A group of 10 students from Liberty Elementary gathered on the library rug, eagerly sharing their stories with one another. 

One tale was about a walk in the woods, while another story featured a candy cane painter. Some stories were spooky, and others were humorous. Most were original, though two students shared a Guatemalan tale passed down through their heritage.

Storytelling groups and workshops are part of schools in Murray School District and at Woodstock Elementary in Granite School District. Seven professional storytellers are helping students craft their own stories or retell classic fairytales and tall tales.

One student in the Liberty group, Maddie Jordan, joined the storytelling group so she could learn to write and tell stories to her younger cousins, nieces and nephews. She wrote about a 13-year-old boy who became a keeper of time.

“I’ve liked writing my own story; it’s given me something to do on weekends,” she said. “I think it would be fun to share my story with others.”

A select group of students from each school as well as those from groups who meet at the Murray Library and Murray Senior Recreation Center will have the opportunity to showcase their work. They each will tell a three- to six-minute story at the Murray Storytelling Showcase April 26 at the senior center, 10 E. 6150 South.

Maddie and others have been learning about storytelling under the guidance of Lora Schmidt, a professional storyteller. Schmidt works with third- through sixth-grade students after school, teaching them the art of storytelling during 90-minute sessions twice per week for five weeks.

“Everybody is a storyteller; at the start, they just don’t know it,” she said. “I teach them how to write, organize, and tell their own stories. We play theater games to help them understand emotions and how to use their body, face and hands to tell a story. I also encourage them to use extraordinary words to make their storytelling stand out.”

Schmidt teaches her students the basic structure of a story—beginning, middle, end and a problem to solve.

“That’s what makes a story. These kids are such good writers; their stories are wonderful,” Schmidt said. 

After writing their stories, students create story maps, illustrating their tales through pictures.

Schmidt also works with 30 students at Grant Elementary, where she pairs students to retell folk tales. 

“At Grant, the students start with story maps. When they tell their stories aloud, they discover what details they might be missing or what they can leave out,” Schmidt explained.

With a theater performance degree and 32 years of storytelling experience, Schmidt also shares stories with children at hospitals, offering comfort to both patients and their families. 

“I prefer old stories, folk tales, and tall tales because they’re universal. What was true in ancient China about what it means to be human is still true today,” she said. “I’ve learned that people listen to stories differently. I don’t use props or costumes, but some storytellers do. It’s all about the words and the storyteller’s passion for the story. You have to love the stories and love telling them.”

Schmidt takes a tale and adds her own spin to it. 

“I pick and choose from different sources and add my own elements. I like to find less-known stories,” she said.

With about 200 stories in her repertoire, Schmidt doesn’t memorize them. 

“I see the story in my mind, and I describe the movie that’s playing in my head. I use hand gestures and sometimes include a moral to get my point across.”

Through storytelling, students not only develop oral and written communication skills, but they also learn sequencing, word choice, vocabulary, editing, listening and teamwork.

Connecting with others is important, for students and seniors alike, said Caitlin Larson with the Murray City Cultural Arts & History Division. 

“For seniors, storytelling is a chance to connect with the community,” she said. “Many seniors share their own stories that become part of their autobiographies or personal histories.”

The Murray Storytelling Festival, founded in 2013 by professional storyteller Holly Robison, began with just 17 participants. The festival promotes an appreciation for the arts and supports school curriculum.

For Ana Vatuvei, a Liberty Elementary student who joined the after-school program to learn how to write and tell her own stories, it has also provided an opportunity to make friends. 

“I’m shy, especially speaking in front of people,” she said. “I’ve learned I can do it here. I’ve met people and made friends. It’s a lot of fun.” λ