Story Based Learning

The Anne Frank Project delivers professional development opportunities in Story-Based Learning for K-12 and Higher Education teachers.  These training experiences focus on integrating kinesthetic learning with classroom curriculum to support and build the socio-emotional wellbeing of students and teachers.

“Story-Based Learning taps into the very soul of teaching—what we need and want most as educators is to foster trust and relationships with and amongst our students.”

Western New York High School English Teacher

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The Anne Frank Project offers a variety of Story-Based Learning options for students, teachers, schools, and systems.

  • Teachers in training with the Anne Frank Project

    Teacher Training

    SEMESTER-LONG RESIDENCIES

    Professional development in our Story-Based Learning curricular platform that provides tangible tools for classroom applications benefiting student learning and improving classroom culture.

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  • Students at Lafayette High School watching a play by the Anne Frank Project

    School Tours

    K-12 AND HIGHER ED

    Buffalo State student created, performed and toured plays focus on the most pressing issues impacting our young people today. Performances are always supported by interactive workshops.

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  • Holocaust survivor, Sophia Veffer, speaking ay AFP event

    Sophia's Legacy

    SEMESTER-LONG RESIDENCIES

    Exposes working educators to the multiple lessons from the Holocaust, other Genocides, and current conflicts, and provides tools to bring these lessons into their schools and classrooms

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We provide teachers with tools and vocabulary to bring the power of Story-Based Learning into their classrooms and schools.

Story-Based Learning is an innovative, kinesthetic curricular platform with a primary objective of bringing the academic lessons from the student’s brains to their hearts using their bodies.  This approach is designed to simultaneously teach the academic lesson while also addressing the multiple socio-emotional needs of students; student’s feelings are essential partners to their thinking.  Students gain agency in their learning process by engaging fully in community building, conflict management, and identity exploration.

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Testimonials

  • "Story Based Learning provides a framework for illuminating student voice and fostering classroom connection centered on story. Story-based learning allows the classroom to evolve into a community that demonstrates concern for each other, holds each other accountable, and allows students to leave the classroom feeling interconnected with a profound sense of belonging. "

    Western New York High School Teacher

  • "Story-Based Learning is a very good approach. When students are motivated and engaged in the lesson, they participate highly, produce good productivity, and good performance. Stories are the key to the best learning. It is the key to where children and teachers can express themselves and share their feelings. Stories matter."

    Remy Paul Dushine, Language Teacher
    Urukundo Learning Center, Muhanga, Rwanda

  • "Since we have started using Story-Based Learning, our staff is able to help many different students with social or family problems. So, they can improve their performance work. It became easier than before. They are active and present. Story-Based Learning increased the connection and relationship between the teacher and students. Students love school."

    Viateur Ngiruwonsanga, School Headmaster
    Urukundo Learning Center, Muhanga, Rwanda

  • "Approaching the classroom as a collaboration between the teacher and the students feels like good work and bringing practices into the classroom that harness our power to be present and to respond instead of reacting, all of this feels like big profound steps in the right direction."

    Adult Education Teacher

  • “SBL provides such a unique framework for delivering content while also tending to the socio-emotional needs of both our students and ourselves as teachers. Teachers have socio-emotional needs, too! Our time in the classroom with our students should always be student-centered, but many of us unfortunately are walking into classrooms having not gotten the socio-emotional learning we needed, and this work addresses those needs.”

    Journey's End Refugee Services, ESOL Teacher

DIVEDEEPER

The Anne Frank Project provides additional story-based learning opportunities for you and your students.

Students at the Social Justice Festival from the Anne Frank Project
A young woman with a ponytail, wearing a red sleeveless top with white flowers, sitting at a round table, writing in a notebook with a pink pen, surrounded by water bottles and a smartphone.

SOCIAL JUSTICE FESTIVAL

Three days of interactive workshops, performances, and art that teaches tools and vocabulary to improve the world’s stories. Annual academic ritual at Buffalo State University, free and open to the community.

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RESOURCES

We’ve compiled a resource library to help you learn more about Story-Based Learning, Social Justice and Genocide Education, and the original works of the Anne Frank Project.

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