Story retelling in a social studies unit on Japan

Retelling experiences (speaking, writing, dramatizing, and illustrating) were introduced to second grade children as a means of creating their own constructs. Such experiences can foster comprehension abilities and a sense of story, ownership of language experiences, and personal-social development. Folk tales served as the literature base for the retelling opportunities because they offer well-structured stories that present plots, motifs, and themes that are clearly delineated. These literature experiences and retelling activities were extended across the curriculum to enrich a social studies unit on Japan