Telling a Story in Four Icons/Sounds

Workshop for Grade 2 Students at Yokohama International School

Telling a Story in Four Icons/Sounds from Alan Levine

audience: 2nd grade
goal: Identify/reduce major elements of a story and represent them creatively in visual and audio forms

inspired by ds106 assignment http://assignments.ds106.us/assignments/one-story-four-icons/

Time for Four Icon Stories flickr photo by cogdogblog shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

What Are Icons?
Not pictures, but simple visual representation of things, so they can be quickly recognized and knowing a language not necessary. Shoe different between picture of a train and a road sign train warning sign.
Show stop/play buttons like on audio devices.
Icons that local students would readily know?

is it possible to represent a story in such a simple form?

Optional Examples

Ben Rimes (2nd grade?) http://www.techsavvyed.net/archives/2326
Tyler Hart, 3rd grade, springfield park elementary school, Richmond Virginia http://blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/trhart/technology-work-samples/ (Wayback Machine link)
Fifth Grade Wrinkle in a Time http://www.engagingeducators.com/blog/2012/03/26/from-the-classroom-the-4-icon-challenge-for-a-wrinkle-in-time/ (Wayback Machine link)
Brian Metcalfe (good examples) http://life-long-learners.com/four-icon-challenge-feedback/

Story – Tell a short story in familiar form, with photos and narration- Alan tells story of his dog, Dominoe, who got lost and found him.

Break it down (discussion)

Show a grid with blanks and a place to write in ideas- guided activity to ask what are 4 major elements, e.g. (1) Dog (2) Empty Forest (3) Night/Moon (4) Dog Again

Then ask, what sounds might represent these same? e.g. (1) bark, pant (2) wind, footsteps (3) Silence? owl? (4) Dog barking

Activity
Use a story the class is studying or recently read
On paper, decide on the 4 things to represent the story

Draw 4 icons to represent them.
For at least one, try and find an object in the room to represent it
Using voice or objects in room, try and find 4 sounds to represent the 4 moments
Sharing:Present the stories 3 times- first by showing drawings/objects with just sounds, both together

Discussion
Can a story be simplified? How hard would it be for someone to understand the story? Would this make you want to learn more about the story?