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Unit 2: Storytelling and Play Learning

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Unit Learning Objectives

  • Explore theories about storytelling and play in education
  • Question some real case studies
  • Design a simple story-based activity
  • Create a play-based learning activity using a story they wrote.

Lesson 2.1: Theories in Storytelling & Play Learning

Narrative, Cognition and Social-Emotional Learning

Narrative Psychology:

As humans we tend to connect with narratives and reflect in a narrative form. Do you remember this time when you were super excited with a good grade and started telling everyone about your adventures to achieve this grade. At another time, when you lost something close to you and you started grieving or remembering it for sometime after? In Learning Sciences, we call it Narrative Psychology, it supports individuals to give a narrative about their life views as well as gain experience and knowledge from other narratives around them

Cognitive Development:

Berk (2007) mentioned that Piaget believed that pretend play helped children practice and solidify new schemata they were developing cognitively. This play, then, reflected changes in their conceptions or thoughts. However, children also learn as they pretend and experiment. Story-telling and pretend play are key components to introducing new concepts, creating connection with previous knowledge and definitely practice skills.

Social-Emotional Learning

Stemming from narrative psychology and cognitive development, Stories and Play give children a safe space to explore different emotions within a context, test their skills and understanding without judgement and see themselves in others shoes.

In your Journal:

  • Share with us a story from your child hood, narrate it as if you are telling it to children age 4-6 years old (Pre-K -1)
  • What take aways from this story is still affecting your current life now?
  • If you are to re-write this story, what would you change and why?


Lesson 2.2: Practical Application of Storytelling & Play

Which Story do you like?

In order to draw forth what we have been learning, let's start the following trial:

Watch these 3 videos of story telling and follow up with the Journal submission questions:

  1. The Secret Door
  2. Mouse Paint in Chinese
  3. The very Hungary caterpillar in Arabic

In your Journal Reflect with one sentence about each story as following:

Example: story #1 title was .... and I liked ..... about it because .....

Using stories for everyday challenges

Now it's time to practice narrative and storytelling!

in this section you will try to make up a story out from this pictures twice. Follow the instructions below:



FIRST Story Attempt:

Look into the pictures, make up a story and include actions, description and emotions. you can name the character and anything in the picture. Write the story in your Journal.

What makes a good Story?

Have you ever wondered why Pixar movies are hard to forget? and why we get touched with it even if we are adults? In this section we will explore some tools on how to write/make up an engaging story.

Story Structure


“The Story Spine” formula created by professional playwright and improvisor Kenn Adams. Pixar has used this story structure to create so many films we know and love today.



Emma Coats, a former Pixar story board artist wrote these 22 steps for story writing that she had learned from her experience of work.

If you would like to learn more about how to use the 22 steps of story writing visit this website:

22 storytelling tips from a Pixar storyboard artist





SECOND Story Attempt:

Now Look AGAIN into the pictures, Refine your story or Write another one using the story structure tips we shared (The story Spine and the 22 steps for story writing). Write the story in your Journal.


Exit ticket to Unit 3

  • What are the 3 learning theories connected to learning through storytelling and play?
  • How are they manifested in your second attempt story?

Complete your answers in your Journal then go to Unit 3

References

Extended Resources

If you feel artistic and want to expand and develop your skills in story writing, I recommend this course by Khan Academy and Disney: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/storytelling-pixar-in-a-box

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