Power of Storytelling
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Storytelling has a special way of helping us understand important things like belonging and inclusion. It lets us see the world from different points of view and learn about other people’s experiences. When children hear stories about characters who feel left out or face challenges, they can connect with those feelings and learn how to be kind and accepting. Stories teach lessons about friendship, fairness, and standing up for others. This can help kids see why everyone deserves to feel included and valued. In this way, storytelling can help build empathy and create a kinder world.
Bat Story
Donna Jacobs Sife, a renowned storyteller, tells the story of Bat in this engaging video for early and middle primary school students.
Storytelling is for teens too
Storytelling is not only for kids. Teens can use stories to explore ideas, cultures, and history in a relatable way. This makes what they learn more memorable. Stories help teens see how abstract ideas connect to real life. Storytelling also encourages students to consider different viewpoints and express their own ideas. For teachers, storytelling makes lessons more engaging. It can help to create a classroom where creativity and understanding grow.
Additional Resources
Student Activities
- Access a free, online interactive activity designed for middle primary students.
- Download the text of Bat Story.
Professional Learning
- Explore storytelling as a classroom strategy, along with other strategies to build students’ intercultural understanding, in our free online interactive module for teachers, Diversity Education: Classroom Strategies for Building Students’ ICU
Further Exploration
- ABC Education Story Time has numerous videos of educators and authors telling stories using picture books. The collection includes stories about belonging and relationships. A number of stories are told in Auslan.
- National Geographic Education has interesting articles about storytelling including using Audio Storytelling in the Classroom (secondary) and Storytelling and Cultural Traditions.
- Find out more about storyteller, Donna Jacobs Sife on her website.
- The book, How to tell stories to children, and its associated podcast, has ideas for families about storytelling at home.
About the Author
Kathleen (she/her) is a former primary school teacher. Her family came to Australia from Scotland and Ireland in the late 1800s. She was born on Mandandanji country in Roma and now lives and works on Kabi Kabi country on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Copyright
Metadata © Together for Humanity (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Together for Humanity (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Together for Humanity (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Together for Humanity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Copyright
Metadata © Together for Humanity (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Together for Humanity (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Together for Humanity (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Together for Humanity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Stage: All
- Curriculum: English, HPE
- Topics: Storytelling