Cultural Storytelling Intro

Learning Area

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
English (Integrated Literacy focus)
Digital Technologies (Inquiry and multimodal storytelling)

Year Level

Year 2 Students (Western Australia)

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Unit Title

Cultural Storytelling Connections (Lesson 1 of 20)

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Lesson Title

Introduction to Cultural Storytelling

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Duration

60 minutes

Class size

25 students

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Curriculum Links (Western Australian Curriculum)

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

• ACHASSK037: Recognise and describe continuities and changes in the local community over time.
• ACHASSI043: Pose questions about the past and present.
• ACHASSI044: Develop narratives and share observations using sources and subject-specific terms.
• AC9HS2S06: Develop narratives and share observations, using sources, and subject-specific terms.
• AC9HS2S04: Discuss perspectives related to objects, people, places and events

English

• AC9E2LE01: Discuss how characters and settings are connected in literature created by First Nations Australian and other Australian authors.
• Focus on oral language development through storytelling and sharing experiences.
• Integration of vocabulary and language structures about stories (characters, setting, sequence)

Digital Technologies

• Incorporate use of digital devices to share stories (e.g., recording, drawing digital story maps, or simple sequencing apps).
• Inquiry-based approach to researching and sharing stories supports digital literacy development.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT explore what storytelling means in different cultures.
• WALT understand why stories are important for sharing knowledge and culture.
• WALT reflect on and share a story from their own experience.
• WALT identify features that make a story meaningful (characters, events, sequence).

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Success Criteria

Students will:

• Explain what storytelling is and why it matters in different cultures.
• Share a personal story or an example from their culture or family.
• Identify key parts of a story (beginning, middle, end; characters; setting).
• Participate in group discussions and listen respectfully to peers' stories.

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Resources

• Picture books or stories from different cultures, including a First Nations Australian story (oral or book form).
• Chart paper & markers for recording ideas.
• Digital device or interactive whiteboard for showing images or video clips of storytelling.
• A “story circle” arrangement of chairs for sharing stories orally.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction and Hook (10 minutes)

• Explicitly introduce the concept of storytelling.
• Show images or a short video clip demonstrating storytelling from different cultures (including First Nations Australians).
• Ask students: What is a story? Why do people tell stories?
• Record their ideas using a mind map on the board or chart paper.

2. Teacher-Led Explicit Teaching (10 minutes)

• Explain key elements of a story (characters, setting, events, sequence).
• Read aloud a short, simple story from a First Nations Australian author or another diverse culture with strong storytelling tradition.
• Model identifying key story parts aloud.
• Connect storytelling to cultural traditions and passing on knowledge.

3. Guided Inquiry and Discussion (15 minutes)

• In small groups, students share a story from their own family or community (can be recent or passed down).
• Encourage use of story elements taught.
• Groups discuss why their stories are important and what they teach us about people or culture.

4. Whole Class Sharing & Reflection (15 minutes)

• Groups share one story that they think is meaningful with the class.
• Discuss as a class: What makes these stories special? Why do we share stories?
• Record vocabulary and ideas generated (e.g., culture, knowledge, feelings, history).

5. Digital Connection and Conclusion (10 minutes)

• Introduce a simple digital activity where students begin to create a digital or pictorial storyboard of their story (can be drawn on tablets or paper if tech is limited).
• Summarise why storytelling connects us all and how this unit will explore many stories from around Australia and beyond.
• Set a positive tone for curiosity and respect.

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Assessment and Reflection

• Formative observation during group and class discussions: check engagement and understanding of storytelling elements.
• Anecdotal notes on ability to share a clear narrative.
• Check digital activity participation and comprehension of sequencing story elements.
• Provide feedback focusing on the use of story vocabulary and cultural respect.

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Teacher Notes

• Use explicit instruction for the story elements and vocabulary, but foster inquiry through group sharing.
• Scaffold story sharing for shy or unsure students with prompts or sentence starters (e.g., “My story is about...”, “In my family, we…”).
• Highlight Australian First Nations storytelling traditions respectfully and integrate local heritage if possible.
• Prepare differentiated supports for English language learners and diverse cultural backgrounds in the classroom.

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This lesson plan balances explicit teaching with inquiry-based collaborative learning, integrating HASS, English, and Digital Technologies to align closely with the Western Australian Curriculum standards for Year 2. It lays a strong foundation for the broader 20-lesson unit "Cultural Storytelling Connections" by engaging students in meaningful, respectful cultural conversations through story sharing and digital expression .