Storytellers in the Mountains of North Carolina

Students will study five famous North Carolina storytellers: Jackie Torrence, Ray Hicks, Donald Davis, David Holt and Sheila Kay Adams. They will research how their stories were collected and how they developed their storytelling styles that distinguish them from other tellers.

A lesson plan for grade 4 English Language Arts and Social Studies

By Martha Hayes

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Related topics

• Learn more about English language arts, North Carolina, and social studies.

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Learning outcomes

• Students will use research skills to write a brief biography of one storyteller.
• Students will learn about the importance of oral tradition in Appalachia.
• Students will compare the culture and ethnic background of the tellers.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

8 days

Materials/resources

Internet access to websites listed in Relevant Websites section.

Some of the following audio/video recordings of stories being told by the tellers.

1. Jackie Torrence:
   • Jackie Torrence Shares Stories from her Family Album. VHS 60 minute video. 1997. Upper elementary, middle school, high school.
   • Jackie Torrence: Classic Childrens Tales, Rounder Select, 1989. Audio CD
2. Ray Hicks:
   • The Jack Tales. New York: Calloway, 2000. Picture book (see below) is sold with CD of Hicks telling “Jack and the North-West Wind,” “Jack and the Bean Tree,” and “Jack and the Robbers.” Book includes glossary of mountain terms and background on Ray Hicks as North Carolina storyteller, a master of the native oral tradition. Hicks’ oral tellings are not identical to the written text in every detail, inviting interesting comparison of oral and written versions of the same tale.
3. Sheila Kay Adams:
   • Sheila Kay Adams Live in Concert!! CD with original stories and songs.
4. David Holt:
   • The Hogaphone & Other Stories, video, 30 minutes, High Windy Video.
   • Hairy Man, audio cassette, 44 minutes, by High Windy Audio.
5. Donald Davis:
   • A Room Of My Own (one CD for all ages).
   • That’s What Mamas Do (one audio cassette for all ages).

Technology resources

• Computer with access to the Internet
• Computer with word processing program
• Television and VCR
• Cassette player
• Compact disk player

Pre-activities

Review the elements of folklore and the importance of oral tradition in passing on traditions and stories in families.

Discuss the region of North Carolina, ethnic background, and historical period of each teller and how those factors might influence the stories they tell.

Review internet-searching and note-taking skills.

Activities

1. Students will be divided into groups to find biographical information about a storyteller from North Carolina. They will use the internet sites listed in the Related Websites section to help obtain this information.
2. Students will research the ethnic heritage of each teller and explain how that might have an influence on the kinds of stories the tellers chose to tell.
3. Groups will present basic facts about the person and indicate on a map the location of the teller’s home town and current residence, if applicable. This can be done in written form (group paper or poster) or as an oral presentation.
4. Students will listen to or view at least one story told by each NC storyteller selected. They will compare the dialect and language used by the tellers. This can be done by discussion or a Venn diagram.
5. Students will discuss any information they gathered from research that explained how the tellers developed their style.
6. Students will read other tales from the Appalachian region of North Carolina.
7. Students will tell one of the tales they have read, OR write a story of their own using the elements of folklore, storytelling, and oral tradition. They will tell one tale to the class or larger audience.

Assessment

1. English Language Arts. Teacher will create a rubric that includes:
   • research skills needed to gain information from a variety of formats.
   • criteria for learning or writing an Appalachian tale.
   • criteria for sharing that with a small group.
2. Social Studies. The teacher will grade the written reports/posters and/or oral presentations focusing on how the students included information about the tellers background and how it influenced their tales.

Supplemental information

Related websites

A general background of “Folklore in Literature” from the Library of Southern Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jackie Torrence:

• An obituary from World Music Central tells the beginning of Jackie’s storytelling career.
• An interview with Jackie Torrence done by the Bookhive at the Charlotte Mecklenberg Library system. Includes audio of the interview. Requires RealPlayer.

Donald Davis:

• Visit his official website to find biographical information and a bibliography of his work.

Sheila Kay Adams:

• Biographical information can be found at her website.

Ray Hicks:

• Biographical information, memories, and images can be found at the RayHicks.com website.

David Holt

• Visit David Holt’s website for biographical information.

Comments

I have attended The National Storytelling Festival which is held in Jonesboro, TN each year in October. In the last few years, NC has lost 2 important storytellers (Jackie Torrence and Ray Hicks). Collecting stories from my family and experiences in life are an important part of being proud of my heritage. Learning about how to be a storyteller, by studying some of the best in the region, can further that process.