Pupils from Year 5 and 6 at Stepaside CP School were recently invited to take part in the Jean Russell storytelling project to enhance the pupils’ storytelling skills.

The project was arranged by Mrs. Eva John who is the literacy advisor for Pembrokeshire, and carried out by a national organisation called ‘The Federation of Children’s Book Groups.’

Stepaside CP School was one of six schools to take part in this Project throughout the country and were delighted to be given the opportunity.

The day began with ‘Anna the Storyteller’ treating the whole school with a fantastic retelling of the Russian Story ‘Baba Yaga’.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the story and were able to take part.

Following this story, the selected children from Year 5 and 6 were given the opportunity to work with Anna in a number of workshops throughout the day, trying out a variety of ways to learn different stories to retell in groups.

These groups learned one of these stories and were excited to perform ‘The Doll who ate Stories’ in a final performance in the afternoon in front of the rest of the children in school.

Year 6 teacher Mr. Adams said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the pupils to watch a professional storyteller in action, and to learn about the different ways that Anna rehearses a story without having to read. The children gained a lot of experience from the workshops and every child commented that they were much more enthusiastic about storytelling and learning new stories from different cultures around the world.”