The Wonder of Show and Tell by Chantel Freed

There was one subject in elementary school that seemed to bring all the kids together and that was Show-n-Tell. Yes, in my mind that was a subject just like lunch and recess when I was eight years old.  I would go through the house whirlwind style rummaging through kitchen drawers or dresser drawers of every single family member in our household to find that one thing. Of course, I got in trouble for trying to open certain drawers that were deemed private or for even walking into my older brother’s room.

I always seemed to end up in the closet where there was a grayish old wooden chest. I would lift the heavy lid with my toothpick arms and the smell of history would slowly swirl out, teasing me with its wonders.  There it was on top of a stack of old photo albums in a small brown bag, a pin that belonged to my grandpa. The pin was a little old fashioned silver gun inside a little silver holster with a chain connecting them, so you could pull the gun out without losing it.

I did what every kid my age would do, I screamed with excitement because I found my Show-n-Tell! I eventually realized that at a very earlier age our elementary teachers had started to prep us to become master storytellers with attentive listeners. I am sure that was not the intent when having this, but how delightful to think this is still going on in elementary schools and even preschools.  I love the fact that oral traditional storytelling can start from a tiny single mustard seed – or tiny silver gun and holster - and blossom into the pure beauty of sharing stories to the whole community.

Comments

[Debbie Rowe]

I loved show-n-tell! Why can't we still do that? :) Great correlation with storytelling!

[D]

My mom collected miniature guns, so this recollection felt very fresh and simultaneously nostalgic to me. I could see you tearing through the house (wow, you really, really loved Show and Tell), feel the exertion of holding up the trunk lid.

Do you remember what/how you told, back then at school, when you took the tiny gun in?

-- Julie Peterson

[Marian Giannatti]

I love everything about this post! It brought back so many memories - especially about searching through the house for that "perfect treasure" for show and tell. It really was all about storytelling. I hope teachers still do this today - it really encourages kids to share in the oral tradition.

[Lori Gonzalez]

Your excitement shines through, to this very day! It was often the best part of day, as you said, just like lunch and recess.

[Kathy Nakagawa]

Your description of your reaction when you found the pin is perfect--I can practically see you as a child and hear your scream when you found the pin for show and tell. I never thought about all the elements of show and tell from the child's viewpoint and also the storytelling skills that are being nurtured!

[Paul Bosch]

I also loved show and tell and enjoyed your post! The ones I liked best were with live pets from home - box turtles, gerbils, white mice, praying mantises, spiders - anything that would get the class craning to see better and perhaps get a scream or two from the more squeamish (girls always in those days)!

[Pamela Bosch]

I love your connection between Show and Tell and our initiation into story telling - so insightful!

[Sally Borg]

and you didn't get in trouble for bringing a gun to school!!