data storytelling isn’t only for grown ups
In under two years, we've helped more than fifteen thousand elementary school students across nineteen US states and eight countries build confidence collecting, visualizing, and interpreting data.
Critical thinking and clear communication are skills that don’t need to wait until adulthood. Helping people make sense of information and present it effectively is at the heart of what we do at storytelling with data, and we love sharing our mission with kids through Daphne Draws Data.
As SWD’s Education and Outreach Specialist, I’ve had the privilege of helping bring this work to light. In this post, I'll share a quick update on what we've accomplished since publication, and how you can help us reach the next 15,000 kids.
By partnering with nonprofits, after-school organizations, libraries, museums, and STEM-focused education groups, we’ve created hands-on graphing experiences that help kids collect data, draw graphs, and interpret what they discover. To support continued learning beyond these programs, we’ve donated nearly 9,000 books to underserved communities and Title I schools. Reach out to hellodaphne@storytellingwithdata.com to learn more about our programs and book donations.
And the impact goes beyond kids.
One of the most rewarding outcomes has been helping educators, nonprofit leaders, program coordinators, and parents learn the same core data storytelling lessons we teach business professionals: choosing an appropriate graph, removing clutter, focusing attention, and communicating through story. These skills help them advocate for funding, secure resources, and demonstrate the impact of their work.
This year, we expanded beyond books and graphing programs with the launch of the interactive Daphne Draws Data exhibit. Kids contribute their own data in real time, compare their responses with those of their peers, and see how their input becomes part of a larger story. The exhibit is currently in the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, with hopes to expand to additional museums and science centers.
Another major driver of our reach has been our enthusiastic Data Detective leaders, who bring graphing with Daphne programs to their local communities. Using our pre-developed program resources, these volunteers teach kids how to answer their curious questions by collecting and drawing data.
If this mission resonates, you can get involved:
Become a Data Detective leader and share Daphne with kids near you. Join the dozens of people who’ve conducted programs in their community by reading the book and guiding kids through a graphing activity. We provide the resources, and you teach kids a powerful skill while enhancing your own data communication skills.
Share Daphne’s Educator Hub with your local school district, museum, or after-school organization, and introduce us to contacts who are interested in our programs.
Share ideas for new resources and content that can support elementary educators and students, simply email hellodaphne@storytellingwithdata.com.
Together, we can help kids build confidence with data and skills that will serve them for life!
