Workshop Activity: Using Storytelling/Narrative

Time length: About 1 hour

Materials: Pen and paper, 3 value cards (from previous activity), inspiration

Audience: Middle school to adult, depends on wording

Participants bring their three value cards with them and develop a story about healing.

Story Development: 10 minutes

•    Facilitator gives a brief overview of story development

o    Beginning – Introduction;  Middle – Body; Ending – Conclusion

•    Participants write a one paragraph story on healing, personal or third person, true or fiction

Partner Work: 10 minutes (5 minutes each)

•    Participants break up into pairs and take turns sharing their stories.

o    Emphasize “telling” the story, rather than reading it.
o    Encourage participants to listen “actively” without responding while the other person is sharing.
o    Participants should not comment or criticize their partner’s story, but express gratitude for the sharing.

Finding the Essence of the Story: 5 minutes

•    Participants breakdown their stories to three sentences.

Telling the story: 15 minutes

•    Partners share their stories aloud for the group, each speaking one sentence at time in an exchange.

o    Example:

        Participant 1 – sentence one
        Participant 2 – sentence one
        Participant 1 – sentence two
        Participant 2 – sentence two
        Participant 1 – sentence three
        Participant 2 – sentence three