Betty’s Instructional Technology Blog

We recently obtained parent permission to post a sample student Reader’s Theatre project. The following is a sample third grade project where students created backgrounds in Max Paint , used Photoshop Elements to superimpose photographs on top, and then imported them into Photo story where they added narration. The sample is called “Jessica.” Check out this link: http://www.gtps.k12.nj.us/technology/jessica_movie_for_web.wmv

We have been working on different ways to share our student’s stories digitally. An exciting project was completed by third grade students this year. It involved using Photostory. The goal was to improve students’ reading fluency through a Reader’s Theatre project. We used the following steps:

1. Students selected stories to illustrate and read aloud
2. Students used Max Paint ( a program that is part of Tom Snyder’s Scholastic Keys) to design background images for different parts of the story
3. Digital pictures were taken of the students
4. The digital pictures were superimposed on their backgrounds  using Photoshop Elements
5. The images were saved as jpegs and uploaded to Photostory
6. Students recorded their voices into Photostory
7. Video files were created.

I’ll try to add a sample if I can get parent permission to include student pictures. For now, I’ll attach a sample of the backgrounds without the pictures and audio.

readers-theatre

In my Web 2.0 workshop, the participants moved through stations using various software/web sites. As part of the station, they posted their ideas on how to use the software in their classrooms. Their ideas on using Photostory are listed below:  

1. I might have students come in at the end of this year and use Photostory to create a tour of the library to use for orientation next year.

2. Will be used for an immigration project, where students will narrate as characters immigrating to America and discuss their hardships.

3. Use with presidential candidates to present their views on different issues. 

4.  We could use this throughout our social studies curriculum of ancient civilizations.  The students could create travel brochures for Egypt, Greece, or Rome.  Our Egyptian Museum project could be easily modified to fit this format.  Students select 5 artifacts from ancient Egypt that they would like to include in their museums.  They would add audio describing the artifact and explaining its importance to the ancient Egyptians.

5.  Students can present any report with pictures and sound.

6.  The 5th graders can use this for Virtual History.

7. Photostory is an excellent program that can be used to address students individual learning needs.  The combination of video with auditory features enhance the learning process.  Students can also research topics and develop personal Photostory presentations.

8. Students can use this to present different reports.  This is a very user friendly program.