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Stories chosen by 1st Class | StoryLab for film research
2013-01-24

Stories chosen by 1st Class

I am pleased that the device of a museum of stories has worked in respect that the stories the children chose in the three classes are illuminating as to who they are and what is important to them. Perhaps most so in the 1st class where they were at a stage to be a bit more independent, while also supported and yet challenged by their teacher. And also, perhaps, because of a couple of events that happened just before we began work which then fed into it. The stories they chose were:

Scéal faoi chairdeas - a story about friendship - before we started work, their teacher talked to them about how parents had reported a child was being left out in the school yard, that some children had been heard warning others that if they played with this child they would not be invited to a birthday party. The teacher talked through this with them, encouraging empathy and generosity.

Scéal Daidaí na Nollag agus rudolf it was coming up to christmas so, of course, Santa and Rudolf were important, but I think it is fair to say they have an importance all year round at this age.

Scéal faoi chapall The teacher noted, that in their earlier discussions about stories earlier in the week, a lot of them featured animals and particularly children’s relationships with them. This was clear also in one of the senior infant classes.

Scéal Sióige na bhfiacla - as the children came in that morning one proudly showed her teacher a letter she had received (In Irish!) from the tooth fairy when her tooth was collected the night before. The teacher read it out.

Scéal snámha san fharraige - this story seemed concerned with drowning (and being saved ?) as well as, simply, swimming.

Scéal daoine bhochta - a story where someone poor is crying and someone rich comes and offers their own house to them to live in while the rich person goes on holidays, and when the rich person comes back they give the poor person lots of money.

OZ - This film is important to my daughter for the past couple of years too (she is now six). There are quite frightening witches but the little girl and her friends defeat them (albeit largely accidentally and comically) they go on an adventure seeking someone who can solve all their problems and instead of an all powerful being find someone as small and confused as themselves, using trickery to maintain power. But he proves wise in the end, advising that all that she and her friends sought was within their own powers of realization. The refrain "There’s no place like home" brings Dorothy back to her loving family (who she had mistaken as not loving her), back to reality, to wake from the dream. A dream of metaphors for life? Of escape from reality, to return, refreshed to meet its challenges? A lone child hero; Magic; Good and bad witches; Friends; Adventure; A castle, a journey: it contains classic elements. And her black and white world turns techni-coloured.

An Cháisc - starring the easter bunny of course. The Easter bunny also featured in one of the senior infant classes.

Scoil Lorcáin - a story about their interpretation of something from the school’s history. It recently celebrated its 60th birthday.

Scéal linbh Íosa

Scéal scanrúil / Oíche Shamhna