Stories in Season

Teaching Pre K-8, Nov/Dec 2001 by Lindroth, Linda

Stories in Season is a rich multicultural program for grades K-2. This wonderful CD-ROM from Tyndal Stone Media has an unusual focus - the program lets students choose to hear four Aboriginal stories told in six languages: English, French, Dakota Sioux, Cree, Dene and Saulteaux.

As students listen to each story, they can switch from language to language on each page so students and teachers can make language comparisons and get the storyteller's message from a different perspective. The beauty of the languages is very easy to demonstrate. I have my students listen to the language and look at the book illustrations to make predictions about the story.

Each story uses colorful illustrations and rhythmic language patterns to spin a tale about First Nation characters. All four stories bring insight to the beginning reader about the culture and lifestyle of the Native American population. The books, with some discussion topics, are:

* JUST A WALK - imagination and rhyming.

* PETER'S MOCCASINS - feelings on being different, dreams, traditional hunting and Native American terms.

* BYRON THROUGH THE SEASONS: A DENE-ENGLISH STORYBOOK - feasts.

* ALFRED'S SUMMER - storytelling and life in the country.

My students enjoy the activities I use in my class for learning stations to support this software program.

Write a story about a favorite pair of shoes with Peter's Moccasins. Retell or act out a time when you got your feet stuck in the mud like Just a Walk. I had my students look at favorite books and draw pictures of comparisons like the one in Just a Walk when Chuck's boat was compared to a whale with a spout.

I love the opportunities for students to do independent exploration and related research either in a group or in a learning center.

Each story page has a hotspot that links to related topics for the story. Sometimes the reader is asked to think about a similar personal experience, to learn about background information on a story detail, or to think about a feeling to get students actively involved in the story. The interactive hotspots are also wonderful additions to help with a Book Walk before reading the book aloud.

For more information, call Tyndal Stone Media at 306-584-7331 or visit www.tyndal.com $49.