I found an interesting product that helps kids learn about narratives. I'm thinking of ordering it. The website is:
It's a toy in the form of a braid with various icons that help kids learn to identify the elements of stories, so they can better understand and re-tell stories, and can learn to make up their own stories. Those elements are:
- Character - head at the top of the braid
- Setting - star icon
- Initiating event/kick-off - football shoes icon
- Internal response, emotion or feelings - heart icon
- Plan - hand icon
- Attempts - various beads
- Direct consequence(s) - white knot at the end of the braid
- Resolution, how the character feels at the end - hearts attached to the knot
You can see the toy-braid in action at youtube, demonstrating how to generalize the braid, using it as an event unfolds (in this case, a child dealing with a problem/misunderstanding at school).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJzOo8mRs7I