
In 1988, NASA’s top climate scientist James Hansen warned the world that global warming was here and worsening. Hansen regrets not being “able to make this story clear enough for the public.”
Storytelling is an essential component of science and engineering, especially in today’s world. Not surprisingly, it is also an essential component of students’ learning. We are all insatiably drawn to stories – we read books, watch TV, go to the movies, and make up own stories.
Students need storytelling woven into their science learning to promote emotional connection, meaning, and purpose.

Throughout every area of NGSS we can include storytelling to engage students, cultivate meaning-making, support English language development, and generate a creative learning environment.
Register now for our upcoming Institute and be part of our amazing story about educators coming together to collaboratively learn, create, and support one another.
Read on for Sample Science Story Prompts:

- A story that starts with a mystery to initiate our heroes – our students – into the quest of learning. The mystery is a phenomenon that our heroic scientists engage with in awe and wonder…
- A story where our heroic scientists assume the role of detectives. Data is a riddle that must be interpreted by a Sherlock Holmes of science. Like Holmes, we turn a whole wall into a visual display full of clues to interpret…
- The story of our universe is complex, with many unexpected twists and turns. Our stories need rewriting as we follow the twists and turns. Our heroic scientists must develop superpowered thinking to rewrite their stories about phenomena…
- In any good story, the hero becomes an orator, stands their ground, and inspires others by making a claim. The villain may want to refute their claim, in which case the hero must be ready to convince everyone with evidence and reasoning…
(Each story prompt is a narrative telling of a workshop you will experience at the Institute!)
Register for STEAM Institute
Dates: Two-day training on Saturday, February 25 and March 4, 2023
Time: 9am – 3:30pm
Location: UC San Diego Park & Market in Downtown San Diego, 1100 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
For: K through 5th Grade Educators (but all grade level teachers are welcome!)
STEAM Institute Sponsors
Thank you to our CoTA STEAM Institute Sponsors!
Lead Sponsor: The Conrad Prebys Foundation
STEAM Institute Partner and Venue: The UC San Diego Department of Education and Community Outreach at the Division of Extended Studies
Rehearsal Space Sponsor: BK2 Cultural Center by Bilingual Kids
