Everybody loves a good story
Throughout history, storytellers have been valued as the keeper of history, the keeper of lessons to be passed down from generation to generation. Before mankind could write, he could tell stories. We can envision ancient man in a cave somewhere with folks gathered around listening to a tale.
Today, our storytelling has evolved, but it is no less compelling. Our modern day story telling not only comes in print, but also is shared via film and music. We are easily captured by the suspense and the beauty of a story. We appreciate being caught up in a good story as time is suspended in a way for that moment that you connect with and enter into the story. With a good story, it is as if you are right there watching the action happen. We connect to each other and to humanity through stories, whether we hear them, read them, or watch them.
Math History and Culture
The teaching and learning of mathematics can be enhanced by the telling of stories. History is ripe with these stories. Some examples can be found here. We can explore the mathematical history of various cultures in search of these timeless stories and puzzles. We can use the inherent interest in listening to a tale, figuring out what will come next, and the beauty of the sound of language to engage math learners. Teachers to Teachers Global has compiled stories from around the world sharing traditions and cultures and their connections to mathematics. Their interactive world map links to stories and math activities.
Mindset and an Activity
I was recently invited to speak to a group of pre-service teachers and other students interested in education at Stonehill College to speak about mathematics and storytelling. It is not all that often we connect mathematics to the humanities. I was thrilled to be a guest speaking about something so impactful. I shared with these young adults the power of storytelling, the opportunities to connect stories to mathematics, history and culture, and together we completed an activity connecting growth mindset messages to the characters in my story Ying and the Magic Turtle. We looked at the characters from the story.
These are all of the characters from Ying and the Magic Turtle.
The students were given a set of growth mindset messages and a pile of character cards. They were asked to match each character to the message they embodied. A rich discussion ensued. Really, any story could be used for this activity.
Characters give us an opportunity for human connection. They convey emotions and messages in a very unique way. Ying is the heroine in my story. She is placed in the story to model very specific characteristics: patience, bravery, curiosity, attention to detail to name a few. The very name Ying means intelligent and clever. In fact, all of the character’s names have meanings that reflect their traits. When listening to a story, we relate to the characters. We identify with them. We root for them to successfully solve their problem. And, we often strive to be just like them.
Your Turn
What stories can you tell? Do you have any real life stories that present a puzzle to be solved? What cultures are represented in your school or classroom? What is the mathematics in the history of those cultures? Is there a story to be told there? I encourage you to bring stories into your math classroom. Grow your library. Search histories. Find links of math related books on line. Consider characters and the disposition of a mathematician. These ideas extend far beyond our math standards, beyond the walls of classroom, across cultures and time.
Happy Storytelling!
Sue
PS: If you are interested in Ying and the Magic Turtle, it is available at no cost as a pdf through www.naturalmath.com who believes in making their materials accessible to all. You can purchase a book or download a pdf.