TDU 10: Using stories and storytelling to teach environmental issues

Introduction

Storytelling has been an integral part of Indian culture for thousands of years, with many stories being passed on from one generation to the next. Using these traditional stories, and those written by contemporary Indian authors, can provide an enriching teaching tool in the elementary science classroom.

Listening to and reading stories can enable students to explore a range of concepts. Stories can be used to introduce new topics and terminology, explain abstract ideas, and present scientific problems. They thus provide an excellent basis for meaningful scientific enquiry.

This unit explores the use of traditional and contemporary Indian stories to teach elementary science in an engaging way.

Learning outcomes