CULLMAN, Ala. – Young learners at Cullman City Primary School channeled the Oktoberfest spirit late last week, as the school hosted a special Oktoberfest StoryWalk in the Outdoor Learning Center at the campus for students from kindergarten through second grade.
The event was built around the Cullman Oktoberfest book, “The Magical Adventures of Hans & Frieda Hay.”
“A StoryWalk takes the pages of a book and displays them along a walking path, allowing students to move from page to page while reading the story and completing fun, interactive activities along the way,” Hilary Nix, media specialist at Cullman City Primary School, explained. “We thought this would be a great way to celebrate Cullman’s Oktoberfest while bringing reading to life!”
Students walked the StoryWalk path with their teachers, reading “The Magical Adventures of Hans & Frieda Hay” along the way.
“The story introduces them to the history and culture of Cullman, including John Cullmann leading families by train to their new home,” Nix said. “Along the way, Hans and Frieda visit familiar Cullman landmarks such as Sacred Heart Church, Ave Maria Grotto, Clarkson Covered Bridge, the old train depot, the Cullman County Museum, local restaurants and, of course, Cullman Oktoberfest.”
Each stop featured an interactive activity tied to that part of the story. Nix explained that projects like this combine literacy with local history and social studies while also incorporating movement and active learning. Students practice listening comprehension, sequencing, making connections between a story and real places, following directions and learning new vocabulary.
“But most importantly, it gives them a fun way to learn more about the history and culture of their own hometown while building excitement about reading,” she said.
