Inspire reluctant writers with visual storytelling lesson plans. Elementary and middle school students use their imaginations to create a story that looks like a cartoon or animated comic strip. Upon completion, the graphic story is published as a link with the slides set to play automatically. Challenging digital storytelling activities support learning with optional assignments such as animation techniques, collaborative peer-editing, or screencasting. Project includes versions for PowerPoint and Google Slides for students.
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Visual Storytelling Activities
Teach digital storytelling and boost creativity with a unique and innovative technology project. Students create an animated cartoon using presentation software. Resources include a Teacher Guide, Student Workbook with illustrated, step-by-step instructions, checklists, assessment tools, and extension activities for optional challenges. Google Slides and PowerPoint presentation ideas engage students with creative activities.
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Inspire and Engage Young Writers
Sample cartoons unleash the creative potential of young minds. Motivate your students with a diverse collection of digital story samples including Marco Polo, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Bicycle Safety Tips, My Dream, Super Dog, Cartoon, and What Is It?
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Integrate Technology Into Curriculum
Blend the Google or PowerPoint presentation project into language arts or computer studies. Promote STEM by combining curriculum and technology learning objectives. Summarize a novel, share facts, or review a topic currently being studied by building an animated presentation. Transform learning with digital storytelling!
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Student Centered Approach
Promote a self-directed classroom. Guided by a digital workbook, students achieve new technology skills and complete the story-telling task independently. Teachers play the role of a facilitator. Students are empowered and build self-confidence when they take ownership of their work.
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Animation and Picture Editing Workshops
Extra activities include tips and tricks for slide show animation, getting pictures from the internet, and how to trim, crop, flip, and recolor images.
View Sample
Assignment 1 Digital Storytelling, Cartoons, & Comic Strips
Produce silly comic strips by writing text into callouts to describe what is happening.
Assignment 2 View Sample Digital Stories
Examine digital stories to learn about the structure and ignite interest in animated storytelling.
Assignment 3 Organize Story Ideas for the Digital Story
Invent a cartoon story. Determine the audience. Sketch events into a storyboard to form a plan.
Assignment 4 Make the Title Slide
Spark interest in the story with a unique title slide. Format text, text boxes, and slide background.
Assignment 5 Set the Scene
Convey information about setting, character, and plot by combining images with callouts.
Assignment 6 Create the Action Scenes
Illustrate the remaining scenes. Exaggerate the story action using starbursts and WordArt.
Assignment 7 Add Transitions and Animations
Divide the action using transitions. Animate each scene and sequence the timing of events.
Assignment 8 Digital Story Checklist
Self-evaluate the content, design, and animation applied to each scene. Revise the story.
Assignment 9 Publish your Digital Story
Prepare the story for an audience. Set the slides to play automatically. Invite peers to view it.
Optional Digital Storytelling Activities for Students
- Generate a Story Idea: Pick a character, setting, and plot.
- Picture Editing Workshop: Trim, crop, recolor, and flip.
- Use Images from the Internet: Insert a file or link.
- Animation Workshop: Tips for animations, timing, and more.
- Peer Edit the Digital Story: Share the story. Invite comments.
- Print a Comic Strip or Comic Book: Print as a handout.
- Make a Video: Record the story, then share.
Integrate Technology into Language Arts - Digital Storytelling Activities
Inspire visual storytelling using Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint lessons. Combine text, imagery, and animation to create a story that looks like a cartoon or animated comic strip. Creative writing activities for elementary or middle school. Digital storytelling project includes fun presentation ideas for students and samples to spark imaginations!
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Select and organize story ideas
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Produce an original digital story
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Revise a story to improve quality
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Publish a digital story to share with others
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Save a digital story as other file types
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Format slide background for story backdrop
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Express ideas creatively
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Illustrate events with images and objects
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Divide story action by applying transitions
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Animate slide objects to sequence events
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5.0
I have purchased a project and it has been amazing. Everything you could possibly wish for is included in the resources. The children really appreciated the step by step walk through and were excited about how much they learned during the unit. They were so proud of their work at the completion of the unit. I will be back to buy some more!
5.0
Very nice. Very organized. Thank You!
5.0
TechnoKids technology projects are wonderful tools for teaching technology in a very meaningful way.