Designing Stories that Teach
NatGeo’s Kakek and the Reef of Many Children
I am currently involved in a project through the National Geographic Explorer-Educator Exchange titled Kakek and the Reef of Many Children. I serve as the National Geographic Educator for the project, working with National Geographic Explorer Brigitta Gunawan and Leni Siahaan, a teacher based outside of Jakarta.
Wayang puppetry was designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2008. Character shown: Kakek.
Together, we are creating a classroom performance that uses traditional Indonesian Wayang-style puppetry, art, and storytelling to help students learn about the ocean and, through it, the interconnectedness of all life.
The production will debut in Jakarta on December 3, brought to life by teachers and students who have adapted the materials into their own creative interpretation.
I designed the story framework and visual elements, including the script, characters, and puppets that form the foundation of the classroom experience.
While this work is independent of Story Preservation Initiative, the creative process reflects much of what guides SPI’s educational design — using narrative, art, and play to help students connect with science and culture in meaningful ways.
The project draws inspiration from UNESCO Ocean Literacy Principles, which emphasize our shared responsibility for the ocean and its vital role in sustaining life on Earth. Through story, imagery, and character, these principles become tangible for young learners, helping them see the ocean not as something distant, but as a living system they are part of and can help protect.
Parrotfish, gardeners of the sea
For me, the experience reaffirms a belief that runs through all of my work: that storytelling and imagination are among the most powerful tools we have to inspire curiosity, empathy, and care for the world around us. Whether through SPI’s Learning Lab or in classrooms across the globe, that remains the goal — to design stories that teach, and to teach through stories that endure.
Who We Are
Mary Kuechenmeister
National Geographic Educator
Mary is the Founder and Executive Director of Story Preservation Initiative, a nonprofit that records, preserves, and shares first-person narratives from individuals whose work and lives enrich our understanding of science, art, and culture. As a National Geographic Educator, she brings her storytelling approach to creative, classroom-based projects that connect young learners to the natural world through imagination, art, and voice.
Brigitta Gunawan
National Geographic Explorer
Based in Indonesia, Brigitta is a marine conservationist and educator dedicated to protecting ocean ecosystems and empowering youth through environmental education. She leads the 30x30 Indonesia movement and Coral Garden project, initiatives that promote ocean literacy and local stewardship through hands-on learning and creative engagement.
Leni Siahaan
Elementary School Teacher
Leni teaches elementary-grade students outside of Jakarta, where she integrates art, storytelling, and environmental study into classroom learning. For Kakek and the Reef of Many Children, she has worked to guide her students in adapting the story into a stage performance using puppets, character voices, and visual art to bring the coral reef ecosystem to life.
Learn more about Story Preservation Initiative and its educational projects or contact us at www.storypreservation.org