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Let's make history…by recording it - StoryCorps & TED Prize

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

What if Anne Frank hadn’t kept a diary? What if no one could listen to Martin Luther King’s Mountaintop speech? What if the camera hadn’t been rolling during the first moon landing? Actively listening to the voices of the past and the people who matter to us is important, and StoryCorps wants you to lend your voice to history, too. Here's how.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

The goal of StoryCorps is to provide every person of any background or belief the opportunity to not only tell their story, but share and preserve it for future generations. How did this idea get started and why is it such an important goal? This TED Talk: Everyone around you has a story the world need to hear by founder Dave Isay tells the story of StoryCorps. What a wonderful opportunity to share, learn and grow.

But, how do you tell a story? Any ideas? This TED Talk playlist: How to tell a story, may just give you some hints. Harvard Business Review: How to Tell a Great Story also provides great clues on captivating your audience and telling the tale you want to share. NPR's Scott Simon's, How to Tell a Story is a short, concise summary of the elements of successful storytelling.

The Great Thanksgiving Listen will allow StoryCorps to capture an entire generation of American lives and experiences through the use of their downloadable app. Your job is to help StoryCorps make history by taking the time to listen, talk and record your elders, then share it on their site. NPR's Morning Edition talks about The Great Thanksgiving Listen here. So after eating that delicious dinner and being thankful for all that you have, take a look around that table and start a conversation with your grandparents, a great aunt or uncle, or any older person in your life. Start with some questions like these suggested from StoryCorps. Ask those questions and use that StoryCorps app to capture the moment. Share the wisdom of your family's elders with the rest of the world. You never know how far their story may go and who it may inspire!

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Patrick Smith
  • Composer Stephen LaRosa
  • Sound Designer Weston Fonger
  • Narrator Gary Frank

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