Digital Storytelling: The Art of Oral History

Subject Areas: writing (ELA), history, technology

National Language Arts Standard 5: Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and
use different writing-­process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a
variety of purposes.

Grade levels: 2-5

Objectives:
1. Students will delve into the personal narrative writing genre.
2. Students will develop writing, reading, viewing, and listening skills.
3. Students will learn about other cultures.
4. Students will understand the concept of personal history.
5. Students will develop an appreciation for a diverse heritage and community.
6. Students will examine community history.

Goal: As a project in my gifted K-5 classroom, students will explore the importance of personal stories/history, cultural differences, and celebrate diverse communities that make up our world.In addition, students will meet and exceed standards in reading, writing, viewing, and listening. In addition, the students will demonstrate competency in developing biographical and autobiographical writings.

Procedure:
1. Students will listen to podcasts of StoryCorp and This I Believe Essays.
2. Students will think about a personal story that is important to their family, lives, or discusses an important part of who they are or a time that impacted their lives.
3. Students will develop a story, write a rough draft, revise and edit the draft.
4. Students will share stories through story circles in order to receive feedback for the story and add to the story as needed.
5. Students will complete final revisions.
6. Students will record stories via podcast equipment.
7. Students will upload podcast to a website created by the class for Oral History Projects.

Culminating Activity: Students will listen to and share podcasts with other school members during an Oral History Festival.

Extension: Students will continue to add to the Oral History Website as they develop new stories from their own experiences and life connections. In addition, students will add stories to the website as they interview new people in area community centers and assistive living facilities.