Skip to main content

Appy Friday! Story Kit

Description: Story Kit is a very straightforward, user-friendly iPad tool (a.k.a. app). It is free to download, making it accessible to a variety of users. Story Kit allows the user to make an online book that is creative and uses images as well as sounds to enhance the book. When you first open the app a bookshelf pops up and you are able to create a new story with the quick click of the screen. You can use a photo from your photo library on your phone or iPad and design the background as well as add sound to the page. When a Story Kit is complete it may be opened on an Apple product (i.e., iPhone, iPad) or on any computer (Mac or PC) through an easy URL that is shared through email. Using the Story Kit app is as easy as:

1.    Open a new page
2.    Choose a picture
3.    Upload the picture to the app
4.    Record audio
4.    Type in text
5.    Color/design the background
6.    Save your wok
7.    Share (through email)
8.    Watch!


**Here is a link to a step-by-step tutorial on how to use Story Kit.


Classroom Usage: Another fabulous component to Story Kit is that it may be used both individually and in a small group. Students may need teacher guidance initially then begin to run their own project when they become more comfortable.

There are many uses for Story Kit in the classroom. Students can use Story Kit...


  • in writing to record their voice while reading aloud one of their own pieces.
  • in reading to record their voice (or a partners) to practice reading for fluency.
  • to read a popular tale in their own, unique style.
  • show the steps of solving a math problem (i.e., word problem).
  • explain the rules and procedures of the classroom for students coming in next year.
  • introduce a new unit (teacher directed).
  • demonstrate their learning on a topic on the classroom.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chromebooks, Cast, Jamboard & Kami: The Fearsome Foursome

Do you remember back in teacher college when the professors taught us that our proximity to misbehaving students would help squash behavior problems? I do. Well, when using our classroom technology, we are typically tethered to our laptop, desktop, document camera, etc... This is a problem, but luckily there may be a solution. Tools You'll Need Google Cast for Education gives students and teachers the ability to share their screens to the classroom projector or interactive display. Cast for Edu Set Up Cast for Edu Support Article Kami is an amazing tool that gives teachers and students the functionality of an interactive board in the palm of their hands. It allows users to a nnotate a doc, slide, pdf, image, etc… Google Jamboard is a whiteboard app that can be accessed online and as an app on your tablet of choice. It's also a very expensive interactive display, but that's not what we're looking at here. Students can create a new Jamboard, share and col

Stop Motion Studio!

Stop Motion Studio is a powerful, easy to use app for creating stop motion movies. Stop motion is a powerful animation technique that makes static objects appear to be moving. There are many types of stop motion techniques such as: hand drawing, cut-paper, sand and claymation. Brainstorm When starting a project like this one it is important to make your ideas clear before you start filming.  You should consider what is the “story” you are going to tell.  Remember that you only have up to a minute in which to tell this story. Because of this, I recommend that you use simple experiences to create a short story such as the cut-paper example shown in the storyboard below. While this looks simple, it will require many shots. It’s also a good idea to limit yourself to one or two characters. Storyboarding The purpose of the storyboard is to visually plan out the entire animation. Here is where you begin to think about the “camera work” by showing every shot or important tra

Coding for Littles

Sometimes people ask me what I do for a living. And, when they do, I typically tell them I am a technology teacher. Then, I go into detail about how I am a technology coach, who works with multiple school sites and grades K-12. Let me tell you, it's a crowd pleaser and an incredible ice breaker.  More times than not, the next question is, "What do you teach kindergartners?"  My favorite response is, "Coding?" I it know seems outlandish to think that 5 years olds can learn to code, but it's true. Let's be clear, they aren't typing out extravagant code, while drinking Big Gulps and grubbing on Domino's. But, what they are learning is the foundation of programming. You've got to start somewhere, and it might as well be in the kinder classroom! Here are a few coding apps and sites that you and your students will love. Code.org - Web-based Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing