InkSlinger - Learning Through Storytelling Essential Questions
• Discuss the Essential Questions.
“Failure is a totally underrated learning experience.” –Kim Cridler, artist
• Have students write the story of their life in only 10 sentences.
The main protagonist of this story displays two instances of acting bravely and directly dealing with situations involving her feelings. Which do you think is more important—not getting what she wanted or being brave enough to try in the first place? Why is communication, especially the ability to communicate how you feel about something, so important?
Curriculum Connections English: NL-ENG.K-12.1; NL-ENG.K-12.2; NL-ENG.K-12.3; NL-ENG.K-12.4; NL-ENG.K-12.5; NLENG.K-12.6; NL-ENG.K-12.7; NL-ENG.K-12.8; NL-ENG.K-12.11; NL-ENG.K-12.12
Activity
• Have them write 10 sentences starting with the phrase “I used to be….but I’m not anymore.” • Then write 10 sentences starting with the phrase “I am a/n…” • Now turn these groups of sentences into a short story—it can be autobiographical or turned into a fictional piece. Focus on beginning (where they or their character starts), middle (changes they or their character goes through) and end (an ultimate change to them or their character). • Send stories to KidzEra for possible publication! Include a submission form with each entry.
• Read Jinefku ‘s story, Young Love (below).
Young Love
• Next, have them write a paragraph about a time they did a brave thing, even if the outcome wasn’t a total success.
Story submitted by: Jinefka J., Age 14, Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School, Los Angeles, California
You go into your art class and you realize you have to sit next to a complete stranger. So you sit next to him thinking, Wow, this sucks. But then you see the guy you’ve had a crush on for a while come in and smile at you. He even sits next to you on the other side and says, “Hi.” You instantly blush and get all jittery, completely ignoring the stranger next to you. Later on, the other guy says something to your interest and you talk to him about it. You both talk and become acquaintances and you find out his name is Mike. Weeks pass and you realize Mike isn’t all that bad. Then, to your surprise, your crush, David, is exchanging elective classes and he will no longer be in the same class you and Mike are in. You get really sad, but try not to show it. So he leaves, and you’re left with Mike.
though you don’t have the same elective class you once had with him. So you and your best friend Samantha talk about your crushes and decide to tell your crushes you like them on a specific day. The day comes when you tell Mike you like him. The bell rings to go home and you get ready to tell him you like him. But then you freeze. You become a statue and stand there like a complete idiot. You notice him walking away and you tell yourself, No. You can do this. Don’t chicken out. Go, go, GO! So then you let loose and run after him. You call out his name, “Mike!” Mike waits there for you to approach. Then you say, “I have something important to tell you. I’m going to make it fast because I have to leave soon.” Then Mike says, “OK.” So you get ready to tell him. You open your mouth and—BOOM. Nothing comes out.
[ [
You keep looking around, thinking, Tell him! Tell him! What are you waiting for?! TELL HIM! Then you instantly So what does love So you don’t talk to Mike for a while, then, out of the make eye contact with him. You look deep into his brown blue, he starts talking to you. Then you realize you eyes and can’t help it, but your heart is slowly breaking. really mean when talked to him the whole period. Days and days pass You know that he knows what you’re going to tell him. it comes to young and you become really good friends with him. Not So you tell him, “I like you.” He responds differently than close friends, but good friends and you think, Hey, he’s any other guy you’ve ever told. He is very sweet about it, people like us? actually pretty cool to hang out with. You even start yet you know that he doesn’t feel the same way for you. talking to him outside of the class a bit during lunch. You realize why you like him in the first place. He is kind, sweet, yet very funny, he has a great personality, and he makes you smile So the day comes when you tell David you like him. He responds in a very almost every day. As soon as you part from him, your best friend, Samantha, confusing way you don’t understand, but you know he doesn’t like you back. comes up and hugs you. And then you think about what just happened five Then he becomes really mean toward you and starts acting differently. You get minutes ago when you looked deeply into his eyes like that. Then you notice really mad and decide to avoid him at all costs. Then two months pass and the tears rolling down your face. And you tell yourself, I did it. first semester is one month away from ending. You are completely over David. During your period with Mike, you tell him you used to like David. He teases One month passes and you still like him. You get frustrated about the fact that you in a friendly way and you laugh and talk during the whole period. you still do. Then you get a message from Mike. He thinks that you hate him and sums the whole situation up. When you read that message, you are no longer The last day of the first semester comes and your teacher decides to give you confused and you completely understand now. You tell him that you are not mad this day to relax and talk to your friends. So while you’re talking to Mike and all at him in any way and that you understand everything. So then, after that, you your other friends, something weird happens. You and Mike make eye contact still like him, but now you are finally moving on. It might take a while, but it will with each other for about 10 seconds straight, yet it feels like forever, then soon be over and you can start new once more. instantly look away. You’re blushing, but you don’t know why at all. So you continue the day like nothing happened. Then, when you think of Mike, you get So what does love really mean when it comes to young people like us? Does red and your heart starts pounding, your head filling with confusion. You ask love even exist at our age? In my opinion, I think it doesn’t. I just think we have yourself, Why is it that every time I think about him, my heart starts beating so really strong crushes, but we won’t know what true love is until we grow older fast? Then it occurs to you and you instantly realize that you like Mike. and learn new things about life and love. When that time comes, we will know. But right now, we still have a long way ahead of us. And I am willing to wait Four months pass and you and Mike are still good friends and talk, even for that special moment.