STORYBOOK ADVENTURES: BRINGING TALES TO LIFE THROUGH DIGITAL STORIES
This project can be adopted as a whole, or you can customize various aspects to suit the culture of your classroom.
STORYBOOK ADVENTURES: BRINGING TALES TO LIFE THROUGH DIGITAL STORIES
This project can be adopted as a whole, or you can customize various aspects to suit the culture of your classroom.
Benefits of the Design:
Enhanced Comprehension and Critical Thinking: Through activities like theme identification and literary analysis, students delve deeply into texts, improving their ability to comprehend complex ideas and think critically about underlying messages. This not only enhances their literary interpretation skills but also fosters a greater understanding of how literature reflects and critiques society.
Research Skills Development: The component of the project that involves gathering articles, author interviews, and critical essays equips students with robust research skills. They learn to discern credible sources, synthesize information, and contextualize their findings, which are essential skills for academic success across disciplines.
Creativity and Innovation: Reimagining literary works encourages creative thinking as students brainstorm and visualize contemporary versions of classic tales. This process not only boosts their creativity but also their ability to innovate and think outside the box, skills highly valued in any professional field.
Technical and Digital Literacy: By using digital tools to create multimedia narratives, students significantly enhance their digital literacy. Familiarity with software like Adobe Spark, Book Creator, and various video editing tools prepares them for the technologically driven workforce of the future.
Refer to Chapter 2 for guidance on breaking down your content standards into specific objectives and learning outcomes. Below, we've outlined how the project corresponds with different subjects. Utilize this list to coordinate the project with key instructional turning points, allowing you to determine the optimal times to introduce content-based lessons that align to your standards and enhance student understanding.
Literature/English
Identifying and understanding core themes in children's literature.
Conducting a deep dive into historical context, author's background, and thematic significance.
Reimagining stories to highlight themes.
Discussing themes and messages in literature.
Creating storyboards or drafting scripts for reimagined stories.
Gathering and utilizing articles, author interviews, and critical essays.
Conducting research to enrich understanding of the texts.
Reading
Selecting and reading books individually or in groups.
Engaging with literary texts to understand themes and contexts.
Creative Writing
Brainstorming and outlining reimagined versions of the stories.
Altering settings, characters, or endings to emphasize themes.
History/Social Studies
Understanding the historical context of the chosen literary works.
Researching the background and significance of the literature.
Technology/Computer Science
Using digital tools such as Adobe Spark, Book Creator, or video editing software to create digital narratives.
Crafting narratives in various multimedia formats, including digital books, animated videos, or podcasts.
Drama/Theater
Creating storyboards or drafting scripts as part of the reinterpretation process.
Media Studies
Designing and producing engaging multimedia formats.
Art
Engaging with visual storytelling in digital narratives.
Use the information from the Standards to assess what existing resources you can incorporate into your lessons. Refer to Chapter 3 for guidance on how to weave your current curriculum resources into this Project-Based Learning experience.
Storyline:
In this exciting PBL project, you will embark on a journey through beloved children's literature to explore the themes of (insert theme/s of your choice). You will delve into classic and contemporary storybooks, discovering the valuable life lessons they hold. Using digital storytelling tools, you will create engaging multimedia books, presentations, videos, or podcasts to bring these cherished tales to life while highlighting the importance of (insert theme/s).
You will have to
Conduct theme analysis and research
Reimagine literary works
Craft and produce digital narratives
Master digital tools
Showcase and reflect
Culminating event
Driving Question:
Initial Inquiry:
How does the theme contribute to a reader's understanding of a text?
Reflection & Iteration:
What creative ideas can we brainstorm to address our problem?
How have our ideas evolved throughout the process of brainstorming and planning?
Driving Question
How can we use the power of digital storytelling to in order to bring the themes of (insert themes) to life and inspire others in our community?
Turning Points:
Launch Storyline, Need to Know Questions and Theme Identification and Exploration:
Objective: Identify and understand the core themes in selected children's literature.
Activities: Begin with the storyline and driving question and have students formulate their Need to Know Questions. Utilize various forms of instruction as noted in Chapter 4. Use existing resources for lessons on content, lessons focus on the specific knowledge required for understanding theme. Students will select books, read them individually or in groups, and use tools like mind maps or theme boards to document and discuss recurring themes and messages.
Literary Analysis and Research:
Objective: Conduct a deep dive into the historical context, author's background, and thematic significance of the chosen works.
Activities: Review and refine Need to Know Questions based on previous turning point. Utilize various forms of instruction as noted in Chapter 4. Use existing resources for lessons on content, lessons focus on the specific knowledge required for understanding theme. Students will gather and or utilize articles, author interviews, and critical essays to enrich their understanding of the texts. They might also engage in group discussions or debates to compare their findings and viewpoints.
Reimagining Literary Works
Objective: Creatively reinterpret the selected stories to make them relevant to contemporary audiences or to emphasize a chosen theme.
Activities: Review and refine Need to Know Questions based on previous turning point. In groups, students will brainstorm and outline their reimagined versions of the stories, possibly altering settings, characters, or endings to better highlight the themes. They may create storyboards or draft scripts as part of this process.
Creation of Digital Narratives
Objective: Utilize digital tools to transform traditional texts into engaging multimedia formats.
Activities: Review and refine Need to Know Questions based on previous turning point. Students will use software such as Adobe Spark, Book Creator, or video editing tools to craft their narratives. This may include digital books, animated videos, or podcasts, depending on the chosen medium.
Showcasing and Peer Feedback
Objective: Present the digital narratives to an audience and gather feedback.
Activities: Each group will present their projects in a class showcase. Peers and instructors will provide feedback through structured critique sessions or feedback forms, focusing on creativity, adherence to themes, and technical execution.
Culminating Event and Reflection
Objective: Reflect on the learning experience and showcase the final projects to a broader audience.
Activities: Organize a culminating event such as a school fair, a parents' night, or a virtual sharing session with another class or school. Students will present their final projects and reflect on their learning journey, discussing challenges faced, skills learned, and insights gained about the themes.
Community Partners:
Various community partners could include (Select one or two).
Local Libraries - Partner with them for access to a wide range of children's literature, as well as hosting author talks and storytelling workshops.
Other Elementary, Middle and High Schools - Collaborate with local schools to get students involved in reading and participating in the project, and to use school facilities for showcases.
Local Bookstores - Work with these businesses to arrange book readings, author signings, and special events, and to possibly feature student-created digital narratives.
Museums and Cultural Centers - Engage with institutions that focus on storytelling, literature, or local history to host events or provide resources on storytelling techniques and background information.
Arts Councils - They can offer grants, resources, and networking opportunities with local artists and writers who might contribute their expertise to the project.
Local Authors and Illustrators - Partner with them for workshops on writing and illustrating books, providing students with firsthand insight into the creative process.
Media Outlets (Radio, TV, Online) - Utilize these platforms to share students' projects wider and invite community feedback, as well as for promoting public events.
Technology Companies - Collaborate for access to software and training in digital tools necessary for creating multimedia books or presentations.
Universities and Colleges - Partner with education departments for resources and expertise in children's literature, and potentially involve education students as mentors or project assistants.
Non-profit Educational Organizations - These organizations can provide additional educational resources, volunteer support, and perhaps avenues for further dissemination of the student projects.
Real-World Project Ideas:
Various projects could include (Select one or provide choice to your students).
Digital Storybooks - Students can create interactive, multimedia-enhanced e-books that incorporate animations, voiceovers, and clickable elements to bring stories to life.
Animated Short Films - Teams can produce short animated videos retelling the stories with a modern twist or emphasizing the chosen themes.
Podcast Series - Students can create a series of podcasts discussing the themes found in the books, including interviews with authors, experts, or peers about the stories and their personal interpretations.
Thematic Video Essays - Create in-depth video essays that analyze specific themes across different books, using clips, narration, and text to support their points.
Virtual Art Galleries - Design online art exhibits featuring student-created visual art inspired by the themes and characters of the books, such as digital paintings, illustrations, or graphic designs.
Interactive Webinars - Host live webinars where students present their projects and discuss the themes with an audience, allowing for real-time questions and interactions.
Themed Educational Kits - Develop educational kits that include activities and resources for younger students to explore the themes, such as DIY crafts, themed puzzles, and interactive games.
Narrative Websites - Create comprehensive websites that compile all the digital content produced by the students, including written analyses, videos, and digital storybooks, organized by theme or author.
Augmented Reality Experiences - Develop AR experiences that bring scenes from the books to life, allowing users to interact with characters and environments through their mobile devices.
Community Story Festivals - Organize a public event featuring live readings, digital storytelling showcases, and thematic discussions, where students can present their projects to the community.
Scaffolding Student Learning:
Outline methods for differentiating instruction and provide both common and unique scaffolding techniques to support student learning throughout the PBL process. Strategies can include:
Establishing clear learning objectives and success criteria.
Leveraging mentorship opportunities.
Employing a gradual release of responsibility.
Integrating expert panels.
Utilizing modeling and examples.
For a detailed discussion of comprehensive strategies, refer to Chapter 9.
Managing Activities:
Consider the following when managing activities.
Provide a safe learning environment so students are willing to take risks.
Outline clear learning objectives.
Ensure rituals, routines and processes support your objectives
Organize regular check-ins at different stages of the project.
Address issues as they emerge, encompassing content, processes, and social and emotional concerns.
For an in-depth exploration of strategies, consult Chapter 10. If additional instructional methodologies are required, refer to Chapter 4.
Technology Enhancements:
Various technology tools could include...
Mind Mapping Tools: MindMeister, Coggle, or Miro for documenting and discussing themes.
Collaboration Platforms: Google Docs, Microsoft OneNote, or Padlet for group discussions and documentation.
E-book Platforms: Kindle, Google Books, or Project Gutenberg for accessing and reading children's literature.
Presentation Tools: Google Slides, Prezi, or Canva for creating theme boards.
Virtual Books: Book Creator for publishing digital books.
Storyboarding Tools: Storyboard That, Canva, or Boords for creating visual storyboards.
Podcasting Tools: Anchor, Audacity, or GarageBand for creating audio narratives.
Feedback Platforms: Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, or Padlet for collecting structured feedback.
Reflection Tools: Blogging platforms like WordPress, or tools like Seesaw for documenting reflections and learning outcomes.
Video Conferencing Tools: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet for virtual presentations and feedback sessions.
CRITIQUE, REVISION & REFLECTION
Critique, Revision, Reflection and Feedback Mechanisms:
Outline strategies for structured critique, revision, reflection, and feedback during the PBL process. Activities may include:
Maintaining journals
Conducting peer reviews
Using the PROFESS routine
Holding reflection sessions to help students critically analyze their learning experiences and skill development
For detailed strategies, refer to Chapters 12 and 13.
Consider both traditional and authentic formative and summative assessments, ensuring they correspond with key turning points. Traditional assessments might include:
Quizzes
Exit tickets
Tests
Written reports
Authentic assessments could involve:
Reflection journals
Peer assessments
Exhibitions
Presentations
The projects themselves
For more information, consult Chapter 14.