Narrative design in practice. The children search for information about space travel and our solar system to help a mysterious but sweet space creature; the creature has accidentally ended up on earth, er, in school and wants to go home!
The ‘letters’ in this article are sample notes. They are written in ‘alien’ Dutch and can be adapted to the reactions of the children and the course of the story. The children can ‘translate’ the notes and they can pick out misspelled words to teach ‘Ofu’. In the subsequent notes, those words should of course be spelled correctly by Ofu. Furthermore, the notes could also be written in English, or in secret, to arouse the interest of the children. Also, because Ofu’s spelling is so bad, it makes sense for the kids that he can’t just get his information from books. They have to process that information to make it clear to Ofu.
After each ‘note’ a group discussion follows, in which the questions become clear and the children make plans. It is also agreed when and for how long the ‘relief action’ can be worked on.
At the bottom of this article are a few examples of possible ‘incidents’, to add some extra tension to the story.
Sites for children about space include; ‘Sterrenkids.nl’ and ‘Artis.nl/webuil’. There are also many links on ‘space.yurls.net’.
Episode 1: “Ofu” lost in our solar system
During the morning break, the children find all kinds of strange objects in the sandbox. (technical items: buttons, lights, etc.) There is also a bottle, wrapped in aluminum foil, with a rolled-up note (written with glitter gel, or, as in the photo, with permanent marker on a ring binder cover). For example, it says:
- What does Ofu ask of us?
- What do we need to help Ofu?
- What do we need to find out and how can we make it clear to him?
- What does our solar system look like?
- Could Ofu make a stopover on the sun?
- How can we show Ofu this?
- How can we let him know where our class is in the school?
- Who does what?
- Collecting together: books about our solar system, websites about our solar system, craft materials.
- Freeing up a place together where Ofu can study at night! (Clear the bulletin board, etc.)
Episode 2: Ofu asks questions about space travel
There’s a new note on the bulletin board! There are also traces of Ofu’s presence! (Blanket, notes, food scraps, etc.)
- How do people fly in space?
- Are there different types of ‘missiles’?
- What else flies / floats in space?
- What might Ofu need when he makes his UFO?
- Collect information about missiles.
- Do experiments with ‘air rocket’?
Episode 3: The UFO is ready! Of you ask questions about astronauts
- What exactly does Ofu ask?
- How can we find out what astronauts look like?
- How can we show this to Ofu?
- How do astronauts survive in space?
- What should we tell Ofu about this?
Episode 4: Of you want to make a stopover on the moon
- What do we all know about our moon?
- Could he make a stopover there?
- How can we find out more?
- How are we going to pass this information on to Ofu?
Episode 5: Ofu says goodbye
- What will Ofu do now?
- How can we view the moon?
- How can we show our ‘mother ship’ what we know about space?
Project closure
A presentation or an exhibition could be organized by the children. A booklet could be made with copied notes from Ofu and the drawings and papers the children made. Then they can tell at home about what they have learned about space. Excursions, borrowing material or inviting someone to school is of course all possible.
Incidents
Or you found drawings at night in a kindergarten group, would the toddlers have seen him or does he just happen to look like one? Could the kids in the ‘handsome class’ also make up what he looks like? He may of course not ‘let it go’, because that is strictly forbidden on his planet; no one should see Ofu!
Rumors of an alien run through the school! The notes may be read. Ofu is very afraid that he will be discovered and suddenly writes his notes in mirror writing. The children are absolutely not allowed to talk about him in the schoolyard and in the hallways or very softly!
There is a report about a UFO in the (school) newspaper! Strange lights have been seen above the school at night! Of you have indeed tried his UFO, but ask the children to come up with something to fool the people; they must think it was something else!