Storytelling is something that we all need: both teachers and students have a story to explain. That is why we created this project, to help them being creative when storytelling.

Story cards are a collection of ten plywood cards with images printed of a story setting and objects. They are stored in a portable bag to bring from one class to the other.

The best part is when we are using the Story Cards in class, the students respond positively and create some very engaging and funny stories. If you want to know how to do them... keep reading!✨

Supplies

Plywood: https://amzn.to/3VMcXhT

Laser Cutter: https://amzn.to/3CU8AcY

Step 1: Design the Story Cards in Canva

Canva is an online resource to design anything we need: from posters to videos, and even vector graphics that can be exported as .svg files!

We start by creating our cards, with the style we would like, bearing in mind what we want to be cut, and the parts we would like to be engraved.

IMPORTANT TIP!

Download the design in .svg.

You can use this link as a template.

Step 2: Draw the Lines in Inkscape

Once you've designed the cards, we can use Inkscape to add the additional lines that we need to tell the laser cutter to cut/engrave.

If we want to cut, we will use the red colour for the lines.

If we want to engrave, we will use the black colour.

In the case that you have chosen a design from one of the design repositories, remember to export it to a .SVG or equivalent format.

Step 3: Cut the Story Cards

Now it's time to send the design to the laser cut machine. The software to do this depends on the machine we will be using. For this machine, you can use the K40 whisperer.

For example, you can work with a plywood of 3 or 4 mm, with which you can use these parameters for your machine:

CUT (red color in the design) you can lower the cutting speed in the program to 5 mm/if you fix the laser power on the machine to the 40%. If you want, you can make a couple of passes to guarantee the cut

ENGRAVED (black color in the design) you can increase the speed to 200 or 300 mm/if you fix the laser power on the machine between 10% and 20%

IMPORTANT TIP!

Remember to keep an eye on it as it works and never leave it alone.

Step 4: Time to Play!

Now it's time to start playing with it!

Here are some examples of games that we can use our story cards with:

1. Once Upon a Time...

You get each student to place the cards facing down and turn two up, then they must link all the pictures together through the use of a spontaneous story. When playing with family and friends take turns as the storyteller. Begin with ‘Once Upon a Time’ and tell a story that links together all 2 face-up images. Start with the first image to grab their attention. Turn 2 cards for the beginning, two for the middle and two for the end of the story. There is one rule: there are no wrong answers.

2. Review grammar forms

If you have been focusing on grammar in your class, you can use the story cards to help creatively review the key grammar from the lesson. Pick three cards, and let the students decide which one they will be using. Then in pairs or groups, get students to write their own example of the grammar using the images on the card.

3. Random Discussion Topic

Choose a card to talk about a topic. For example, the topic could be ‘travel’, ‘aeroplanes’...

4. Presentation Topic

You could use the cards to prompt a presentation about a particular topic. A student selects one card, and then must prepare a presentation on it. Give students five to ten minutes to prepare and then they must talk to the class about it. If one student wishes to ask a question to the presenter, then they can at the end.

5. Rolling Story

Get students to sit in a circle facing each other with a table in the middle and you start with “Once Upon a Time there was a …” and you pick one card and then complete the sentence. Another student picks a different card, and then continues the story. Go round the class until all cards have been chosen. Get students to go back to their groups and then they must write the story, from memory, and then check vocabulary and difficult grammar as a class. Monitor and

6. Energy Treasure Hunt

Hide story cards representing different locations around the classroom or schoolyard. Provide students with a list of energy-related clues and challenges. They have to solve the clues and find the corresponding story cards. For example, a clue might lead them to the "Farm" story card, where they learn about renewable energy sources used in farming.

7. Animated Energy Comics

Encourage students to create animated energy comics using Canva. They can design comic panels showcasing energy-related scenarios in various locations like the airport, shop, or kitchen. The panels can be animated using Canva's animation features.

8. Renewable Energy Adventure

With the help of story cards, students can create a comic strip story where characters embark on an adventure to different locations like the sea, mountain, and castle to learn about renewable energy sources. They can incorporate micro:bit-controlled devices to showcase the practical applications of renewable energy.

9. Energy Efficiency Game

Design a game using the micro:bit that promotes energy efficiency in different settings such as a house, school, or bank. Students can program the micro:bit to display energy-related challenges on the LED matrix, and players must make choices to conserve energy and earn points.

10. Energy Superheroes

Assign each student an energy superhero character and ask them to create a comic strip using Canva. Each superhero can have a unique power related to energy conservation. Students can use the micro:bit to control LED lights or sound effects in their comic strip to enhance the superhero's powers.

11. Energy Showcase

Use Canva to design digital posters showcasing energy-related projects and initiatives in the primary classroom. Each poster can represent a different location like the airport, farm, or shop, and students can use the micro:bit to create interactive elements such as buttons or sensors to display additional information.

12. Energy Comic Exhibition

Organize an energy comic exhibition in the school where students showcase their Canva-created energy comics. Use the micro:bit to create interactive displays where viewers can press buttons or sensors to reveal additional content or animations related to energy concepts.

13. Energy Trading Game

Assign each student a story card representing a specific location. They become "energy traders" and must trade energy-related items with their classmates to create an energy-efficient community. For example, a student with the "House" card might trade energy-saving light bulbs with a student holding the "Shop" card in exchange for energy-efficient appliances.

14. Energy Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course in the classroom or outdoors, representing different locations from the story cards. Each location presents an energy-related challenge that students must overcome. For example, at the "Sea" location, students might have to navigate through a "polluted ocean" (represented by obstacles) by answering energy-related questions correctly.

15. Energy Charades

Write energy-related actions or concepts on separate cards, including ones related to the story cards' locations. Divide the class into teams. One student acts out the word or concept without speaking, while their team members guess. For example, if a student receives a card with "Airport," they might act out "fueling an airplane" to represent energy usage at the airport.

16. Energy Pictionary

Similar to Energy Charades, but instead of acting out, students draw energy-related words or concepts on paper or a whiteboard. Teammates have to guess the word within a time limit. For example, if a student receives the "Castle" story card, they might draw a "solar panel" to represent renewable energy used at castles.

17. Energy Memory Game

Create a memory game using pairs of cards, including story cards and energy-related concepts. Students take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find matching pairs. When a match is found, they explain the energy connection between the story card and the concept. For example, matching the "Bank" card with a card that says "Energy Conservation."

18. Energy Scavenger Hunt

Give each student a story card and ask them to find real-life examples of energy-related items or concepts related to their location. For instance, a student with the "Kitchen" card might find energy-efficient appliances or identify ways to reduce energy waste in the kitchen. Students can share their findings with the class.

You can also use this online resource to add more examples to the game: https://davebirss.com/storydice/

Step 5: Do You Want to Continue Storytelling?

If you would like to use this plywood project to create comics, you can follow this Instructables where you can create a collaborative comic and then bring it to life using Tinkercad, coding with micro:bit and 3D printing!

✨ And now, as the Jedi Master Yoda said:

it's time to pass on what you have learned! ✨