During their first week in the AT&T Classroom, the Lippman
second graders have been busy creating digital stories on the ipads using Sock
Puppets & Toontastics.
SockPuppets is a free iOS app that can be used to create
animated videos. Students are able to select from a variety of puppets, props,
scenery, and backgrounds and then record audio that automatically lip-syncs to
their own voice. This past week the second graders applied their knowledge of
story elements to create their own animated puppet videos. The ability to
identify the elements of a story helps to increase students’ reading
comprehension skills and also leads students to a deeper understanding and
appreciation of stories. Additionally, when students have a clear understanding
of the elements of a story, they are able to write rich stories of their own.
Toontastics is an iOS app that allows children to draw and animate
stories that can be shared from the device of online via the Toontastic
network. Using tools such as Toontastics to create digital stories provides
opportunities for children to further develop their literacy skills (e.g.,
reading, writing, speaking & listening) and also build “21st century
skills” — critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
