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2nd Grade  Project 6 weeks

"Garden Tales: Growing Through Stories!"

Katherine R
Apr 14, 2025
Updated Jul 31, 2025
1-pager

Purpose

This project aims to weave together students' understanding of native plants, cultural storytelling, and personal growth, fostering empathy and cultural connections over a six-week period. Through hands-on activities and storytelling circles held four days a week, students will explore their identities and the diverse backgrounds of their peers. The project culminates in a 'Garden of Stories' exhibition, where students celebrate their learning journey and cultural narratives, engaging their community in a meaningful dialogue about growth and identity.

Learning goals

Students will develop storytelling and communication skills by sharing personal stories and folk tales, incorporating cultural elements and native plant metaphors. They will enhance their understanding of empathy and cultural diversity through exploration and connection to Japanese culture and other family traditions. Students will also strengthen their ability to reflect on personal growth, using native plants as a metaphor, and express these insights creatively through art and writing. The project aims to foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation by engaging with peers, families, and community partners. Additionally, students will practice critical thinking and collaboration skills through peer review and feedback sessions, refining their storytelling and personal growth narratives.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4: Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.8: Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
  • NGSS - 2-LS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.

Products

Throughout the project, students will create personal growth journals with drawings and reflections that connect native plants to their growth and cultural identity. They will produce and perform folk tales that incorporate Japanese cultural elements, showcasing empathy and understanding of diverse backgrounds. Students will also collaboratively design interactive murals featuring cultural stories and native plants. These products will be showcased during the 'Garden of Stories' exhibition, inviting engagement from peers and families.

Launch

Begin the project with an engaging video of kamishibai storytelling, emphasizing its cultural significance and artistic elements. Follow this with a hands-on activity where students create their own kamishibai storyboards, integrating native plants and personal growth themes. Invite a kamishibai expert to demonstrate storytelling techniques, allowing students to connect their learning to real-world applications and cultural traditions. Over the first week, facilitate daily sessions where students explore and discuss the storytelling process, ensuring an immersive start to the project.

Exhibition

Host a vibrant 'Garden of Stories' exhibition where students showcase their personal growth journals, perform folk tales, and present poems that connect their experiences to cultural identities and native plants. Create interactive collaborative murals that feature cultural stories and native plants, inviting visitors to engage with the narratives. Organize storytelling performances where students share their tales, incorporating elements of Japanese culture and art, demonstrating empathy and understanding of diverse backgrounds. Invite peers, families, and community members to celebrate the students' learning journey and cultural connections. Ensure the exhibition spans multiple days to allow all students to participate and share their stories, fostering a rich exchange of cultural insights and personal growth reflections.
Plan
By Phase By Day Calendar
Project Activities
Days 1 - 24
Project Launch
Activity
Project Launch Video
Activity
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Activity
Discussion Circle
Activity
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Activity
Storytelling Techniques Workshop
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Cultural Story Exploration
Activity
Kamishibai Storytelling Introduction
Activity
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Activity
Native Plant Connections
Activity
Artistic Expression
Activity
Storytelling Circle
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Revision Workshop
Activity
Story Circle
Activity
Kamishibai Storytelling Circle
Activity
Feedback and Revision Session
Activity
Japanese Folk Tale Exploration
Activity
Cultural Connections Workshop
Activity
Art and Storytelling Integration
Activity
Storytelling Techniques Practice
Activity
Peer Storytelling Critique
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Storytelling Revision Workshop
Activity
Empathy Circle
Activity
Storytelling Circle
Activity
Native Plant Metaphor
Activity
Japanese Art Integration
Activity
Peer Review Session
Activity
Reflection and Revision
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Land Acknowledgement Creation
Activity
Storytelling and Personal Reflection
Activity
Storytelling Practice Session
Activity
Peer Feedback Exchange
Activity
Interactive Art Creation
Activity
Cultural Connections Discussion
Activity
Storytelling Performance Practice
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Final Storyboard Revisions
Activity
Preparation for Exhibition
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Final Storytelling Rehearsal
Activity
Storytelling Rehearsal
Activity
Exhibition Setup
Activity
Exhibition Opening
Activity
Reflection and Celebration Circle
Activity
Land Acknowledgement Presentation
Activity
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Project Activities Days 1–24
Day 1
Project Launch
Activity
Project Launch Video
Activity
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Activity
Discussion Circle
Activity
Day 2
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Activity
Day 3
Storytelling Techniques Workshop
Activity
Day 4
Reflection Circle
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Day 5
Cultural Story Exploration
Activity
Kamishibai Storytelling Introduction
Activity
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Activity
Native Plant Connections
Activity
Day 6
Artistic Expression
Activity
Day 7
Storytelling Circle
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Day 8
Reflection Circle
Activity
Revision Workshop
Activity
Day 9
Story Circle
Activity
Kamishibai Storytelling Circle
Activity
Feedback and Revision Session
Activity
Japanese Folk Tale Exploration
Activity
Day 10
Cultural Connections Workshop
Activity
Art and Storytelling Integration
Activity
Day 11
Storytelling Techniques Practice
Activity
Peer Storytelling Critique
Activity
Day 12
Reflection Circle
Activity
Storytelling Revision Workshop
Activity
Day 13
Empathy Circle
Activity
Storytelling Circle
Activity
Native Plant Metaphor
Activity
Day 14
Japanese Art Integration
Activity
Day 15
Peer Review Session
Activity
Reflection and Revision
Activity
Day 16
Reflection Circle
Activity
Land Acknowledgement Creation
Activity
Day 17
Storytelling and Personal Reflection
Activity
Storytelling Practice Session
Activity
Peer Feedback Exchange
Activity
Day 18
Interactive Art Creation
Activity
Cultural Connections Discussion
Activity
Day 19
Storytelling Performance Practice
Activity
Reflection Circle
Activity
Day 20
Final Storyboard Revisions
Activity
Preparation for Exhibition
Activity
Day 21
Reflection Circle
Activity
Final Storytelling Rehearsal
Activity
Storytelling Rehearsal
Activity
Day 22
Exhibition Setup
Activity
Day 23
Exhibition Opening
Activity
Day 24
Reflection and Celebration Circle
Activity
Land Acknowledgement Presentation
Activity

April 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
13 Day 1
Project Activities
Project Launch
Project Launch Video
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Discussion Circle
14 Day 2
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
15 Day 3
Storytelling Techniques Workshop
16 Day 4
Reflection Circle
Peer Feedback Session
20 Day 5
Cultural Story Exploration
Kamishibai Storytelling Introduction
Kamishibai Storyboard Creation
Native Plant Connections
21 Day 6
Artistic Expression
22 Day 7
Storytelling Circle
Peer Feedback Session
23 Day 8
Reflection Circle
Revision Workshop
27 Day 9
Story Circle
Kamishibai Storytelling Circle
Feedback and Revision Session
Japanese Folk Tale Exploration
28 Day 10
Cultural Connections Workshop
Art and Storytelling Integration
29 Day 11
Storytelling Techniques Practice
Peer Storytelling Critique
30 Day 12
Reflection Circle
Storytelling Revision Workshop

May 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4 Day 13
Empathy Circle
Storytelling Circle
Native Plant Metaphor
5 Day 14
Japanese Art Integration
6 Day 15
Peer Review Session
Reflection and Revision
7 Day 16
Reflection Circle
Land Acknowledgement Creation
11 Day 17
Storytelling and Personal Reflection
Storytelling Practice Session
Peer Feedback Exchange
12 Day 18
Interactive Art Creation
Cultural Connections Discussion
13 Day 19
Storytelling Performance Practice
Reflection Circle
14 Day 20
Final Storyboard Revisions
Preparation for Exhibition
18 Day 21
Reflection Circle
Final Storytelling Rehearsal
Storytelling Rehearsal
19 Day 22
Exhibition Setup
20 Day 23
Exhibition Opening
21 Day 24
Reflection and Celebration Circle
Land Acknowledgement Presentation
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