Digital Storytelling Ideas

Since my last post about digital storytelling I have been brainstorming how I can use digital storytelling in my classroom in a way that will allow my students to practice writing narratives, learn more about technology, and be creative while also incorporating second grade LAFS (Language Arts Florida Standards). The idea I am leaning towards would be incorporated into our Fairy Tale Unit. Our Fairy Tale Unit is awesome! We typically do it at the very end of the year as a really fun way to review narratives, hit a few LAFS that weren't previously addressed as often in the year, and as an enjoyable way to spend the end of the year together. Students are introduced to many different fairy tales, folktales, and fables through books, digital media, and reader's theater (which we record and play back for them to watch themselves perform!). Students also analyze the stories they hear, compare and contrast different versions of the same story, discuss point of view, and get to express their creativity through both the reader's theater and writing their own fairy tales. The following 2nd grade LAFS are just the main ones addressed in this unit:

- LAFS.2.RL.1.1: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

- LAFS.2.RL.1.2: Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

- LAFS.2.RL.1.3: Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

- LAFS.2.RL.2.6: Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud

- LAFS.2.RL.3.7: Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.

- LAFS.2.RL.3.9: Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures.

- LAFS.2.W.1.3: Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.

- LAFS.2.SL.2.5: Create audio recordings of stories or poems; add drawings or other visual displays to stories or recounts of experiences when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

However, there is one LAFS standard that we haven't been able to fully address:

- LAFS.2.W.2.6: With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Now, in the past our students have written informational pieces about the weather and then created a PowerPoint to present the information from their writing. While this has been a great learning experience for them, we could definitely do more! This weather PowerPoint is the only time during the year that our students use digital media.

By incorporating LAFS.2.W.2.6 into our Fairy Tale Unit, students would have the opportunity to be exposed to other different types of digital media and have so much fun doing it! As mentioned previously, part of the Fairy Tale Unit is writing their own fairy tale, folktale, or fable. They are given so much creative freedom with this assignment! They can rewrite a new version of an existing story OR create their own entirely new story using the elements of fairy tales. This story would be perfect for transforming into a digital story! Once their stories are written, students would use their knowledge of reader's theater to turn their story into a script that they will record themselves reading. They can also incorporate LAFS.2.RL.2.6 by keeping in mind the point of view of their characters and speaking in different voices for them. Then, we can incorporate LAFS.2.RL.3.7 by having students create illustrations that will help their readers better understand the characters, setting, and plot. Finally, by having students complete their digital stories, LAFS.2.SL.2.5 and LAFS.2.W.2.6 are both being addressed.

So, by using digital storytelling to present fairy tales, students can learn how to better tell their story to their audience, gain knowledge of technology, and enjoy learning. It's also a win-win situation for us teachers, because our students are mastering many 2nd grade LAFS at the same time! I am so excited to learn more about digital storytelling, teach my team teachers, and finally use it in our classrooms at the end of the year =)