An exploration of action-based storytelling

Portus, Rosamund

Abstract

This project was inspired by research in neuroscience and psychology showing that we need to transform environmental storytelling, moving away from stories focused on awareness raising, to ones which develop people’s capacity for action. We explored how this knowledge might be applied in an environmental education context, developing a model for action-based storytelling in the classroom and examining how this supports children’s engagement in and sense of agency over environmental issues.
To examine this, we ran nine workshops focused on action-based storytelling in primary schools. Drawing on conversations and surveys conducted with participating children, we will show how children expressed enthusiasm for further environmental learning, and reported increased levels of agency and intentions to engage with pro-environmental actions.
Through sharing this research, we will advocate that environmental education needs to centre stories which support children to engage with relevant actions. Linked to this, we share an adaptable model for action-based storytelling.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Australian Association for Environmental Education Biennial Conference
• Start Date: Aug 13, 2025
• End Date: Aug 13, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Jun 14, 2025
• Deposit Date: Aug 13, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14816972
• Related Public URLs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRXfCy_228&t=1s