Performances

Karen can tailor her presentations to your needs. She tells several historical and family tales linked to Alberta’s early history to tie in with the Social Studies curriculum across the grades. She is a visual artist as well and can teach her method of visual journaling to hold onto and to develop tales for telling. She accompanies some of her stories with the magical story string and will teach/ demonstrate some of those tales. She uses chants, rhymes and riddles to lead to stories and will teach games and use movement to lead to storytelling. She is comfortable presenting to a large group in the library or to smaller groups in classrooms.

Storytelling

  • Ofeigur, Astridur and the Icelandic community around Markerville
  • Myths and sagas from the Norse tradition
  • Calgary in the early days for new Danish immigrants
  • J.J.McHugh and the experimental farm at Fish Creek in 1882
  • Tall tales, trickery and truth (play with language and humour)
  • Participatory tales for young listeners (builds early literacy skills)
  • Strings and things (tales told with magic string, origami or instruments)
  • Tales from India, Tunisia, the Ukraine and Peru (grade 3 social studies curriculum link)
  • Uncovering the forces of nature (legends and personal tales) – links to science curriculum
Karen Gummo Calgary Public Library

Workshops

Traditional Tales From Around the World – Participate in songs and chants to try out your voice as a storyteller.

But That’s Not True! – Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. Where is truth and how do we find it? Come and engage in a Liars’ contest. Can you fool your peers with the deepest truths?

How To Create World Storytelling Day(s) At Your School – Children are natural storytellers and so often ready to share their voices. Why not have a celebration day in March to coincide with storytellers all around the world where they could share their favourites? If you can’t celebrate in March, then anytime will do!

Tell Stories With Strings And Things – Learn some string tricks and regale your listeners with a tale to match!

Visual Journaling – How do we hold a story in our hearts and mind? The most powerful way for most is through images. Karen will demonstrate how to create stories and remember them through drawing images and symbols.

Detective Work – What are the clues and mysteries that nature leaves and weaves for us? This is an environmental workshop that will bring you closer to nature through story.