1.09 Planning Sheet for a Narrative Chain

This assessment has 3 parts. You will plan your presentation, create a visual display, and write a reflection paragraph.

A narrative chain is a memory toolthat uses several links (visual associations) and ties them together in a story.The physical movements help you remember those links and make connections in your memory.

Do you remember the videos in lesson 1.08 about Amy and her dream about going to the beach? Check out pages 5 and 6 if you need a reminder. Here is an example planning chart that could have been used with her videos in lesson 1.08.

SUBJECT: Science
TOPIC: Scientific animal groupings

List of related items to remember / Terms / Physical movement / Script
1 / ducks / braces / Two fingers on extended hand, move cupped hand across mouth / I look closer and I see that these two ducks have braces on their bills. They have what? Braces on their bills.
2 / pelicans / raft / Waving arms like flying birds, tosses hand forward like raft / These pelicans have a raft. A what? That's right a raft.
3 / peacocks / mustard / Struts, shows plumes, pulls jar of mustard out of pocket, throws it with hand / So I see this one peacock and he pulls something out of his beautiful plume, and it's mustard. It's what? That's right mustard.
4 / Foxes / leash / Walks like foxes, arm motions like a leash in front / He had foxes walking on the beach. He had two what? Foxes. And this man, as if these were ordinary pets, had these foxes on a leash. On a what? Leash.

YOUR NARRATIVE CHAIN

SUBJECT:
TOPIC:

Part 1: Choose a subject area that you are currently studying (such as history, science, language arts, or math). Create an original narrative chain (a story) to help you remember 5-10 specific items or terms from that subject area.

  • You will connect/link these items together in your story.
  • Add in COWAM or the Freak Factor to make your narrative chain an effective memory tool. (What is COWAM? Look back at lesson 1.07.)
  • Include physical movements like the video example in lesson 1.08, page 5.
  • You could also use images, like the example of the first four presidents given in the lesson.

Part 2: Creatively display your narrative chain. Options include:

  • a photo essay (include a photo and text on each slide or page to tell a complete story)
  • a video of you performing your narrative chain
  • a digital story with graphics or audio of your narrative chain
  • a presentation that includes graphics

Part 3: Write a reflection paragraph. In 4-6 complete sentences, answer the 3 questions below, and include part of the question in your answer.

  • What did you find to be the most enjoyable part of creating and displaying your narrative chain?
  • What specific challenges did you face as you created your narrative chain?
  • What ideas do you have right now for narrative chains in other subject areas?