Lesson #70: Things We Carry “Olympic Torch” - Martha Cooney
Happy New Year! We are so excited to share this first blog of 2025 and it is our 70th blog post! If it is your first time reading the blog or 70th thank you so much for being a part of our Moth Education Community.
This month’s Storytelling School story is:
“Olympic Torch” by Martha Cooney
- Watch the video.
- You can read the transcript of Marha’s story here.
After you’ve watched and read the story, you can do the following activities:
Talk to each other about Martha’s story.
For each post, we’ll highlight a different crafting strategy for how to make your story compelling. For this post, we’ll focus on finding space.
2-3 Discussion questions:
What context does Martha give us that helps us understand what’s at stake in this story?- What does she have to win or lose?
Martha does an amazing job of building anticipation throughout. Did you notice you were holding your breath as you listened? What choices did Martha make that heightened that feeling?
How does she set up the stakes as a new person at the camp?
At The Moth, we believe in celebrating the diversity and commonality of human experience. Often, listening to someone’s story will remind us of a story from our own lives. While you almost definitely have not had Martha’s exact experience, it still may have reminded you of a story from your life. Get inspired by these prompt questions to tell your own story!
- Tell us about a time felt like a fist out of water
- Tell us about a time were the new person
- Tell us about a time felt pressure
- Tell us about a time were confident
- Tell us about a time that you left home
- Tell us about a time went to camp
- Tell us about a time watched the Olympics
- Tell us about a time you panicked
- Tell us about a time you did archery
- Tell us about a time had a boss
- Tell us about a time something that wasn't supposed to happen, happened
ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS BASED ON STORY CONTENT/ PRINCIPLE
- Celebrating YOU! Make a list of all the times you were brave - when you were afraid or unsure and did something anyway, took a leap of faith. Nothing is too small! Like, perhaps you switched toothpaste brands and found a new one you liked better. Once you think your list is done, add one more. We do brave things every day.
- Has there ever been a moment when someone says the opposite of what you think they’re going to say? There were a couple moments when Marhat thought she was in trouble but she actually wasn’t. Complete this sentence for yourself: I thought ____ would happen, but what happened instead was _____. A story lies in between your expectations and the reality.
Share this post with a friend!
And check back the second Tuesday of every month for another story.
Storyteller bio
MARTHA COONEY is a Philadelphia native and the founder and director of StoryUP! (storyupphilly.com), which uses comedy and storytelling to inspire kids. Martha performs as a comedian and storyteller around Philadelphia. You can find her comic strip Produce High, about fruits and vegetables in high school, @producehigh on Instagram.
The Moth Education Program works with young people and educators to build community through storytelling workshops, performances and innovative resources.
We are always looking for more young people and educators to join our storytelling workshops! To learn more, apply for a workshop, or refer someone you know, please go to themoth.org/education
The Moth Education Program is made possible by generous support from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Charitable Trust, the Kate Spade New York Foundation, and Alice Gottesman, and The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation.
Additional program support is provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the New York State Council on the Arts, ConEdison, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.