As educators, we understand the importance of effective communication and storytelling skills for our middle school students. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to Background Brief, a fun and engaging game designed to help students improve their storytelling abilities by ensuring they include all necessary background information. We’ll also provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to incorporate these techniques into your classroom.

Introduction

Background Brief is an interactive game that teaches students to tell stories that include essential background information. The game focuses on the importance of clearly communicating the Who, What, Where, and When of a story. By practicing this skill, students can enhance their communication abilities and ensure their stories are understood by others.

No-Prep Activity

To play Background Brief, have your students pair up and take turns telling each other a story. The listener will then identify if any background information is missing. The storyteller should include the Who, What, Where, and When in their story. If the listener identifies any missing information, the storyteller must revise their story and try again. This activity requires no preparation or materials and can be easily adapted for any classroom setting.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to include all necessary background information when telling a story?
• How does missing background information affect the listener’s understanding of the story?
• What strategies can you use to remember to include all relevant details in your story?
• How can improving your storytelling skills help you in other areas of your life?
• Can you think of a time when you heard a story that lacked essential background information? How did it impact your understanding of the situation?

Related Skills

Effective storytelling is just one aspect of strong communication skills. Other related skills that can benefit students include:

• Active listening: Paying attention and engaging with the speaker to better understand their message.
• Nonverbal communication: Using body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey meaning and emotions.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which can lead to stronger connections and improved communication.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing and resolving disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

To explore more activities like Background Brief and other Social-Emotional Learning resources, we encourage you to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. These materials can help you effectively teach and reinforce essential communication and social skills for your middle school students.