More than 100 young readers and their families joined the Vincennes University Education Department for its third annual Story Walk recently.
It was held near the Summers Center on the VU campus and brought The True Story of the Three Little Pigs to life through colorful displays and literacy stations created by VU Education majors. Children explored animal habitats, learned about germs, and discovered why food spoils — all while walking through the story outdoors.
The Story Walk is said to be a creative way to encourage early reading as well as respond to Indiana’s literacy crisis, where one in five third graders can’t read.
Lisa Miller, Associate Professor of Education and developer of VU’s Science of Reading program, says the setting helps literacy stick.
“You know, we, we spend a lot of time with our kids at the ball field. We spend a lot of times with our kids at parks, but we don’t really spend a lot of times outside doing literacy. ” she said. “So this is a way for our kids to actively engage in, in reading, hearing a story, being outside, moving, which we know kids love to do, and at the same time, we’re bringing to life literacy for them.”
The walk also featured a puppet show, petting zoo, and conservation display — with each child receiving a free book and goody bag.
