3C Institute
One-year online subscription to LifeStories for Kids 3-5, an evidence-based multimedia character education program that weaves together the best of psychological, artistic, and literary media.
This curriculum uniquely combines evidence-based practices for skill building with the art of storytelling.
LifeStories for Kids 3-5 guides 3rd through 5th grade classrooms to explore character, emotions, and social skills while also building academic skills.
LifeStories for Kids 3-5 is brought to life by nationally acclaimed storytellers Willy Claflin, Donna Washington, and Olga Loya.
LifeStories for Kids 3-5 explores a number of issues, character traits, and skills through the following stories:
Everything you need to deliver the program is available online, including:
Product samples:
Common Core State Standards alignment:
DeRosier, M. E. & Mercer, S. H. (2007). The Effectiveness of a Storytelling-Based Character Education Program. Journal of Research in Character Education, 5(2), 131-148.
Abstract:
To assess the effectiveness of the program for improving children’s social behavior, 1,975 students in 4 elementary schools in central North Carolina participated in a program evaluation.
Using a quasi-experimental design with covariate adjustment for initial differences, schools were randomly assigned either to the intervention or control groups. In the intervention group, all regular education teachers implemented parallel versions of the program (for grades K-2 and 3-5) as part of the school curriculum.
Students participating in the intervention experienced statistically significant improvements in social behavior as compared to students in the control group:
Discussion focuses on the effectiveness of LifeStories for Kids as a preventive, school-based character education program.
Willy Claflin
Willy Claflin is a master storyteller filled with a wealth of stories old and new, puppet monologues, and traditional and original songs. He is an international talent and winner of multiple awards, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and the American Library Association Notable Children’s Recording Award.
To learn more, visit Willy Claflin’s website.
Donna Washington
Donna Washington’s work has collected recognition ranging from a 2006 Storytelling World Award Winner, 2005 iParenting Media Excellent Product Award, and a 2005 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award, among other awards.
Donna is a beloved author and renowned storyteller who’s been entertaining audiences of all ages for more than a decade. Her dynamic vocal expression and physical portrayal of the tale transports listeners into the magic of the story.
To learn more, visit Donna Washington’s website.
Olga Loya
Olga Loya is a nationally recognized bilingual storyteller of exceptional talent. This Latina teller of tales is an author, performance artist, keynote speaker, and teacher, who has performed and taught workshops throughout the United States and Mexico.
Olga performs a large repertoire of family and personal stories with the goal of exploring the struggles and complexity of being bicultural; a Mexican-American in the United States.
To learn more, visit Olga Loya’s website.
Dr. Childress obtained her PhD in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to coming to 3C Institute, she served as a research associate and a postdoctoral fellow in the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill working on a longitudinal imaging study aimed at identifying the early markers of autism through behavioral and imaging methodologies. She has 19 years of autism research experience, during which she has examined the behavioral, personality, and cognitive characteristics of individuals with autism and their family members. Dr. Childress also has experience developing behavioral and parent report measurement tools, coordinating multi-site research studies, and collecting data from children and families. She has taught courses and seminars in general child development, autism, and cognitive development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.