You could hear a pin drop as Heather Forest, storyteller and author, captivated the audience of third graders at Birchwood Intermediate School. Teaching the students about kindness and generosity through folk tales from around the world - and turning them into folk songs - sparked their imagination. 

Folk is all about storytelling that’s been handed down through generations, and combining it with music made it very engaging for students. “They’re sitting, they’re listening, they’re clapping…It’s interesting to watch them as a whole group and really watch them be so engaged,” shared Birchwood assistant principal Renee Schumm. Students were fascinated by the music, hearing stories being shared, connecting literature with music. For the students, this assembly was a break from being in the classroom, often in front of a computer screen.  Without them even knowing, they were still learning through the music. 

Ms. Forest held the attention of the students with her stories as they waited for her to share what came next in tales like Stone Soup and The Mitten, a Ukrainian folk tale. She connected with students as they used their listening skills to make the stories come to life in their minds and not from the words on a page. “It’s a tool to stimulate imagination. And in order to get to that place, it requires listening, which is, I think, the key to learning.” shared Ms. Forest. 

Ms. Forest, who is a resident of Huntington, has traveled around the world telling stories and singing folk tales.  She recently returned from India where she was featured at the Mumbai International Storytelling Festival.  “Ultimately, this is a concert about listening skills and imagination. And with an imagination, you can dream big, you can be anything,” said Ms Forest.    

Thanks to the South Huntington Council of PTAs for helping bring Ms. Forest’s unique teaching talents to our third, fourth and fifth grade students. To learn more about her storytelling you can go to her website. And hear Heather Forest sing the tale of Stone Soup here.

Ms. Forest, who is a resident of Huntington, has traveled around the world telling stories and singing folk tales.

Ms. Forest held the attention of the students with her stories as they waited for her to share what came next in tales like Stone Soup and The Mitten, a Ukrainian folk tale.