A Cloud of Trash - Audio Story Activity Page
This activity page is part of an effort to enrich students’ language learning experiences by leveraging the power of digital audio stories as a pedagogical tool. Click here to know more.
Introduction
A cloud of trash is hanging over Cheekoo’s head, making her the unhappiest girl in the world. Listen to this wonderful story to find out how Cheekoo gets rid of this horrible trash cloud.
Story source link: https://storyweaver.org.in/en/stories/11166-a-cloud-of-trash
Audio Story Link
Themes: Pollution, Socio-Emotional Learning, Learning from mistakes, health and hygiene, Vocabulary
Suitable for: Higher Primary class 4, 5, 6, 7,
Learning Objectives:
- Students listen to and try to comprehend the audio story
- Students are able to engage in a conversation about Cheeku’s actions and how to avoid making the same mistakes based on the story
- Students are able to think creatively and express verbally / on paper
- Students make connections to their own life and share their thoughts/experiences
- Students feel confident to talk about what they didn’t like/ like about the story, how the story/ discussion made them feel
Here are some ways in which you can take this story to your classroom:
Pre-Listening Activities
Before diving into the audio story, engage your students with these/ similar activities designed to build their listening skills and focus.
- Total Physical Response (TPR) Activity – Ask the students to enact out the different scenes and actions in the story as you narrate it - [Ask students to visualize it in their minds and express what they are feeling through their expressions and/or body language]
- Show students a set of pictures related to the story – ask them what they can see? How do the pictures make them feel?
- Introduce some basic vocabulary related to the story theme
During-Listening Activities
As students listen to the audio story, keep them engaged with these interactive activities.
- Pause and discuss:
- Pause the story at strategic points to ask questions after –
- what happens next,
- what do you think was the cause
- how would they feel if they were cheeku
- what do you think she should do?
- Ask students to draw certain parts of the story
- Pause the story at strategic points to ask questions after –
- Pause and discuss:
Post-Listening Activities
After students have listened to the audio story, reinforce their understanding and extend their learning with these activities.
- Story Re-telling Divide the class into small groups and have each group retell the story in their own words. Provide prompts or story maps to help students organize their thoughts.
- Story elements mindmap
- Display the mindmap and ask students to provide responses for the different bubbles.
- Challenge students to create alternate endings for the story.
- encourage them to think about the reasons behind certain actions or behaviours of the characters in the story.
[Click here for more post-listening activity suggestions]
Note: Sometimes discussing feelings and emotions can trigger some negative thoughts among students. Make sure you are conscious of the discussions that are happening among students. More importantly, efforts should be made to help students learn how to express their emotions in a healthy way
Connecting to the textbook
Since the story is about nature and concept of pollution (and learning from one’s mistakes), we can connect it to the following lessons:
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Additional Resources
- Link to same audio story/activity page in Kannada
- Link to same audio story/activity page in Urdu