Larson Elementary School students stretched their imaginations Friday and made up fanciful tales about everyday things such as worms, dirt and rocks.

Second-graders told stories about scorpions, while third-graders described what it would be like to be their favorite rocks. Fourth-graders took their favorite bits of early Texas history and spun their own tall tales.

Nearly 300 second-, third- and fourth-grade students gathered in the Larson Elementary cafeteria to hear their classmates' stories, which were written during sessions with storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis.

"I want them all to fall in love with literature through storytelling," said Mr. Ellis, who has written several books. "Kids love to listen to stories. And through stories, we get to know other worlds, histories and times."

Creating stories with things and events children know about helps them to increase their creativity, Mr. Ellis said.

"I want to get them excited about writing their stories, telling their stories and putting it all together in the rewriting and editing process," Mr. Ellis said. He conducted a weeklong workshop that was paid for by a grant awarded to three Larson Elementary teachers.

Fourth-grade teacher Priscilla Promise, along with teachers Marla Boswell and Michelle Bishop, won a $3,500 grant from the district's Education Foundation to fund an innovative project to help teachers become better storytellers and help students improve their writing skills.

In all my years of education, I have never experienced anything like this week," said Mrs. Promise, who has been teaching in Arlington for 17 years.

"And he is leaving us with such a strong understanding of the storytelling process that we will continue this. I hope that this helps the children to write and tell stories for the rest of their lives." Sixteen students were chosen to perform their stories Friday. They were noticeably excited and proud of their work.

Bright-eyed second-grader Julie told her schoolmates about a snake who became roommates with a chipmunk before "gobbling the chipmunk up.

"Katie, a third grader, described herself as a rock. "There I was in a canyon in New Mexico, and I was as crumbly as Frosted Flakes," said Katie, describing in detail her experience as a rock. "Now, I am in a rock collection and I am the favorite rock."

Some students were so impressed with stories that Mr. Ellis told that they went home and told their families the folk tales.

"I liked his stories a lot because they are funny and scary," said fourth-grader Marissa, who had already memorized several of his stories by Friday afternoon.

"My favorite is the scary story about the snake. I've already told that story to my mom, my dad and my sister."

And as Mr. Ellis wrapped up his presentation Friday, he encouraged the children to continue sharing stories.

"Do you want to hear a scary story?" he asked the children.

Hands shot into the air and children yelled, "Yes."

"Well, you'll have to learn one and tell it to yourself and friends," Mr. Ellis told them. "My time is up, but that doesn't mean the stories have to stop."