Science Through Stories (Report Version)

The New Literacies: The New Literacies: Challenges and Solutions for the 21st Challenges and Solutions for the 21st

CenturyCentury

Science Through Science Through StoriesStories

Hayley McEwing, Children’s Librarian

http://hayleymcewing.pbworks.com/

What Are Stories?

“Stories differ from other narratives (arguments, scientific reports,

articles) in that they orient our feelings and attitudes about the story content.”

Mallan quoted in Haven, Kendall and MaryGay Ducey. Crash Course in Storytelling. (98)

Why Share Stories?

Engage Emotional Intelligence

Why Share Stories?

Engage Emotional Intelligence

“ . . . attuning to our feelings, according to neurological research, helps us find the meaning in data …, Emotions science now tells us, are part of rationality, not opposed to it (42).”

Why Share Stories?

Engage Emotional Intelligence

Intrapersonal or Individual Investigation“… how you see yourself and how others see you.” (Goleman 134)

Real• identity (who I am)• value systems (what I believe)

Ideal• imagination (can lead to change)• self expression (leads to confidence/connection with others)

Why Share Stories?

Engage Emotional Intelligence

Interpersonal or Community Bond (leads to general health and well being)

“Shared stories become shared reference points, drawing people into more meaningful associations.” Birch, Carol L. The Whole Story Handbook. (13)

• Past • Present

Why Share Stories?

Memory / Understanding“Story aids memory because it puts information into a meaningful context, to which other information can be ‘attached.’” from Norfolk, Sherry, Jane Stenson, and Diane Williams. The Storytelling Classroom: Applications across the Curriculum. (xvi)

Why Share Stories?

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

• Intrapersonal• Interpersonal• Verbal – Linguistic• Musical• Logical – Mathematical• Visual• Kinesthetic

Storytelling

Story Reading

WHO Storyteller + audience Story reader + book + audience

WHAT

Creation and improvisation of story

Book contains the story

WHEN

Naturally Certain times of the day

WHERE

Anywhere Anywhere that has a book

WHYRelationship between storyteller and audience.Encourages personal stories and appreciation for oral history.

Strongest bond usually occurs between story reader and just one or two listeners. Encourages independent reading and appreciation for literature.

HOW Innumerable techniques Limited techniques

Story Sharing is the Middle Way

Kinds of Stories• Circle / Wheel• Cumulative• Cut and Tell / Folding• Draw and Tell / Chalk Talk /

Sand• Folktales• Poetry / Finger Plays• Personal• Retellings• Scary / Ghost• String• Tangram

Pick a story you like!

Story Sharing Techniques

• Audience Participation / Creative Dramatics

• Digital• Magnet / Felt • Movement• Music• Puppets / Props• Tandem / Readers Theater

Storytelling

Story Reading

WHO Storyteller + audience Story reader + book + audience

WHAT

Creation and improvisation of story

Book contains the story

WHEN

Naturally Certain times of the day

WHERE

Anywhere Anywhere that has a book

WHYRelationship between storyteller and audience.Encourages personal stories and appreciation for oral history.

Strongest bond usually occurs between story reader and just one or two listeners. Encourages independent reading and appreciation for literature.

HOW Innumerable techniques Limited techniques

Becoming a Story Sharer

Oral Storytelling• Gesture– Planned and

nonverbal• Sound– Pace, volume,

pause, pitch, end with silence

• Attitude – Comfort level– Associate attitudes

and images to aid memory

• Feedback– Audiences differ– Prepare listening,

but plan for distractions

– Let the story come differently each time

• Words– Choose, practice,

perform, adapt– Know first/last lines

“Storytelling is more than performance. It is event. Audience and teller interact … Storytelling is an audience-shaped art form.” (MacDonald 85)

Images enable us to learn stories more easily; attitudes help us tell them more

effectively.” (Birch 10-11)

Becoming a Story Sharer

Learning a StoryLearning Style• Verbal -

Linguistic• Musical• Logical -

Mathematical• Visual• Intrapersonal• Interpersonal• Kinesthetic

How to Practice • Tell about the story• Focus on sound/breath• Fold paper to outline

story. Use words (5) or images.

• Tell to a friend• Capture self in mirror

or audio/video … or don’t

• Walk in figure 8’s or add gestures

Becoming a Story Sharer

Learning a Story

Becoming a Story Sharer

Performance Mistakes• Learn the “oops-I-goofed-but-I’m-not-going-to-let-you-see-it” smile

• “There’s something I haven’t told you yet …”

• Repeat the last line• Describe the scene further• “What do you think will happen next?”

What is Science in the Early Years?

• Observing and describing (with science vocabulary)

• Sorting / Classifying• Experimenting• Predicting• Drawing conclusions• Communicating ideas

(working in a group)• Content standards

– State (Ohio)– ILILE Book Alignments– My Picturebook Alignments

Science Through StoriesScience Through Stories

Any Questions Any Questions Before Before

Demonstrations?Demonstrations?Hayley McEwing, Children’s

Librarianhttp://hayleymcewing.pbworks.com/

“The Mosquito”Pellowski, Anne. The Story Vine: A Source Book of

Unusual and Easy-to-Tell Stories from Around the World.

String Story

“Lily”Marsh, Valerie. Mystery-Fold: Stories to Tell, Draw, and

Fold.

Draw & Tell / Fold & Tell Story

I’m the Biggest Thing in the OceanBy Kevin Sherry

Pieces by http://kizclub.com/

Puppet / Readers Theater Technique

“Beautiful but Poisonous Butterflies”Marsh, Valerie. Story Puzzles: Tales in the Tangram Tradition.

Tangram Story

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

Paired with Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley

Story Reading

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

Paired with Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley

Digital Technique

“Regenerate”Swinburne, Stephen R. Ocean Soup: Tide-Pool Poems.

Poetry(Movement Technique)