Module Description:
As I Was Saying… is a storytelling-based, interdisciplinary learning experience where students explore how perspective, voice, and media influence understanding of historical and present-day events. Designed with flexibility for 4th through 12th grade, this module combines language arts, social studies, digital media, and the arts through inquiry-driven projects that emphasize empathy, communication, and global citizenship.
At its heart, the unit challenges students to reimagine a single story from multiple viewpoints and represent it through digital storytelling. Students analyze first-person narratives, primary sources, and visual media, and then collaborate to script, storyboard, and produce a short multimedia presentation (e.g., iMovie, podcast, animation, or illustrated book). Along the way, students engage with historians, artists, and digital creators, reflecting on how media shapes memory, justice, and truth.
Each level (elementary, middle, and high school) scales in complexity to ensure age-appropriate rigor. The final product is presented in a student-led "Point of View" showcase that promotes creative dialogue across generations and cultures.
Course Content:
Students will:
Examine point of view in literature, nonfiction, and historical sources
Explore the role of media and technology in shaping narratives
Analyze primary and secondary sources, maps, timelines, and diaries
Learn visual storytelling tools: iMovie, Canva, Adobe Express, Book Creator
Create and revise scripts, journals, and visual stories from two or more perspectives
Reflect on storytelling as a tool for empathy and change
Learning Objectives & Standards:
Social Studies (C3 Framework):
D2.His.4.3-5: Explain why individuals and groups during the same historical period differed in their perspectives.
D2.His.14.6-8: Explain multiple causes and effects of events and developments in the past.
D2.Civ.10.9-12: Analyze the impact of political and historical decisions on different groups.
ELA/Literacy (CCSS):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4-12.6: Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4-12.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4-12.5: Include multimedia components in presentations.
Arts (National Core Arts Standards):
VA:Cr2.1.4-12: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
TH:Cr3.1.4-12: Rehearse and refine dramatic works based on feedback and reflection.
MU:Cr3.1.4-12: Evaluate and refine musical ideas to create a final composition.
Outcomes:
By the end of the module, students will:
Develop narrative and media literacy through multimedia storytelling
Understand historical events from multiple perspectives
Build collaboration, empathy, and critical thinking skills
Use technology and the arts to elevate student voice and identity
Reflect on storytelling as a means of civic engagement and global connection
Final Showcase: Point of View Premiere
Gallery Features:
Student-created multimedia stories from contrasting perspectives
Physical or digital gallery of artifacts, journals, and scripts
Live performances or film screening events
QR codes linking to digital portfolios or podcast episodes
Panel or reflection station where visitors respond to: "Whose story still needs to be told?"
IB Learner Profile Integration:
This module nurtures inquirers, open-minded thinkers, and principled communicators. It aligns with the IB global contexts of "personal and cultural expression," "orientation in space and time," and "fairness and development," highlighting storytelling as a bridge between knowledge and justice.
Program Overview:
We’ve Got a Ticket to Ride is a vibrant, interdisciplinary design-thinking unit where students become engineers, storytellers, and changemakers as they imagine, plan, and build the world’s next great amusement park. Rooted in real-world applications of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), students explore geography, environmental responsibility, structural engineering, and the power of storytelling to shape guest experiences. Inspired by social-emotional learning and civic responsibility, learners also explore the community needs their parks will help solve. The unit culminates in a student-created museum-style showcase featuring 3D models, persuasive writing, interactive maps, digital commercials, and prototype attractions.
This unit is aligned with national standards and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Sustainable Cities & Communities (SDG 11). It is available for educators to implement independently in their classrooms.
Key Learning Experiences:
Learn about amusement parks around the world
Create drawings and blueprints of park ideas
Build 3D models using blocks, clay, and recyclable materials
Write simple descriptive paragraphs about their park
Key Learning Experiences:
Analyze successful parks globally
Research civic issues to address with theme park design
Write persuasive letters and design brochures
Construct scale models using Tinkercad or physical materials
Key Learning Experiences:
Investigate architecture, sustainability, and theme park economics
Apply physics and geometry to design roller coasters
Research global parks and propose new park locations based on cultural and economic research
Write detailed business plans and pitch decks
Build digital and physical models using CAD and 3D printing
“Little Dreamers” is a story-driven educational experience that empowers young learners, K-3 to explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Good Life Goals through global collaboration, literature, and creative expression. Rooted in empathy and inclusion, this unit encourages students to reflect on real-world challenges, connect with international peers, and use storytelling to raise awareness and imagine a better world.
The program blends literacy, social-emotional learning, global awareness, and digital storytelling, giving students the opportunity to learn from diverse voices, including a virtual visit from award-winning poet and author Dr Doreen Myrie.
Throughout the unit, students engage in rich discussions around books such as Big Rain, Animal Village, Nya’s Long Walk, and Dear Mr. Rosenwald—and connect these narratives to global goals like clean water, quality education, and gender equality.
Explore SDGs and Good Life Goals through literature
Engage in global classroom connections and author visits
Develop empathy through storytelling and lived experiences
Identify sustainable solutions to real-world challenges
Write and illustrate a class storybook inspired by their SDG focus
Share their work globally through a digital publication
Dream Seekers is a powerful interdisciplinary storytelling unit that invites students to explore and amplify true stories of individuals who have overcome adversity. Through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—with an emphasis on SDG #10: Reduced Inequalities—students engage in rich literary analysis, global discussions, and multimedia storytelling projects that honor voices of resilience and courage.
Working in three differentiated grade bands, students read grade-appropriate biographies and memoirs, view documentary films through SIMA Classroom, and connect with peers across the globe. Students will learn from guest speakers and human rights advocates—including a special virtual visit from Abdi Nor Iftin, author of Call Me American and will use the stories and knowledge they gather to create meaningful art, media, and campaigns that raise awareness and inspire empathy.
By the end of the unit, students will produce a creative storytelling project that brings attention to an issue of inequality in their own local or global community combining research, narrative, and creative design to tell stories that matter.
Analyze real-life stories of perseverance and survival
Explore global and local inequalities through the lens of the SDGs
Collaborate with peers across cultures and continents
Learn from guest authors, filmmakers, and humanitarian leaders
Use visual art, digital media, music, or design to tell a story of resilience
Share their work with a global audience to raise awareness and inspire change