world.  Listening to a folk or fairy tale from six continents, they’ll discover what makes each place unique, and will understand their values. Fifth graders get “Tales of the Americas” Ask about a live musical accompanist. Workshops show students how to write their own tale using characteristics a country they pick. CCS – Reading/Informational – #3-5, 7, 9, 11 Writing 4A Speaking & Listening 1f, – Main Ideas, Structure, Integration, Cultural perspectives, Different backgrounds, Responding with original story)

What would you be a Tory or Rebel? Do you want “mob rule?”  Would you call “no taxation without representation? 

Students listen to points of view on the American Revolution. They vicariously experience what happened when the

Declaration of Independence was read in Manhattan.  Rebels “tore down King George” on the Bowling Green!  

These historic fiction tales move students to write a letter stating their take on reveling against the king!

The fight for American Independence took more than rich white men to win.  Women took on dangers during the struggle. 

They’ll meet the New York teen who outrode Paul Revere.  We do a story skit showing how “Molly Pitchers” could fire a cannon. 

The final tale reveals the mystery of who was Deborah Sampson. 

Students retell in a letter to one of these brave revolutionary women.

Students get the stories of what George Washington did to become the “father of our country.” 

He lost his temper in Harlem, was surprised attacked on Christmas, inoculated his soldiers in a pandemic,

and made a spectacle of himself to prevent a military coup.  Remarkable tales!  

Students will write a letter sharing what they felt was Washington’s finest moment. 

Jonathan the Troubadour introduces students to the Renaissance through interactive stories and skits.  They’ll see what triggered the great revival, and get introduced to Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Galileo.  They will step into skits on inventions like the telescope, the printing press, and the flying buttress. Ask for a topic.  I’ll have a tale. 

Dear Crompond Fourth Graders –

​Please watch this video about the stories of “Sibyl’s Revered Ride” and “The French at Crompond.” It will help and is fun.

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Imagine you Have to Make a Dangerous Ride Like Sibyl Ludington Did in April of 1777. Write a one-page Letter Telling All About it to a Friend. Make a video of your self reading your letter and share it with your teacher and class. 

Remember, it was cold with a dismal rain falling.  When you came to houses of the men your father needed for his Militia, they were surprised and afraid. You were afraid of being attacked.  There were Red Coats, guards at Roger Morris’s house, and Cow-Boys drinking rum!  

How did you feel when it was over?  

How did you feel when you met George Washington? 

​Please add to your story three “Revolutionary Words and Idioms” list on the right.  The words are on the left.  What they mean comes after =. 

“Tales of the Americas” a storytelling program and occasionally workshops featuring stories from Mexico, Canada, the U.S.A., plus the Andes. Please use this guide to enhance your students experience and meet core standards.  
Preparations- Discuss what a storyteller does, and how storytelling is at the heart of art forms like literature, theater, film and more. 

New York’s history experienced through dramatic stories of Native, Colonial, Revolutionary, Industrial and Environmental times. Offers creation myths, Dutch and British settlers, George Washington, Sybil Ludington, Women’s rights, Pete Seeger, haunted history. Add NY songs with the Hudson River Ramblers.

Workshops show students how to use primary sources to write a persuasive letter to a historical figure.  CCS – S.&L.1e, 4 / L.S. 3, 4a, 6/ R.S.L. H/SS 6-12 – 1-3, 9 – retelling, analysis, understanding perspectives, primary sources, point of view