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gri·ot [gree-oh] n. A storyteller in western Africa who perpetuates the oral tradition and history of a village or family.
The goal of this project was to improve the connection between home and school of the students at McKinley-Brighton, an urban school for grades K-5. They needed practice in both listening and speaking. Through this project the students worked on academic standards in ELA, Social Studies and Technology.
Vanessa is a seasoned storyteller. She specializes in oral histories of the civil rights movement, the underground railroad and women suffragists. For this project, she taught the students the art of storytelling, including how to gather information, and how to use body language, space, voice and facial expression when telling stories. The students were expected to take responsibility for interviewing their grandparents as well as learning the art of telling stories.
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The students met with Vanessa Johnson to discuss how to interview their parents or grandparents. After writing their questions, they took a camera and tape recorder home. They each recorded an interview with an adult and then took pictures. Some students took home a digital voice recorder and recorded a story which was included in an iMovie. Students created poems, raps, short stories and skits based on the information they received from their parents.
A quilt was made with stories and pictures of grandparents/parents and their children and displayed at McKinley-Brighton. The quilt, movie and student production was shown to the students and parents at two assemblies. The students, parents and teachers were proud of their accomplishments in this project.
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Left: Students tell their stories onstage at McKinley-Brighton. Right: a quilt square
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What we learned:
- Planning meetings which include the teaching artist and teachers are VERY IMPORTANT!
- Time is needed for district staff to help us learn how to use certain equipment.
- Communication must be ongoing.
- The time line must be flexible, especially if the purchase or equipment or supplies is involved.
- In Syracuse, a snow day, wind chill day, testing & grading days will disrupt the best laid plans!
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Left: a student shows the quilt to a relative. Right: Students share the quilt with the community.
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We want to continue to think of ways to involve the arts in lessons, and to find a teaching artist to help the art teacher learn how to use our new kiln and to devise student projects which include the use of the kiln.