The Magic of Storytelling in Science Education:
A Look at Renée Bandes’ Innovative Approach
As an experienced educator and environmental activist, I’ve always felt a deep-rooted passion for teaching the next generation how to become better stewards of their environment. This passion has led me to create innovative science education programs that have been transforming the way children learn about and engage with science.
Over 20 years ago, I had the idea to write my first book, The Day the Sun Forgot to Wake, which then grew into a series of Little Laurie’s Science Stories. These stories are written to answer the questions that children often pose as they try to make sense of the world around them, and they are designed for kids between toddler and 2nd grade. Each book includes an engaging story and a related age-appropriate science experiment that the kids can do at home. For educators, each story is associated with relevant NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) standards, providing a way to align the story with classroom learning objectives.
To bring Little Laurie to life, I partnered with Michael Evans, a child development specialist and science blogger. Together, we decided to expand upon my original vision of science themes for early learners. This led to the creation of the Ninja Née Science Education Program, a program designed to introduce STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts to children by coupling immersive storytelling with exciting hands-on science experiments and activities.
The Ninja Née program follows the story of a young ninja who decides that magical thinking should be backed by ninja science. She encounters challenges, both everyday and imaginative, and she solves them using scientific principles. Each kit in the program provides an activity plan that teachers or parents can follow, making every Ninja Née event simple to host. The activity plan includes step-by-step instructions and story-based prompts that pair seamlessly with the included science experiments. These science lesson plans align with NGSS standards, helping educators create exciting lessons while fulfilling curriculum requirements.
Collaborating on Ninja Née and Little Laurie’s Science Stories, I’ve combined my experiences as an environmentalist and Earth Science teacher with Michael’s expertise in child development. Our shared passion for inspiring and empowering young minds has fueled the creation of these innovative science education programs.
As a high school Earth Science and AP Environmental teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful storytelling can be in the science classroom. When students are engaged in a story, they are not just passively receiving information; they are actively imagining scenarios, asking questions, and seeking answers. This active engagement helps them to better understand and remember the science concepts that are being taught.
I believe that storytelling is a vital tool for science education. By weaving together narrative and scientific principles, we can create engaging learning experiences that spark curiosity, foster understanding, and inspire a love of science in our children. Our future stewards of the earth deserve nothing less!
