Cross-Generational
Storytelling
Cindy Smith and Judy Kay Thurston
What happens when
you combine senior
citizens, pre-service art
teachers, and elementary students? Cross-generational
connections based on sharing memories, ideas, skills, laughter, tears, and
creativity.
This project was initiated when a
group of Central Michigan University (CMU) pre-service art teachers
were asked if they would like to volunteer to make original handmade
books honoring the childhood memories of the Isabella County Medical
Care Facility (ICMCF) residents. In
addition, six third- and fourth-grade
classes from Mount Pleasant schools
were asked to exchange their handmade books with the senior citizens.
The cross-generational book
exchange project was presented to
Art Reach of Mid Michigan, a nonprofit community arts organization,
and ICMCF to see if they would provide financial support. Both institutions readily agreed to support the
project.
Because of the seniors’ physical limitations, the CMU students served
as scribes and illustrators for their
memories. Once completed, the students and seniors met to assemble
the finished books.
Senior Citizens’ Books
The pre-service art educators from
CMU interviewed the participating
senior citizens in order to become
better
acquainted
and to
learn the
stories and
childhood
adventures
they would like to share. Then they
taught the seniors how to marble
paper. Together they created beautiful marbled paper for the covers.
Elementary Students’ Books
Teachers and students at Vowles Ele-
mentary worked together to create
text for the books. The books shared
memorable
times, such
as a favorite
birthday, or
even their
worst day
ever. This
book exchange gave them the opportunity to share these experiences
and emotions with caring senior
citizens. Students used a wet-on-
This book exchange gave students
the opportunity to share these
experiences and emotions with
caring senior citizens.
