The government of Uttar Pradesh places special emphasis on making the learning process at the nursery level (Balvatika) engaging and creative, strengthening the foundations of basic education. As part of the celebration of International Literacy Day, an event titled 'Come Listen and Tell a Story' will be organized across the state on September 8th.
During this event, children will not only listen to stories but also discuss them, answer questions, and create drawings inspired by the plots. This program will take place in all Anganwadi centers, nearby kindergartens, and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).
The goal of the event is to develop children's ability to listen and understand, as well as their ability to express their thoughts, fostering imagination and creative thinking through the use of stories as a teaching tool. The program was developed under the direction of the Director General of School Education, Monika Rani, with an emphasis on conducting diverse activities at the DIET level and incorporating local innovations into kindergarten activities.
In Anganwadi centers and kindergartens, according to the Balvatika kindergarten daily plan, a story session will follow the greeting and free play. This is when the 'Come Listen and Tell a Story' activity will be conducted. The selection of stories will be based on the children's age, using either large books available at the state level or local tales. Priority will be given to stories that convey a moral lesson to the children.
During the narration, children will not just be passive listeners; they will be asked questions related to the story and encouraged to answer in their own way. Both open and closed questions will be used so that children can not only understand the plot but also apply their imagination and thinking.
The activity will continue after the story concludes. Children will be provided with paper and paints to create drawings inspired by the story. The children will tell others about their drawings and share their thoughts related to the story. Instructions have been given regarding the careful preservation of the children's work and the display of their drawings for praise. This aims to give children an opportunity to express their creativity and boost their self-confidence.
Special events are also planned at the District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) as part of this campaign. New and innovative experiments relevant to local needs can be implemented here. Parents, Anganwadi workers, and academic resource specialists may be invited to participate alongside children from neighboring kindergartens. DIETs plan activities such as storytelling, discussions with children, and Q&A sessions, as well as storytelling sessions involving parents and teachers. Directors, Anganwadi workers, and relevant pedagogical staff will participate to ensure the program runs in all kindergartens.
The State Minister for Basic Education (with independent charge), Sandeep Singh, stated that the government links learning with joy and creativity to provide a strong foundation for basic education. According to him, such events promote language development, imagination, and self-expression in children.
Director General of School Education Monika Rani emphasized that storytelling is a natural medium for learning, thinking, and expressing one's thoughts. This initiative will help strengthen the foundation of literacy while stimulating children's creative thinking.