Scaffolds for Story Acting Educators can use the following strategies to encourage children during their story acting.
Strategy Examples
Add sound effects, exclamations, or words to enrich the story.
› Add sound effects(“ beep-beep”) or exclamations(“ Uh oh!”).
› Add descriptive words.(“ The little cat was walking around.”)
› Provide alternative vocabulary( dove for went in the water).
› Add temporal markers(“ And then...”).
Guide children as they act out their stories.
› Invite actor or audience input.(“ How can you show‘ He called the ambulance’?”;“ Does anyone have an idea about how to show‘ wrapping gifts’?”)
› Offer comments.(“ He’ s swimming” to a child unsure of how to act out“ The boy was at the beach.”)
› Demonstrate a way to act out a role( such as pretending to use a rolling pin to depict baking).
Elicit or comment on a character’ s internal state at key moments.
› Ask questions.(“ How did the girl feel when she won the medal?”;“ Why was he so mad?”)
› Comment on emotions.(“ Oh, the wolf is lost! It must be worried.”)
Clarify characters.
› Offer explanations.(“ Glouton— that’ s the green ghost.”
› Replace subject pronouns with nouns.(“ The dragon attacked” instead of“ He attacked.”)
Praise or remark on the acting.
› Offer comments during the story, without adding to it.(“ What a great idea— a standing cat! Why not?”)
› Comment once the acting is complete.(“ That was terrific!”)
Spring 2026 Young Children 67