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​When parents and teachers plan story time to include all five of the essential elements, they create a fertile and nurturing environment for a successful heart-based education.  The master gardener does not need to teach a tulip how to be a tulip.  She only needs to provide the nurturing elements in the environment for the tulip to grow and reach its full genetic potential.  

Our children also have all the genetic coding necessary to reach their full potential.  When given the opportunity to blossom in a fertile environment, just like the tulips, they will dazzle us with their unique talents and personalities.  

​Enriched Story Time Resources
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Song
Includes all music, and the rhythms, dance, and movement associated with it.  Consider how music can be used to add variety to your story time.  Children may listen, sing along, dance along, or even prepare to perform music during the story hour. 

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Symbol
​A symbol is a picture representation of a real object or a tangible object representing an idea.  This category encompasses artwork that ranges from simple sketches to the work of the masters. Dolls, figurines, puppets, and flannel board figures can be used to add variety to teaching and storytelling.  The use of symbols also refers to symbolism to communicate deeper meanings of abstract topics.  Using tangible objects to teach intangible ideas opens the way for life-long learning. 

  • Artists and Their Art:  Sharing Visual Stories:  The development of Artists and Their Art: Sharing Visual Stories from Concordia University was funded by a grant from the John and Frances Beck Foundation of Chicago, Illinois, whose mission is to initiate and support projects that effectively promote literacy and learning among children, youth, and adults. A real treasure of art lessons from 1st - 8th grade! 
  • All Things Bright and Beautiful:  This wonderful blog will provide many resources for sharing art, music, and poetry with children. 
  • Art lessons from Layers of Learning. This site includes historical and seasonal art projects. ​
  • Teaching with Symbols:  Excellent instruction for teaching with symbols can be found on LDS.org.  Many of the resources and pictures are appropriate for all christian religions.
  • Use variety as you share stories.  Some ideas include:  object lessons, dioramas, drawing activities, felt figures, flannel board, paper stand-up figures, plastic or wooden figurines, pictures, puppets.
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Service
Includes all activities that help to build relationships and to assist others in their learning and progress.   Even the smallest child can learn to serve according to their abilities.  Service is part of learning.  When we are engaged in service, we give greater meaning to our learning experiences.
  • Design a learning experience where students strive to live by a value or principle taught in the story.  Practice for a few weeks and then discuss the experiences together. 
  • Ask family members and/or class members to consider how to serve and show respect for other class members.  Create guidelines for discussion that allow all members to participate without fear of ridicule. 
  • Parents and teachers consider how to build and improve relationships with those they are teaching.

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Story
This category includes all literature, both story and poetry.  It includes the Mother Goose rhymes of early childhood, fairy tales, stories of heroes, stories from history, and stories of faith.  It also includes stories that can be read silently, read a loud, or simple told by heart. 

  • Stories from Scripture, Story Bible,  Children's Bible Stories
  • Other children's scripture readers and resources consistent with your religious beliefs
  • Brief thought or recitation by a student
  • Dramatizations
  • ​Reader's Theater
  • Well-Educated Heartby Marlene Peterson.   This story guide is available as a free pdf download and will guide families through the Forgotten Classics Family Library.
  • All Things Bright and Beautiful:  This wonderful blog will provide many resources for sharing art, music, and poetry with children. 
  • I Love American History, 1700s, 1800s, 1900s from Kimber Academy
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Spirit
This category includes all activities we engage in to connect to our spiritual natures. The act of creating wakes up and enlivens the divine part of our nature.  Creating a piece of art, a story or poem, a song, a handicraft or wood-working project are all activities that connect us to the Spirit and engage our hearts in learning and growth.   Some ideas include:

  • Begin with prayer
  • Seek inspiration from God when searching for answers to questions
  • Include stories from scripture, especially about Jesus
  • Reserve a time to show gratitude and reverence for God
  • Nature study provides opportunities for children to learn in God's university
  • Creative works connect students with their Maker