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Farm Vacation

Written by Dr. Mike Lockett, The Normal Storyteller

This is a storytelling activity designed to encourage participants to join in with the telling of a story.  State a line, and have the participants repeat it.  After the pattern line has been established, add one more action at a time.  Students, young and old, will enjoy the punch line at the end of the story.

Hi!  (Wave at the students.  Have them parrot you and wave saying, "Hi!")

My name is ____________ (say your own name).  (Students should echo lines the first time and say them by themselves during repetitions.)

I went to the farm for vacation.

One day, when I was in the barn, the friendly farmer came in and said, "Are you doing anything?"

I said, "No!"

He said, "Good,"  (Complete this sentence with each different ending that follows.  Continue all previous actions as each new action is added.)

Ending # 1

"Milk this cow with your right hand." (Make motion like milking a cow.  Encourage participants to do the same.  Keep this up while repeating lines from the beginning.)

Repeat the above phrases and add each new ending.  Continue each action as new actions are repeated.

Additional Endings

Milk this cow with your left hand.  (Make motion like milking a cow, alternating left and right.)

Kick this hay with your right foot.  (Pretend to kick some hay.  Continue hand motions.)

Kick this hay with your left foot.  (Pretend to kick hay, alternating feet.  Continue hand motions.) 

"Close the door with your bottom." (Move hips from side to side.)

"Swat these flies with your head."  (Move head all around.)

(After adding head motion say, "I asked, 'Why am I doing all these things?'"

Then the farmer answered, "The cows give more milk when you dance for them."

(Stop)