Lesson Plan: Storytelling: Oral Traditions

Print Lesson Plan

Overview

This is one of four storytelling lessons. Three lessons in this series introduce students to narrative traditions and storytelling from Alaska, Hawaii, and other cultures through work with varied narratives, objects, and performance. In this lesson, students talk about what makes a good story, look at the oral tradition of storytelling, and watch two stories from Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native oral traditions. The fourth lesson has students draw on their new understanding of different types of narratives to inspire and enrich their own work.

Understanding and creating narratives is a fundamental literacy skill — it is also a universal human activity. When students work with written texts, recite or listen to stories, or present narratives through non-verbal means, such as art or dance, they are learning to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate their world. Teachers can build rewarding experiences for students that activate their natural love for and interest in stories. They can do this in a way that expands children's fluency and confidence with language, as well as their respect for the rich diversity of narrative approaches and language use across cultures. As students experience narratives from different cultures, they gain perspectives on people and stories in worlds that may be unfamiliar. This will be valuable to students in many ways, for example by helping them bring a sense of perspective to their own culture and stories.

One theme woven through these four lessons is the diverse nature and form of narratives. All of the narratives presented in these lessons draw on the great range and variety of stories related to cultural resources available to teacher and student alike. Remember that although the term "narrative" is frequently applied to written texts and oral stories, narratives may also be inherent in a painting, a dance, an object, or a historical record.

To check out more storytelling lesson plans, go to:

App Exception: echo07.lan.stories.lpeveryday

App Exception: echo07.lan.stories.lpperformart

App Exception: echo07.lan.stories.lpwritework

Objectives

• Experience stories from a range of cultures and recognize both the commonalities and distinctions in styles and motifs of storytelling
• Begin to identify key aspects of narratives, such as character, setting, action, conflict, and resolution
• Begin to gain understanding of audience, author, and viewpoint in the context of narrative
• Explore how oral traditions are used to pass down stories
• Compare and contrast stories from two different cultural traditions

Grade Level: 4-6

Suggested Time

• One to two class periods

Multimedia Resources

• Oral Traditions QuickTime Video
• The Raven Story QuickTime Video
• Maui and the Creation of the Islands QuickTime Video

Materials

• White board or chart paper
• Story Guide Worksheet PDF Document

Before the Lesson

• Print and copy the PDFs for each student.
• Review all materials carefully. Watch the videos, review the worksheet, and read the background essays that relate to the lesson. For each resource, ask yourself, "How does this resource relate to my own understanding of narrative, storytelling, and my language arts goals for my class?" Make adjustments to the lesson as needed to meet your specific goals for your class.

Using Journals

If you will be doing more than one storytelling lesson with your students, it may be helpful to have them use a journal to record their notes and complete their assigned writings. Electronic journals may also be used. When using either printed or electronic journals, integrate the handouts and assignments so that all the written material produced by the students can be kept in one place, and be available for reference from one lesson to the next.

The Lesson

Part I: What Makes a Good Story?

Part II: Stories in the Oral Tradition

Check for Understanding

Hand out a copy of the Story Guide Worksheet PDF Document to students and ask them to think about the stories of Raven and Maui that they have just watched. Each student should choose one of the videos and fill out the worksheet individually. Let students know that they do not need to use full sentences; the goal is to get them to think about the elements of the story.

After the students have filled out their worksheets, bring the class back together to discuss the elements of each story.