Introduction
Storytelling is a fundamental aspect of communication, allowing us to share experiences, ideas, and emotions with others. For elementary students, learning to tell stories effectively is a crucial skill to develop, as it fosters interpersonal connections and enhances their ability to express themselves. The Background Brief is a simple and effective technique that helps students provide enough information in their stories, ensuring that their listeners can fully understand and engage with them. This blog post will guide educators in teaching the Background Brief method, offering a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills for students to practice.
No-Prep Activity: Background Brief Relay
In this no-prep activity, students will practice using the Background Brief method to tell a story, focusing on the essential elements of When, Who, What, and Where. The activity is designed for group participation and requires no additional materials or preparation from the educator.
- Divide the students into small groups of 3-4.
- Ask each group to select a simple story or event that they are all familiar with, such as a recent field trip or a popular children’s story.
- Each student will take turns telling a part of the story, using the Background Brief method. The first student will provide the When, the second student will provide the Who, the third student will provide the What, and the fourth student will provide the Where. If there are fewer than four students in a group, some students may need to provide more than one element.
- Once each student has shared their part of the story, the group will discuss how the Background Brief method helped them to understand the story better and identify any missing or unclear details.
Through this activity, students will gain hands-on experience in using the Background Brief method and will learn the importance of providing sufficient information when telling a story.
Discussion Questions
After completing the Background Brief Relay activity, engage students in a discussion to help them reflect on their experience and deepen their understanding of the method. Here are some questions to facilitate the conversation:
- How did using the Background Brief method help you understand the story better?
- What challenges did you face in providing the necessary information for each element of the Background Brief?
- Can you think of a time when you told a story and your listener was confused due to missing or unclear information? How could the Background Brief method have helped in that situation?
- How do you think the Background Brief method can help you become a better listener as well as a better storyteller?
- Why is it important to consider what your listener already knows when telling a story?
Related Skills
Teaching the Background Brief method not only helps students improve their storytelling abilities but also contributes to their overall social-emotional development. Here are some related skills that complement the learning of the Background Brief:
- Active Listening: Encourage students to practice active listening when their peers are sharing stories, ensuring they are fully engaged and attentive to the speaker.
- Empathy: Help students develop empathy by understanding the feelings and emotions behind the stories being shared and considering the perspectives of others.
- Nonverbal Communication: Teach students to pay attention to nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language, to better understand the emotions and context of a story.
- Self-awareness: Encourage students to reflect on their own storytelling abilities and identify areas for improvement, promoting personal growth and self-improvement.
Next Steps
Now that you have a better understanding of the Background Brief method and its benefits for elementary students, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice. To help you get started, sign up for free sample materials that cover a range of social-emotional learning skills, including storytelling, active listening, empathy, and more.
