Can a Picture Tell a Thousand Words?

Gather learners around and share a photograph to demonstrate life around a table.

Share with learners that stories are absolutely everywhere! They exist in our memories, our conversations with our friends, in photographs, even in the smallest moments. Present a photograph of you around a table. Prompt learners to think about what they see, notice, or wonder. What memories do you think this picture holds? What stories could you tell?

Pause and overdramatically exclaim “How are you doing this? Making up a story from just a picture?? What if all we had was a picture? Would that still be a story?” Neutrally accept varying responses and ask why or why not.

Create a T-chart on the whiteboard or on an anchor chart that says What a story is/ What a story is not. Remind them what this unit is all about: storytelling!

As learners share their ideas, neutrally scribe on sticky notes without confirming any of the answers. For example, if learners share that drawings aren’t stories, write it down regardless. After the read aloud, learners will reflect on their thinking.