Record a short audio interview with a family member about a memorable moment, with permission, edit briefly, and submit your story to StoryCorps.org.



Step-by-step guide to share your story with StoryCorps.org
Step 1
Pick a family member you would like to interview.
Step 2
Ask that person for permission to record their story.
Step 3
Decide together on one memorable moment to talk about.
Step 4
Write five simple questions in your notebook to help tell the story.
Step 5
Find a quiet room to use for the interview.
Step 6
Do a quick practice by asking one question out loud.
Step 7
Start the recording on your device.
Step 8
Introduce the recording by saying your name the interviewee's name and the date.
Step 9
Conduct the interview by asking your five questions one at a time.
Step 10
Say thank you to the interviewee when the story is finished.
Step 11
Stop the recording.
Step 12
Replay the audio and write down any places you want to trim or fix.
Step 13
With an adult's help edit the audio to trim the spots you marked and save the final version with a short title that includes the interviewee's first name and the date.
Step 14
Ask an adult to help submit your story to StoryCorps.org following their submission steps.
Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!


Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a separate audio recorder?
Use a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a built-in mic (and earbuds) to Start the recording on your device and later replay the audio for editing.
What should we do if the audio is noisy or you forget to say names and the date?
If the room is noisy, move to a quieter room and close doors or windows before you Start the recording, and if you forget the introduction, stop and say your name, the interviewee's name, and the date then trim the mistake when you replay the audio.
How can I adapt this interview for younger or older children?
For younger children, have them write three simple questions in their notebook and ask an adult to press Start/Stop and help submit to StoryCorps.org, while older kids can write five detailed questions, practice, edit the audio themselves, and save the final version with a short title that includes the interviewee's first name and the date.
How can we make the story more special or add to it before sharing?
Enhance the project by adding a short written intro or a photo to go with the audio, creating simple cover art with the interviewee's first name and the date, then save the edited file with that title and Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to share your story with StoryCorps.org
Facts about oral history and interviewing for kids
⏱️ A typical StoryCorps interview is about 40 minutes long, but shorter clips and excerpts are common.
🏛️ Many StoryCorps interviews are archived at the Library of Congress so future generations can hear them.
👪 Recording family stories helps kids practice listening and preserves memories that can last for decades.
🎧 StoryCorps and other storytelling projects encourage simple edits so a short, clear audio clip can be shared.
🎙️ StoryCorps was founded in 2003 to help everyday people record and share personal stories.


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