"As another school year comes to a close, students look forward to the lazy days of summer. But for many educators, as well as camp leaders and faith-based organizers, summer can be an exceptionally busy time, especially for those charged with creating and/or leading summer programs for young people. If you’re looking for new ideas for your summer programs, storytelling might be a welcome addition — and a fun and effective way to bring people together, bridge differences and foster a sense of community.
Why storytelling?
Storytelling, an exchange that can be traced back to ancient history, allows us to connect with each other and to make meaning of our world. And when we share our life stories with others, we open up opportunities for seeing new perspectives. By making storytelling part of your summer program, you can increase awareness of differences within your group and help build an environment of respect, compassion and understanding.
How to incorporate storytelling
Whether you use storytelling in a summer program or during the regular school year, it’s important to remember that some people may find it easy to talk about their lives while others will feel reluctant or shy to share their stories.
As soon as you say the words “storytelling,” some people will brace themselves for fear of being embarrassed or exposed. As the leader or facilitator, you can simply assure everyone from the beginning that they will not be asked to share anything that they do not want to share.
Ideas to get you started
Wondering how to incorporate storytelling into your summer program? The educators at RaceBridges for Schools, a nonprofit initiative that offers free lesson plans on diversity and interracial understanding, offer the following ideas from their storytelling toolkit (available for free download at www.racebridgesforschools.com):
If you’d like to build community in a general way, ask your group to:
• Tell a story of a time when you felt strong
• Tell a story about a time when you surprised yourself
If you’d like to bridge differences of race or ethnicity, you might ask your group to tell stories about:
• A time when you felt like you were on the outside
• A special time with your family
If you’d like to get at issues of insider/outsider feelings, ask:
• Tell me a story of a time when you were misunderstood
• Tell me a story about a time when you were alone and then someone helped you
Or to get your group talking about their values and beliefs, ask them to:
• Tell a story about a time when you stood up for something you believed in
• Tell me a story of a time when you had faith
However you approach storytelling in your group, it’s important to remember that underneath it all, the exercise is ultimately about building relationships and listening to each other. And it should be a fun way to get to know each other!
"


For more ideas about how to incorporate storytelling into your classroom or summer program, or for more units on a variety of diversity themes, visit www.RaceBridgesforSchools.com.


Characters: 3046
4shared Premium

mongofiles_125x125