If you are in the winter blahs, I have a couple of apps that just might perk you and your students up! These free and easy to use apps are not only fun, but can be used across the curriculum.
The first app is called Shadow Puppet! It is not anything like I thought it would be based on its name. This app helps your students to put together simple slide shows with narration. You can share and even download the finished products. I found it over winter break and can’t stop thinking of all the ways we can use it in the classroom. Here is a simple one I created as an example: (I already apologize that my voice is not very exciting, but I was just giving it a try. Focus on the lovely pics! LOL )
Ideas for Classroom Use:
- All About Me Presentation
- Share Writing or Project through Pictures of the Process
- Demonstrate a Science or Math Concept
- Use to Report on a Place, Historical Event, or Person
- Share Personal Hobbies, Passions, Trips
- What I Did Over the Summer or Winter Break
- How To Presentations
Chatter Pix for Kids is the next app to make you smile! This rather novel app has you insert a picture and then record your voice. Your picture comes alive and talks! Kids will love this! It would remind you of Blabberize or even Voki, but you use your own photos. What a fun way to have students share information or even to use for Mother’s Day to say sweet things about their mamas! Check this out:
I made my Chatter Pix, then emailed it to myself. I downloaded it and then uploaded it to my blog. You can share your Chatter Pix through email, download it and send, or on social media.
Ideas for Chatter Pix:
- Character of a Book Talks
- Famous Person Talks
- Teacher Gives Directions or Announcements
- Have students make one to share at Open House or Parent Conferences with the student’s thoughts about their own learning and goals for the next quarter!
- End of the year memories!
3 Responses
Hey Lori, I have a question for you. My 3rd graders are doing projects on Dr. King on the iPads. I was having them use educreations so they could add pictures, text and voice, but it will not allow them to save their progress, so they lost everything. What app would you suggest to replace it? I was looking at Explain Everything or Shadow Puppets. Any thoughts on which one you think would work better or a totally different app? Thanks for your help!
I like both Shadow Puppet and Explain Everything. Shadow Puppet is really easy to use but you can't add text. It just does pictures and recording. Explain Everything includes all of the features you are wanting.
So awesome! Love the new apps, and can't wait to try them. I was at your training in Hilo and have already implemented some of the things we learned, my students and I are LOVING it! Mahalo Nui again, your knowledge and sharing is much appreciated.