Eye on ECCS: Kamishibai Storytelling Project

 

NOTE: Occasionally throughout the school year, we will visit a school across Eastern Carver County Schools. Some weeks the plan may be to stop in multiple classrooms by grade, or by subject. Other weeks it may highlight a certain specialist group. The purpose is to give families and our community a glimpse into the every-day learning environment happening in our buildings. A chance to spotlight the incredible work our teachers and staff do on a daily basis for our students, and to showcase the incredible work our students produce as well. So, keep your Eye on ECCS!

Collaboration is among the five core values of Eastern Carver County Schools’ strategic roadmap. In Mary Larsen’s third grade class at Chanhassen Elementary, a recent project involving a Kamishibai storytelling box had students engaging, listening, and partnering with each other to learn.

“I like to get (the task) out there, explain everything, and then let them take it from there,” Larsen said.

Students, in groups of four or five, were working on a multicultural lesson on storytelling in other countries. Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese art form that combines illustrated paper cards with a scripted performance to tell a story. 

The classroom started the project by watching a video, Issun-bōshi or Little One Inch. Students were given the task of recreating the story through Kamishibai.

Some students shared their artistic talents by drawing the illustrations. Others wrote the script for an upcoming performance where each person was assigned a speaking role.

“The groups were chosen by the students themselves. Students considered their peer’s abilities, such as artistic ability, communication ability, and critical thinking skills. All of these considerations fostered a sense of teamwork and accountability,” Larsen said. 

Larsen, a teacher at Chanhassen Elementary since 2005, said she has used this lesson a few times, but not in recent years. Students said the project was fun, and they flourished in many ways. Some were leaders, some kept their eye on the clock to monitor how the group was progressing, and others showed off their typing and technology skills by printing off the script. Each group had their own creative take on what the illustrations and performance should look like.

“The end result, performing the Kamishibai box story, afforded the kids a sense of accomplishment. They also took great pride in being able to perform storytelling in a traditional Japanese storytelling method,” Larsen said. “As a teacher, incorporating different storytelling methods in the curriculum exposes students to a variety of cultures, helping them develop a deeper understanding of these different cultures.”