The theme for this year's World Storytelling Day was trees. So for the last week, Creative Beans classes at the International Montessori pre-school in Mbabane have been working with a story from the Himalayas that I adapted to take place in Swaziland. The story is called, Themba and the Trees.
It is a beautiful story about a young girl who learns to love the forest and the trees as her brothers and sisters. So when some men from the city threaten to chop them down, she gathers her village to stop them with an act of non-violence: tree-hugging!
The children explored the world of trees in different ways: by being the monkeys that play in the trees, the fruit that grows in the tree, even the men that want to chop the trees down. Through drama, music and movement we explored the world of the story and the lessons it can teach us.Together we even discovered new parts of the story (especially about the forest party that happened once the humans had fallen asleep!).
I believe that children understand the world through story and play, and that is why Creative Beans classes and workshops are packed full of both. And not just children, but adults too. Watch this space for more info about workshops for adults using story and creative arts!
It is a beautiful story about a young girl who learns to love the forest and the trees as her brothers and sisters. So when some men from the city threaten to chop them down, she gathers her village to stop them with an act of non-violence: tree-hugging!
The children explored the world of trees in different ways: by being the monkeys that play in the trees, the fruit that grows in the tree, even the men that want to chop the trees down. Through drama, music and movement we explored the world of the story and the lessons it can teach us.Together we even discovered new parts of the story (especially about the forest party that happened once the humans had fallen asleep!).
I believe that children understand the world through story and play, and that is why Creative Beans classes and workshops are packed full of both. And not just children, but adults too. Watch this space for more info about workshops for adults using story and creative arts!