Australian Made Story Grammar Model Physical Kit + Digital Download

Story Talk 2: Help Children Learn Storytelling and Narrative Structure

An oral storytelling kit grounded in the Story Grammar model. Magnetic shapes, a Story Star, connector cards and Bendy the character help children learn to tell clear, cohesive and imaginative stories.

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Oral storytelling kit cover with child astronaut

The elements of story structure

Each magnetic shape in the kit represents a Story Grammar element. Together, they help children learn how to build and comprehend well-structured narratives - from isolated descriptions through to complete story episodes.

C

Character — Who is in the story?

The oval magnetic frame represents the main character. Children learn to describe appearance, personality, traits and interests - building a rich picture that drives the story. The kit includes Bendy, a neutral character for modelled storytelling, plus three small circles for additional characters.

S

Setting — Where and when?

The rectangular frame sets the scene. Children learn to identify and describe when and where a story takes place, using vivid language to orient the listener. Setting images in the kit can be placed beneath the magnetic frame on a whiteboard.

A

Action Events — What happens?

Four triangle shapes represent the sequence of events that form the backbone of the story. Children learn to identify and order events logically, building narrative coherence as the plot unfolds across time.

F

Feelings — How do they feel?

The heart shape represents character emotions. Children explore how feelings change throughout the story, building empathy and emotional vocabulary. Understanding character feelings adds depth and makes stories more engaging.

T

Thoughts — What are they thinking?

The thought bubble shape represents a character's internal thinking. Children learn to infer and express what characters might be thinking and why - a key skill for both comprehension and expressive storytelling that reveals motivation and intention.

P

Problem — What goes wrong?

The zigzag shape represents the central conflict. Every good story has a problem that drives the narrative forward. Children learn to identify and create challenges that make stories engaging and purposeful. Prompt cards in the kit help spark problem ideas.

E

Ending — How is it resolved?

The stop sign shape signals the resolution. Children learn to craft satisfying endings that address the problem and bring the narrative to a close, developing a sense of story completeness and cohesion.

Who uses Story Talk 2?

Story Talk 2 is used by speech pathologists, classroom teachers, education support assistants, tutors and parents across Australia and internationally. It supports oral storytelling and narrative writing for children in early to middle primary school.

Speech Pathologists

Use Story Talk 2 to target oral narrative production in therapy sessions. The Story Grammar framework provides a structured, evidence-informed approach to building storytelling and retelling abilities. Ideal for children with developmental language disorder or narrative difficulties, with activities spanning descriptive language through to complete story episodes.

Teachers

Integrate Story Talk 2 into literacy lessons for oral storytelling and narrative writing across early to middle primary. The magnetic frames and Story Star work on any whiteboard or interactive display. Aligns with the Language strand of the Australian Curriculum and provides ready-made resources for group, independent and small-group instruction.

Parents and Tutors

Support a child's storytelling development at home with hands-on activities. The magnetic frames and Bendy character make story structure tangible and fun. The Story Star signals whose turn it is to tell the story, making it a natural fit for family storytelling time. Best used with guidance from a teacher or speech pathologist.

Grounded in the Story Grammar model

Story Talk 2 is built on the Story Grammar model described by Stein and Glenn (1979), a well-established framework for understanding and teaching narrative structure. Research consistently shows a strong relationship between oral language development and subsequent literacy development in both reading and writing.

Oral storytelling is the first developmental language form that requires a child to give an extended monologue. It is an essential precursor to written storytelling, yet too often children are expected to write stories without adequate opportunity to tell their own stories orally first. Story Talk 2 bridges this gap with systematic, structured steps.

The original Story Talk was released by speech pathologists Elizabeth Love and Sue Reilly in 2006. Story Talk 2 is the updated edition with new story-stimulating images, current research links and downloadable digital resources.

What's included

A physical storytelling kit posted to you plus three downloadable digital sections. Use the magnetic shapes on any whiteboard and display activities on a tablet, laptop, interactive whiteboard or Smart TV.

  • Magnetic frames and shapes representing each story element (character, setting, events, problem, feelings, thoughts, ending)
  • A Story Star soft toy - given to the storyteller to hold, signalling whose turn it is
  • Bendy - a flexible character figure for modelled storytelling sessions
  • 20 connector prompt cards to help link ideas and move stories along
  • Section 1: Overview, theory, research links and Australian Curriculum alignment
  • Section 2: Structured activities and step-by-step instructions
  • Section 3: Almost 100 pages of resources - blackline masters, picture cards, character and setting images, stories for modelling and story starters
Get Story Talk 2

A peek inside Story Talk 2

Three downloadable resource sections packed with activities, images, stories for modelling and blackline masters.

Created by a speech pathologist

Originally created by speech pathologists Elizabeth Love and Sue Reilly in 2006, Story Talk 2 is the updated edition with new images, research links and digital resources.

Smiling person holding emotion cards, calm and excited.

Lucia Smith

Speech Pathologist

Lucia is an Australian Certified Practising Speech Pathologist with over 30 years' experience.

She has been writing and illustrating for Pelican Talk Speech Therapy Resources since 2012, drawing on evidence-based practice and her extensive clinical work with children across a wide range of settings and age groups.

Lucia is also the developer of a specialist training program focused on using puppets to support social and emotional learning. This program has been listed on the Victorian School Readiness Funding Menu since 2021.

More about Pelican Talk

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from educators, therapists and parents about Story Talk 2.

What age group is Story Talk 2 suitable for?
Story Talk 2 is designed for children in early to middle primary school, typically ages 5 to 10. It can be adapted for younger children who are beginning to develop narrative skills and for older children who need additional support with story structure. The activities progress from simple descriptive sequences through to complete story episodes.
What is the Story Grammar model?
Story Grammar is the structure often used when organising narratives, described by Stein and Glenn (1979). It breaks stories into predictable elements: character, setting, action events, feelings, thoughts, problem and ending. A simple story revolves around a central character and setting, includes an initiating event or problem to which the character responds, and follows a series of events toward a resolution. By explicitly teaching these elements, children develop a mental schema for how stories work.
Can I use Story Talk 2 in a whole-class setting?
Yes. Story Talk 2 works well for whole-class narrative lessons. The magnetic frames and Story Star can be used on a whiteboard or interactive display. The teacher can model stories using Bendy and the magnetic shapes, then gradually hand the Story Star to children as they create their own. The downloadable resources include activities suitable for group work, independent practice and small-group instruction.
Do I need to be a speech pathologist to use Story Talk 2?
No. Story Talk 2 is designed for use by teachers, education support assistants, tutors and parents as well as speech pathologists. The kit includes step-by-step instructions and stories for modelling to help any adult lead storytelling sessions. However, for children with specific language or narrative difficulties, input from a speech pathologist is recommended.
What is included in the kit?
Story Talk 2 includes magnetic frames and shapes representing each story element, a Story Star soft toy for turn-taking, and Bendy - a flexible character for modelled storytelling. You also receive 20 connector prompt cards and three digital download sections: an overview with theory and curriculum links, structured activities with instructions, and almost 100 pages of resources including blackline masters, picture cards, character and setting images, stories for modelling and story starters.
Can Story Talk 2 be used for both oral and written stories?
Yes. Oral storytelling is the primary focus and is an essential precursor to written storytelling. The physical manipulatives are particularly useful for oral storytelling, while the downloadable resources include story starters and blackline masters that support written narrative planning. Research shows that regular oral storytelling experience directly strengthens written expression.
What types of stories does the program cover?
Story Talk 2 supports several types of topic-centred stories: personal stories that grow from life experiences, retellings of familiar stories or events, traditional stories such as folk tales and fairy stories, and imaginative stories where children rely on their own creativity to create original narratives. The kit provides character images, setting images and story trigger images to spark ideas across all story types.
Is Story Talk 2 suitable for children with language difficulties?
Yes. Story Talk 2 is widely used by speech pathologists working with children who have developmental language disorder, narrative difficulties or other communication needs. The visual, hands-on approach makes abstract story structure concepts concrete and accessible. The Stein and Glenn hierarchy within the program helps clinicians track progress from isolated descriptions through to complete story episodes.

Get Story Talk 2

Everything you need to get started with structured storytelling. Physical kit plus full digital download.

Story Talk 2 Kit

$ 66 AUD

Physical kit posted to you plus instant digital download of all resources.

  • Magnetic frames and shapes for whiteboard
  • Story Star soft toy for turn-taking
  • Bendy character for modelled storytelling
  • 20 connector prompt cards
  • 3 digital download sections via your account
  • Almost 100 pages of printable resources
Get Story Talk 2

All prices in Australian dollars. Instant digital download after purchase.

Related resources

Other Pelican Talk resources that complement Story Talk 2.

Alien-themed sentence-building educational graphic.

Alien Talk - For Sentences that are Out of This World!

Target the building blocks of sentences Never has grammar been so fun! This popular resource is for school-aged children. It targets expressive language and comprehension for both oral and written tasks.The program is FUN using a coloured alien to explore each semantic component of a sentence. Each alien covers vocabulary, spelling and grammar relating to their favourite sentence part.It is easily adaptable for children functioning at different levels - from children who have little speech to children who need to extend their sentences. This program consists of:instant digital download of the full program via your account a USB stick full of goodies to view and to print out a set of 10 colourful alien cards a "sentence spaceship"Read an overview here. How to Use Alien Talk
Daisy Dog's Days language resource with cards and games.

Daisy Dog's Days

Daisy Dog's Days is a very versatile language resource for use with preschool children to early primary students. It promotes storytelling, sequencing, vocabulary as well as incorporating some barrier game activities. It's a favourite of speech pathologists.It follows the adventures of Daisy the Dog over seven days. When you purchase this program, you will receive a cute little daisy pouch in the mail. It contains 35 sequence cards and a card with 4 X Daisy and 4 X bones to be used in barrier games . You will also receive downloadable activities to print and use in sessions.  These appear in the Downloads section of your online account after purchase. Activities: Sequencing cards (7 x 5 part sequences) - in your pouchThree full page scenes for barrier games4 bones and 4 Daisy Dogs for use in barrier games - in your pouch7 stories with an incomplete ending to be used as an oral or written taskA page of feelings words relating to the storiesA storytelling guide with prompts7 pages of "cut-up" story strips to arrange and match to photosA Week chart to rehearse recall24 Picture cards to practise recall and to enhance vocabulary learningInstructions for Use

Fun With Sequences

TARGET AREAS:Oral narrative incorporating a clear order of events, a start and a finish.Using terms such as “first” “then” “finally”.Understanding terms such as “before” and “after”.Using time phrases.Self-monitoring of speech.USB CONTENTS:33 three-part sequences plus 10 two-part sequences with a choice of ending All pictures provided in ready-to-print cards but also as JPEG images to view as slideshows All pictures provided in colour and blackline Cards to print and use in the prompting of words/phrases such as “last night”, “then”, “every day”EASILY INSERT PICS INTO A POWERPOINT & RECORD A NARRATION! THIS IS GREAT FOR SELF-MONITORING.Note: If you purchase more than one resource on this site, they may be included on the same USB stick in easy-to-access folders.

Ready to bring stories to life?

A structured, hands-on way to help children learn storytelling and narrative writing. Story Talk 2 makes story structure visible, tangible and fun.

Get Story Talk 2