Afternoon of Saturday April 10th

1:30 p.m. – Kevin Cordi, Ensemble Storytelling – Guided Inquiry
The Magic of Inquiry – Imagining to Learn by Brian Edmiston.
Kevin led a guided inquiry exercise like those used with students. He scattered a wide variety of articles, lists, and photographs relating to the coal mining industry around the floor, along with blank post-it notes. He invited us to pick up 4 or 5 papers, quickly scan them, and write a question that springs to mind on a post-it note, attach it to the paper, and turn it in to him.
We then became members of a coal mining community, wives, engineers, miners, politicians, mine owners, foremen… Kevin selected one question to start the discussion. As we took on roles of people involved in or interested in a mine accident, Kevin stepped into and out of a facilitator role in which he could provide some guidance or prompts to keep the discussion moving.
This hands-on example of guided inquiry provided insight into how it could motivate students to explore/research a historical or scientific subject far beyond a textbook’s ability to stimulate students.

2:30 p.m. – Break

2:45 p.m. – Hat Stories

Sally Crandall – Why Mosquitos Only Buzz

Fran Stallings – Beavers and Western Willow Flycatchers 

Eric – Grandmother Key & the other friends (Wabanoak elder of Anishinabe -- ask Eric about this – biography on Amazon?)

Announcement by Eric:
• Everyone may post one post on the retreat blog, up to 1400 characters (300-600 words). Deadline for comments and responses will be 30 days.
• E-mail Fran to become a part of the Environmental Discussion Group
• Jonatha will send letters of thanks to the restaurants that donated food. (Eric or Jonatha, please add restaurant names here.)
• Eric expressed disappointment that several expected participants cancelled or didn’t show up. A possibility for next time he may require a $50 deposit that will be refunded to those who come.

2:50 p.m. – Janelle Reardon, Jonatha & Harold Wright (Water) and Joyce Geary – break into three groups for an hour to create themed programs from scratch then each team has 20 minutes to present a portion and concepts of their program
Janelle provided a quick review of some aspects of story/program creation.
• Taking into account Maslow’s Hierarcy of Needs as appropriate for particular audience demographics and in the context of the venue as well as within the stories & program choices
• Choosing a topic and developing a theme statement around which to build the program
• Exploring tangibles and intangibles
• Addressing different learning styles
• Conflict/crisis and resolution for each story and the program as a whole
• Defining goals and objectives (especially important for a resource or a school system)

Three groups formed to create programs based on the TOPICS: Water, Fire, Air. Each group was asked to: Describe their audience, create a theme statement, and outline a program that worked together to deliver the message of the theme statement.
• Water: Johnatha and Harold Wright & team
Ken, Kathryn,
o Ocean (topic)
o Ocean, their mythic past to their unknown future (theme)
o General audience
o Goal is to inspire participants to greater knowledge of endangered oceans and their importance for our future.
o Stories/segments

1. Mother Turtle – Ken told a version of the Earth on Turtle’s back
2. European belief in sea monsters
3. Polynesian explorers and their navigation techniques
4. A story of a tragedy and how it can be turned around
5. Other comments, connectors:
6. Scientific inclusion: diversity before man’s interference as found in Galapagos Island, Darwin’s writings.
7. Kathryn commented on man’s inability to recognize something outside his experience: Clipper ships seen as “shadows” needing interpretation
8. Europeans exploiting the oceans
9. Kathryn, polar bear story about mother bear’s inability to return to the ice floe where she left her cubs
10. Jonatha – Eco-Hero story needs to be found for the topic

o Ended with choral reading of a list of ocean-related topics, such as death of coral reefs, dead zones…
• Fire: Joyce Geary and team
Eric Wolf, Reesa, Kevin Cordi
o Fire (topic)
o Fire as friend, fire as foe (theme)
o Audience – 4 & 5 years old
o Goal: Helping children understand fire
o Stories/segments

1. Pele story (Hawaii) Eric
2. Snail brings Fire into the World -- Sally Crandall
3. Fire can start small: Cleveland Browns Practice Stadium – Kevin Cordi

Note: Discussion of fictional stories in science education emerged. Fran said: “Sometimes it works, sometimes not.” A discussion of “talking animals” and mythology, spirits, etc., was tabled for later conversation if time permitted.

• Air: Janelle Reardon and team
Fran Stallings and Michael Kasony-O’Malley
o Air (topic)
o Air – the invisible gift (theme)
o Audience: General/Family
o Goal: Bring a greater understanding of the importance of clean air to the audience
o Stories/segments (with an effort to structure the stories/message in Elizabeth Ellis’ excellent pattern (ha-ha, aha, ahh, amen)

1. Introduction by “Snake oil Salesman” – Trying to sell air (empty hand extended), but no one wants to buy it—they can’t see it.
2. Gluskabe and the Wind Eagle (Bruchac & Caduto, Keepers of the Earth)
3. Create something that relates to Kathryn’s story of sharing breath with a horse, or Michael’s reference to a gift received from the last breath of a dying person
4. Just Enough Rain (praying for good crops—forgot to pray for wind)
5. Hero story about the clean air act (to be researched)
6. “Snake oil Salesman” reports to boss about his lack of customers – Boss says “That’s o.k., I decided just to give it away for free.”

5 p.m. – Dinner Break –
An excellent vegetarian chili provided by a Yellow Springs restaurant was supplemented by salad and items from the pot luck.

7 p.m. – Tecumseh Land Trust Fundraiser
Held at Antioch College (Location?)
Storytellers:
Kevin Cordi, Fran Stallings, Jonatha Wright, Harold Wright, Michael Kasony-O’Malley, Eric (Brother) Wolf, Lisa Homes, Joyce Geary, Sally Crandall, Janelle Reardon
The concert was recorded. CD’s will provide a fundraising resource for the Tecumseh Land Trust. Participating storytellers will be able to purchase them at a deep discount for their own use.