TeachersFirst Digital Storytelling Resources
Digital storytelling brings together creativity, technology, and communication in a way that engages students and gives their voices a meaningful platform. This collection includes professional learning resources for you and features a variety of tools that empower students to craft and share stories using book creators, slides, presentations, videos, podcasts, and more — transforming traditional writing and research assignments into rich, multimedia experiences. Whether students are narrating a personal story, retelling a historical event, or explaining a scientific concept, these tools provide flexible, accessible ways to create and share work that goes far beyond pencil and paper.
For even more digital storytelling resources, be sure not to miss our TeachersFirst Edge: Digital Storytelling tools. We also have even more resources to explore that are tagged Digital Storytelling.
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Genially - Genially
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
1 Comments
Create impressive, interactive presentations, images, infographics, charts, and anything else with Genially. Easily insert maps, surveys, video, audio, and more. AI features include...more
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Create impressive, interactive presentations, images, infographics, charts, and anything else with Genially. Easily insert maps, surveys, video, audio, and more. AI features include a background remover and AI-powered text editing. Choose the type of project you want to create to see the templates available, then select from the free plan templates. Project options include game templates, options to create interactive images, infographics, and slides, eLearning templates, and much more. Genially is an all-in-one tool that will soon become your go-to tool for creating visual content. All your projects are stored in the cloud, making collaboration a cinch! Register for the free account with email or a Google or Facebook account, and then start creating! A Genially must be saved to share. Share creations from your dashboard on different social networks, copying and pasting a link, using an HTML code to embed it in a website/blog, or sending it directly by email. Click the arrow to the right of your account icon to find Help (FAQs), a blog, and tutorials (Tour). Free education accounts include a workspace for unlimited student accounts, live collaboration with your class, 1 GB of storage, and access to over 1,000 free templates.
Note: Genially changed its domain name from .ly to .com. Your content will NOT be affected. However, you will want to change this in your bookmarks.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (339), charts and graphs (182), communication (126), digital storytelling (172), gamification (90), images (271), infographics (73), interactive stories (22), multimedia (63), posters (46)
In the Classroom
Click Create to find a category from which you want your students to work; present several using a projector or on an interactive whiteboard. Show the interactivity to students. Then, create one together as a class to try out the tools (don't forget to name it). Keep it simple or add all the bells and whistles. Preview as you work or return later to complete and publish. Of course, you will want to model and teach appropriate documentation of any sources of images and media you use and to use copyrighted works legally.There are limitless ideas for using Genially in the classroom! Here are just a few: Ask students to create their own Genially as a new way to assess understanding of a concept or unit of study: you could even provide links to images and raw materials they may use (especially if you have students who need extra scaffolding), and they can work with them to sequence, caption, and write about the pieces. After a first project where you possibly suggest "building blocks," the sky is the limit on what they can do. Even the very young can make suggestions as you "create" a whole-class interactive together using a projector or an interactive whiteboard. Consider making a new project for each unit you teach so students can "recap" by visiting the presentation long after the unit ends. Save student projects from year to year as examples, possibly even awarding prizes for "best" examples. Have upper elementary or middle school students create an interactive project to help "little buddies" two or three grades lower to understand a concept.
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Knight Lab - Northwest University
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Knight Lab offers a variety of tools for storytelling and promoting quality journalism. Choose the Projects tab to find all available options sorted by categories of Storytelling, Beta,...more
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Knight Lab offers a variety of tools for storytelling and promoting quality journalism. Choose the Projects tab to find all available options sorted by categories of Storytelling, Beta, and Prototypes, Experiments, and Past Projects. Projects include examples and full instructions for using the tool in any classroom.
tag(s): digital storytelling (172), images (271), maps (221), timelines (60)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-have for anyone who teaches writing or assigns writing projects. Bookmark this site for use throughout the year with any writing project. Focus on one tool a month to learn more about the features available. Assign a tool to different groups of students and let them become the experts. Enhance students' learning and modify classroom technology use by asking the groups to create a "How to" video for their tool and to share with their peers. For this, try using Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here, or RecordCast Screen Recorder, reviewed here. Work with peers to assign projects across subject levels using tools from this site to compare and contrast images, create interactive timelines, build story maps, and much more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Animaker - Srinivasa Raghavan
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Animaker is a web-based animated video creation tool that allows students and teachers to design cartoons, presentations, and short videos using ready-made templates and drag-and-drop...more
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Animaker is a web-based animated video creation tool that allows students and teachers to design cartoons, presentations, and short videos using ready-made templates and drag-and-drop features. With the free plan, users can create projects using built-in characters, backgrounds, text, and voice tools, including basic lip-sync and simple animations. The free version limits the number of exports per month and may include watermarks, but it still provides enough features for classroom projects, storytelling, and presentations. Animaker provides tutorial videos on YouTube to help users learn the tools, so access to YouTube may be needed in some school districts to view the help guides.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (66), creativity (89), movies (51)
In the Classroom
Animaker is an online animation and video creation tool that can be used on any device with internet access, making it a good choice for BYOD or blended classrooms because no software download is required. The free plan allows students to create animated videos using templates, characters, text, and voice tools, but it limits the number of exports per month and may include a watermark on finished videos. While paid plans include additional collaboration and workspace features, the free version still works well for individual or small-group projects in the classroom. Students should have some basic understanding of how to use the editor, so creating a class video together on an interactive whiteboard or projector before assigning independent work is helpful. Animaker can be used to extend learning by having students create commercials, science project previews, animated summaries, infographics, or short videos in any subject area, such as advertisements for an organism, a literary character, or a travel commercial for a country being studied. Sharing finished videos on a projector or interactive whiteboard allows students to present their work to the class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WriteReader - WriteReader
Grades
K to 5
4 Favorites
0 Comments
The scientific research behind WriterReader is that one develops and improves reading skills by writing. With WriteReader, kids create their books, including text, pictures, and voice...more
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The scientific research behind WriterReader is that one develops and improves reading skills by writing. With WriteReader, kids create their books, including text, pictures, and voice recordings. Adults/Teachers have space on the page to write comments and make corrections. The interface is so simple that even a young child can use it successfully after some adult guidance. Open the Features tab in the top menu to see an index of all features categorized by Literacy Development, Easy Book Creation, Publishing and Sharing, and Teacher & Student Management, each with several links to explore. Click the Resources Center tab on the top menu to select Lesson Plans, Templates, Writing Prompts, Videos, and more. The basic plan offers 40 books and all the essential features. Register using your email or Google account. After logging in, use the menu bars in the upper-right corner to find Guides, which include a Parent Letter, a Quick Start Guide, a Template, and a few other get-started items.
To create student accounts, you can enter students manually, or students can join the class using a class code. WriteReader has upgraded its page templates to support older students. US English, UK English, Dansk (Danish), and Svenska (Swedish) are available. There is also an introductory video on the landing page that will help everyone get started. This video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable. WriteReader has added new premium features, including Read Aloud, Voice Search, Book Templates, and more. For these, you must pay.
tag(s): digital storytelling (172), literacy (124), multilingual (84), reading strategies (93), science of reading (37), writing (309)
In the Classroom
WriteReader is so simple that very young students can use it successfully after a demonstration on a whiteboard or projector. While creating their books, students will be able to add images and multiple pages, delete pages, include voice-over, use color on pages, view one page at a time or the entire book, and toggle between letter names/sounds and no audio. Use this tool to design simple projects using student drawings to tell the story. Have students draw and annotate stories about their summer at the beginning of the year and share them with classmates. Students of any age love to draw, so why not have them draw their impression of what the message to the reader was after hearing a story, and then explain it in writing? Nonreaders and ENL/ESL students, in particular, will benefit from hearing letter sounds as they begin writing in their new language.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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ePubEditor - ePubEditor.it
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Create multimedia and interactive ebooks that work on tablets and computers for free with ePubEditor. Create your account to begin, then follow prompts to upload images and text with...more
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Create multimedia and interactive ebooks that work on tablets and computers for free with ePubEditor. Create your account to begin, then follow prompts to upload images and text with optional image, video, or audio. Other options allow you to create quizzes with different responses such as multiple choice, matching, or drag and drop response. Allow others to edit and add to your book using the share editing option. When complete, publish and share your book using the created URL or download in different formatting options including epub and PDF.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): assessment (143), digital storytelling (172), ebooks (49)
In the Classroom
Create books together, as a class, as you move through a unit or topic. Enhance student learning by adding images and ideas your students suggest. Use in a flipped classroom to deliver course information. Assign several student groups a different topic and extend and redefine their learning and technology use by having each group create their own multimedia versions as they learn more about the topic. Students can combine their books later as a class book. Make a digital bookshelf of all the versions for all to use. Challenge gifted students to modify the "standard" class text with the additional material they discover, by going deeper and learning about related topics. In lower grades, create teacher-made e-books for your young readers, perhaps adding audio - your own voice reading the text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adobe Express - Adobe
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Create beautiful visual designs with Adobe Express. First, follow the prompts to create an account, then select a creation to work on; these include flyers, presentations, banners,...more
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Create beautiful visual designs with Adobe Express. First, follow the prompts to create an account, then select a creation to work on; these include flyers, presentations, banners, posters, business cards, social graphics, advertisements, YouTube thumbnails, and several others. The canvas where you will create has a right menu. Choose a template, text, photos, shapes, backgrounds, and design assets from the left menu. Next, you can select colors, animation, background, resize, or design from the right menu. When complete, share via email or through the social media links provided, or download.
tag(s): blogs (82), communication (126), creative writing (123), design (76), digital storytelling (172), microblogging (14), posters (46)
In the Classroom
Possible uses are only limited by your imagination! Create your own flyer, poster, business card, etc. for parents and students where they can learn a little about you and what is happening in your classroom. Enhance or extend student learning (depending on the project requirement) by having students create visuals to accompany books read in class, explain social studies events, or display images for different science terms. Flip your classroom using Adobe Express presentations. Adobe Express is perfect to use for presentations, digital storytelling, or a gift (think Mother's Day) in any subject!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ourboox - Mel Rosenberg & Ran Shternin
Grades
2 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Publish ebooks in any language with Ourboox. Keep track of how many readers you have and read their comments. Sign up with email to get a free account, and get ...more
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Publish ebooks in any language with Ourboox. Keep track of how many readers you have and read their comments. Sign up with email to get a free account, and get started right away. Click Create, add a title, choose the style of your book (Square Book - a picture book with up to 15 lines of text, or a text-oriented book, more like a long story or novel). Choosing a Square Book enables the ability to have an image (JPEG, PNG). You can also upload animated GIFs or embed a YouTube Video. Ourboox will step you through the process of getting your book online and publishing it. The pages of the book will flip, and the tool has an accommodation for languages that read from right to left. It can take up to 24 hours for new books to process. Before starting on your own book, you may want to look at others' books to get ideas about the format.
tag(s): digital storytelling (172), ebooks (49), writing (309)
In the Classroom
There is no end to the ideas for stories! Now you can easily publish and share them with Ourboox. At the beginning of the year have students develop stories to tell about their summer and share with classmates. Enhance and modify student learning and technology use (depending on the project requirement) by having students create: a photo story for history, showcasing great people or specific historical events such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, in the arts, create a photo story of achievements of various artists. In science, create a photo story of famous inventors or have students explain their understanding of cell division. ESL/ELL students can use the site to recreate folk tales from their home countries. Encourage your older students to use this tool for digital storytelling projects created in response to research or extra study. This is a great find for gifted students who want to include art work and use their creativity in productive ways. No matter the subject of the story, they all need to be planned before creating a book. Have students do this either with paper and pencil or try using a digital storyboard like Story Map, reviewed here, or Storyboarder, reviewed here. If students cannot have their own email accounts, consider using a "class set" of GMail subaccounts (managed by you), explained here. This tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. This would provide anonymous interaction within your class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Story Map - Read Write Think
Grades
1 to 8
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Focus on the key elements of writing a story with Story Map. Fill out and print graphic organizers for characters, setting, conflict, and resolution. Each organizer has prompts for...more
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Focus on the key elements of writing a story with Story Map. Fill out and print graphic organizers for characters, setting, conflict, and resolution. Each organizer has prompts for what to write. Returning to an organizer to edit is possible. Print your Story Map, since it is not saved.
tag(s): digital storytelling (172), graphic organizers (57), writing (309)
In the Classroom
Substitute paper and pencil story mapping by introducing your class to Story Map and writing a class story. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector and be sure to point out the prompts to answer with each organizer. Bookmark Story Map on class computers as part of stations when developing a writing project. Put a link to this tool on your website or blog for students to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Odyssey - CartoDB
Grades
6 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Build interactive, map-based stories without coding skills using the Odyssey open source library. Click Create Story to begin and follow the prompts to choose a template for slides,...more
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Build interactive, map-based stories without coding skills using the Odyssey open source library. Click Create Story to begin and follow the prompts to choose a template for slides, scrolling, or an animated story template. Add story content, images, links, and more within the "sandbox." When finished, publish directly to GetHub, download, or share as iFrame to embed directly into your blog or website.
tag(s): digital storytelling (172), gamification (90), images (271), interactive stories (22), maps (221)
In the Classroom
Most storytellers will find a bit of a learning curve to working with Odyssey, click on the three bars on the left top of the home page to find the Quick Start Guide tutorial for using the site. Share this site with tech-savvy students so they can be experts and help others become familiar with using the site. Use Odyssey for creating map-based stories based on works of literature, important events in history, or mapping scientific discoveries. Odyssey is perfect for use with gifted students when creating multimedia presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Writing Exercises - JG Publishing
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Find fresh ideas for writing prompts and exercises to explore and use. Use links to find story starters, characters, titles, and more. Use the random generators to create titles, ...more
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Find fresh ideas for writing prompts and exercises to explore and use. Use links to find story starters, characters, titles, and more. Use the random generators to create titles, dialogues, town names, and much more. Over twenty pages include word exercises, games, plot generators, and scenarios to assist writers with story content. These are a must see for those writing blogs, needing new ideas, or having writer's block. This site was created in the UK. American English speakers may notice some slight spelling differences.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (123), digital storytelling (172), poetry (195), writers workshop (30), writing (309)
In the Classroom
This site is a "must see" for any writing instructor! Digital storytelling incorporates many Common Core Standards and is a possibility in any classroom. Enhance and modify student writing by having them use this tool. Think about using the random plot generator and put in the twist of an invasive cell to the human body for a science class. In math class, possibly a large whole number is building an army by splitting lesser whole numbers into fractional parts. Use the digital stories in place of a multiple choice test for final assessments. Enhance student learning by having students construct the digital story using Google Slides, reviewed here. Use tools from this site to create stories together as a class or in small groups. In addition to the random generators, there is a children's writing prompt section for younger students. Make a link to the site on classroom computers for student use when working on writing projects. Share a link to the site on your class website or blog for use at home. Share with parents who are looking for ideas to use at home. In addition to story ideas, use this site to create inspiration for poetry writing in the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sway - Microsoft
Grades
3 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Microsoft Sway is an online tool from Microsoft that lets users design interactive presentations, newsletters, and digital stories that display smoothly on any device. It allows you...more
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Microsoft Sway is an online tool from Microsoft that lets users design interactive presentations, newsletters, and digital stories that display smoothly on any device. It allows you to easily drag and drop text, photos, videos, and links from your computer, social media, or the web directly into your project. After signing in with a Microsoft account or creating one with your email, you can build your story using a simple, scroll-based layout. The Design tab provides options to personalize colors, fonts, and layouts, while the Share feature makes it simple to publish through a link, post to social media, or embed on a website. Sway works in all modern browsers, and while its iOS app is no longer updated, the web version remains fully functional. Instructional videos and tutorials are hosted on YouTube, though schools that block YouTube may not be able to access them. Microsoft has confirmed that Sway will continue to operate, though it has been removed from the Microsoft 365 Copilot "Create" tab due to low usage. Some tools, such as in-app audio and video recording, have been retired, but users can still embed multimedia files. The core features remain supported through sway.office.com and the Microsoft 365 Apps section, though no major updates are planned.
tag(s): communication (126), digital storytelling (172), Microsoft (55), multimedia (63), slides (39), visualizations (15)
In the Classroom
Use Sway as an alternative to Prezi or PowerPoint presentations. Sway is perfect for use in your BYOD or 1:1 classroom. Use during your presentations to increase student engagement and interaction. Check your ENL/ESL students' understanding by having them respond or ask questions throughout the presentation. Enhance student learning and understanding by sharing with students for use during their own presentations, and inviting other students to comment and answer questions. During Open House night with parents, demonstrate how Sway provides interaction. Use Sway during professional development presentations to invite colleagues to discuss.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Powtoon - powtoon.com
Grades
K to 12
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Powtoon is an amazing, free, animated presentation tool. Sign up for your free account, then choose from one of many templates available to edit, or start from scratch. Next, start...more
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Powtoon is an amazing, free, animated presentation tool. Sign up for your free account, then choose from one of many templates available to edit, or start from scratch. Next, start making magic! Create your title and description. Modify slides by changing text, font, image holders, and props. Preview your creation at any time with the play button. Stop and make changes as needed. Change styles easily by choosing a different style within the program. Select from Powtoon's royalty-free music options to enhance your presentation. Share the finished presentation via social media buttons on your page to Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and other popular pages or export to YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then using YouTube may not be your best option. Use the embed code provided to easily embed on your website or blog, or share your Powtoon using the URL provided. Exports are not included with the free membership plan. An email is required to register and use Powtoon.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (66), digital storytelling (172), movies (51), multimedia (63), slides (39)
In the Classroom
Challenge older students to create their own PowToons. Students can use PowToon to share their ideas or to "prototype" an idea. Students can create videos to show math processes, explanations of complex concepts, review new learning, teach others, explain scientific processes, tell stories, or present research. The possibilities are really endless, and students will come up with hundreds more uses. Flip your classroom using PowToon presentations. Use PowToon to create teacher-authored animations for students in ANY grade. This is a great way to present new information or ideas for discussion. It is an easy way to share information with the class when a substitute is in your classroom. Embed your PowToon creations on your website or blog for students to review at home. Use a PowToon on the first day of school to explain class rules or give an exciting introduction to the year ahead. Use PowToon to create movies or presentations for back to school night or conference nights to display on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Teacher-librarians can ask students to create PowToon book reviews to share kiosk style in the library/media center.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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Alice - Carnegie Mellon University
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Alice will have your students in wonderland as they use this innovative 3D programming environment targeted to middle and high school students. Be the director of a movie or the ...more
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Alice will have your students in wonderland as they use this innovative 3D programming environment targeted to middle and high school students. Be the director of a movie or the creator of a video game. 3D objects appear in an on-screen virtual world imagined by the creator and move around according to the directions you give by dragging and dropping tiles. The drag and drop technique provides a more engaging programming experience for first-time programmers. Alice provides exposure to object-oriented programming. Alice has practical value for students to learn how computers think. The instructions correspond to standard statements in a production oriented programming language, such as Java, C++, and C#. While using Alice, programmers can immediately see how their animation program runs and the behavior of the objects in their animation. Manipulate camera angles and lighting to make further enhancements. Alice is a revolutionary method to teach programming, especially to first-time learners. It allows students to understand programming concepts, a 21st-century skill.
tag(s): animation (66), coding (109), digital storytelling (172), problem solving (279)
In the Classroom
Be sure to check with your Technology Department, as many districts require authorization to download or install new applications. Plan ahead as you request that this application be installed on your classroom or laptop cart computers. Alice provides an opportunity to enhance learning for students by creating and learning how to problem solve. Subscribe to the teacher list to receive updates and integration ideas for Alice. The purpose of this list is to provide an easy way to ask questions and collaborate with the Alice teaching community. View and use activities to increase programming knowledge and the use of the Alice program.Students quickly catch on to Alice when allowed to play and easily see what they can make from it. Provide a simple assignment with defined rules/tasks to learn the tools as well as the drag and drop interface. Have students use a storyboard to organize their creation in order to keep tabs on students and their creations. Replace the paper and pencil storyboard by using a digital storyboard like Story Map, reviewed here, or Storyboarder, reviewed here. Build games to review curricular material for assessments. Have students create videos or digital stories to bring a subject to life. Teachers of gifted can turn their students loose to create animations about individual interests or research projects.
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Smore - Shlomi Atar and Gilad Avidan
Grades
2 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
Make beautiful online "multimedia" newsletters (flyers) to display on your smartphone, tablet, or computer using Smore. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag-and-drop...more
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Make beautiful online "multimedia" newsletters (flyers) to display on your smartphone, tablet, or computer using Smore. You can arrange your content easily with Smores' drag-and-drop editing. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer, or images from the web. Quickly embed text, videos, and tweets, too. Choose from several attractive themes. Share your creations via email, URL, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or print them to hand out or hang on a bulletin board. Check to see who has read your newsletter and who hasn't. The free account plan offers three total newsletter credits, 500 contact credits, and 200 email credits.
tag(s): design (76), infographics (73), multimedia (63), posters (46)
In the Classroom
Show students how to embed media into a Smore newsletter to create their own "infographics," transforming and displaying what they have learned from a unit of study. Use your interactive whiteboard and projector to let student groups present a flyer about a book they've read, a news article, or similar. Have them create campaign posters for fictitious candidates as you study the election process. Smore lets you preview as you work, or return later to complete and publish your flyers. Add ready-made graphics, images from files on your computer, or on the web. Offer Smore as one of the project options for your gifted students doing projects beyond the regular curriculum, especially those who are visual/artistic. Since this tool requires membership, you may want to use a teacher account for younger gifted students, and be sure to get written permission from parents!Allow students to create flyers for upcoming events such as Earth Day, Grandparents Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays, and anniversaries. Make holiday greetings to share.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
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Animoto - Animoto Productions
Grades
8 to 12
4 Favorites
1 Comments
This animation tool will help create a video or a video slideshow with pizzazz. Add personal sounds, videos, and other media to elevate your video content to the next level ...more
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This animation tool will help create a video or a video slideshow with pizzazz. Add personal sounds, videos, and other media to elevate your video content to the next level for your classes. This tool is great for schools without access to different free video or multimedia creation software. Create 30-second videos, including music choices from over 50 soundtracks. A typical thirty-second video requires twelve images, making this a reasonable option for projects with middle and high school level students. Also look through their many templates making this video creator easy to use for anyone. Students aged 13 and above can set up their own Animoto account if they have a school email address.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (66), images (271), movies (51), photography (136), slides (39)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to sign up for Animoto and use it with students on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector. Students need a basic understanding of how to upload pictures, videos, and other media, especially when adding personalized content. Use stock images and media available through the site if you prefer. Once you are registered, click the "Create" button and follow the on-screen instructions. When adding personal images and videos, the program lets you search your computer files. Add music from the site bank or from personal music sources (copyright-free, of course). Finalize the video with the last click, then view it. Share easily using the provided codes or export tools. Use Animoto to make commercials, science fair previews, and animated shorts in any content area. Have students create "advertisements" for an organism or a literary character. Make a travel commercial for a country being studied or for cultural sites in a world language class. Be sure to share the presentations on your projector or interactive whiteboard.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
Comments
My favorite movie site.Barbara, , Grades: 0 - 12
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PicLits - PicLits.com
Grades
K to 12
16 Favorites
0 Comments
The title says it all: "Inspired Picture Writing!" Use this free drag and drop literacy tool to create great sentences inspired by beautiful pictures. Alternatively, add inspirational...more
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The title says it all: "Inspired Picture Writing!" Use this free drag and drop literacy tool to create great sentences inspired by beautiful pictures. Alternatively, add inspirational or humorous captions to pictures. "Lesson Plans" provides learning opportunities and examples for creating captions, compound sentences, or paragraphs. Video tutorials can be found under the FAQs tab. "Explore the Gallery" to see already-created PicLits as well as comments and ratings. After selecting a picture (or using the one they provide) and dragging a word onto the screen, choose different forms of the word by using the drop-down menu next to the word. Move your words anywhere on the screen for creative writing. You can also click "freestyle" instead to type in your own words instead of choosing from their list. Word lists change, depending on the image selected. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
Registering for a PicLits account requires the use of an email address. PicLits can be used without an account but you are unable to save or blog about their creation without an account. A class account can be created instead of individual student accounts. However, it does not show which work is attributable to which student. You may want to require that students initial their contributions in order to get credit. All work on the site can be seen without a login. All projects are public. NOTE: Our editors regret that PicLits occasionally allows advertising on their home page to include images that are not classroom-friendly. Teachers should preview to determine whether or not your students can ignore the ads.
This site includes advertising.
Registering for a PicLits account requires the use of an email address. PicLits can be used without an account but you are unable to save or blog about their creation without an account. A class account can be created instead of individual student accounts. However, it does not show which work is attributable to which student. You may want to require that students initial their contributions in order to get credit. All work on the site can be seen without a login. All projects are public. NOTE: Our editors regret that PicLits occasionally allows advertising on their home page to include images that are not classroom-friendly. Teachers should preview to determine whether or not your students can ignore the ads.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (123), digital storytelling (172), images (271), sentences (22)
In the Classroom
Share a PicLit on your interactive whiteboard or with a projector at the start of a grammar or writing lesson to discuss word choice, figures of speech, or vocabulary. Use the visual picture prompt for journal or blog writing, allowing each student to compose a unique poem or haiku. Even science classes can write about concepts illustrated in the many photos of nature. Emotional support teachers will love the chance to discuss feelings and how to describe facial expressions in the pictures. Make a collection of PicLits using a tool like 3 x 3 Links, reviewed here, for a curriculum topic. Modify classroom technology use by challenging students to create an online literary magazine using a tool such as BookRix, reviewed here. PicLits can be used for a variety of assignments in any classroom that is integrating technology as an enhancement. ENL students can create PicLits to learn new vocabulary. Have students create PicLits for special occasions and special people (mom, dad, grandparents, school nurse, or others). Use the embed code to place your creations on many other sites, including your class wiki or blogs. Share your PicLit by using a URL or code for an embedded widget.You may want to create a Word document, a Favorites folder, or another "collection" of URLs for all your students' projects in one place for easy work at grading time. Some teachers use a class wiki or blog with links to all projects from there. A simpler alternative would be to use a bookmarking tool such as Raindrop.io, reviewed here. You may allow students to self-register, but be sure to keep a written record of their passwords for when they "forget." It may be worth your time to set up advanced registration for your younger students, or simply use a whole-class account.
To use PicLits you must be able to navigate tabs on sites, manage logins, and use URLs and embed codes to share results on websites and blogs. Play to learn the tools before or after joining. The FAQs tab also provides a short-and-sweet text explanation of the tools. Find these under the Video Tutorials.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log in (NO email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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