Story Collector Lesson 3 - Interviewing and Recording Family Stories

Aug 28, 2026

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Story Collector Lesson 3 guides Pre-K through Grade 5 students (aligned to Grade 2 standards) to build listening and writing skills through guided interviews. Learners discuss the value of passing stories across generations, choose a family or community member to talk with, and use Story Collector worksheets to prepare, conduct, and record interviews. Students then share findings in a storytelling circle, reflecting on themes discovered and surprises, and complete journal reflections for emotional understanding and growth.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Curriculum Connections

CCSS. ELA-LITERACY: W.2.8, SL.2.2

Objective

Listening and writing through interviews

Materials

“Story Collector” worksheets

Class Activity

Discussion and choosing an interviewee

Student Instructions

Prepare, conduct, and record interviews

Share Out

Storytelling circle prompts

Visual Arts Activity

Drawing, collage, or found object

Resources

StoryCorps Connect and related programs

Worksheet Content

Interview questions and journal reflection

Curriculum Story Collector Pre-K through Grade 5, written to Grade 2 standards Everyone is a storyteller. At the Skirball, we use storytelling to make connections across cultures, build strong communities, and carry on traditions from one generation to the next. In this lesson, students will connect with loved ones and role models, learn from the experiences of others, and become recorders of their own family and community histories. Objective Students will build listening and writing skills by interviewing family or community members and reflecting on the stories shared. Materials • “Story Collector” worksheets Class Activity 1. Facilitate a class discussion about the value of passing down stories from generation to generation. 2. Ask students to think of someone in their family or community they would like to learn from. Student Instructions Use the “Story Collector” worksheets to prepare for, conduct, and record your own interviews. Share Out Ask students to present their findings in a storytelling circle. • What common themes did students find? • What were they surprised to discover? • What was their favorite part of this process? 1 Visual Arts Activity Invite students to visually represent what they have learned in their interviews through a drawing, collage, or found object (e.g., a family photo or other artifact) . Curriculum Connections CCSS. ELA-LITERACY: W.2.8, SL.2.2 Resources StoryCorps: An organization that preserves and shares humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Check out their remote interview platform StoryCorps Connect. Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes: A project-based initiative that encourages students to discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes who have made a profound and positive impact on the course of history. Teaching Tolerance—Exploring Identity through Storytelling/Personal Narratives: A collection of stories and discussion questions focused on fostering identity and community. Connect with Us Our educators are here to help! If you would like to talk with us about how best to facilitate this activity with your students, please email [teacherprograms@skirball.org](teacherprograms@skirball.org). Worksheet Interviewer (your name!): Story Collector Everyone is a storyteller. Stories are a powerful way to make connections, build community, and carry on traditions from one generation to the next. Preserve the stories of someone important to you by talking with them about their life, writing down what they say, and sharing their responses with others. Choose three of the interview questions below or write your own. Use your selected questions to interview a member of your family or community. Then, write a journal entry for each story you discover using the “Story Collector: Journal Reflection” worksheet. Interview Questions • Talk about one of your favorite family traditions. • What is a food that is special to your family or community and why? • Share a memory of a journey or family trip. • Tell me about your favorite childhood game or pastime. • Share a memory of a great-grandparent or ancestor. • Talk about a time your family or community worked together to solve a problem. • What do you appreciate about your family and/or your community? • Share a memory of a time you were brave. • Tell me about a time you taught something to another person. • What is an object that is important to you and why? • Tell me about an adventure you had when you were younger. • Talk about a time you felt welcome in a new place. Add your own questions below. • • Worksheet Interviewer (your name!): Story Collector: Journal Reflection For us storytellers, it’s important to look back on the stories we write and the stories we collect from others. Reflection helps us better understand our emotions, strengths, and areas

FAQs

What is the main objective of Story Collector Lesson 3?

Students build listening and writing skills by interviewing family or community members and reflecting on the stories shared.

How do students collect and record interview information?

Students use the “Story Collector” worksheets to prepare for, conduct, and record their interviews, using chosen questions or their own.

What do students do after the interviews during Share Out and reflection?

Students present findings in a storytelling circle and respond to prompts about common themes, surprises, and favorite parts, then write journal reflections using the “Story Collector: Journal Reflection” worksheet.

Aug 28, 2026

Upload by Aditya