Creating an ABC Book
An App Smashing Activity for Kindergarteners
VA Reading SOL K.7
The student will develop an understanding of basic phonetic principles.
- Identify and name the uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
- Match consonant, short vowel, and initial consonant digraph sounds to appropriate letters.
- Demonstrate a speech-to-print match through accurate finger-point reading in familiar text that includes words with more than one syllable.
- Identify beginning consonant sounds in single-syllable words.
Activity Overview
- As your Kindergarteners learn each letter of the alphabet during the first semester, have them create a collage using the PicCollage App that includes pictures and words for each letter.
- Have each student save the PicCollage to the camera roll.
- When all letters have been learned and collages created, students can use VoiceThread, Videolicious, or Educreations to add each PicCollage creation in ABC order to create the book. Students can add narration such as "A is for Alligator" as they read the words/sentences they created.
- Once created, share the URL with family members and/or post on your blog/website.
Options:
- Do this activity as a whole class instead of individual students with the end product being one classroom book.
- Put students into groups. Each group can create a different "themed" ABC book (animals, plants, foods, etc.).
App to Use: PicCollage
PicCollage is a fabulous app that allows you to create picture collages by adding pictures, text and stickers. Choose your own layout and background to customize your creation. Check it out here.
App to Use: VoiceThread
VoiceThread allows you to build conversations around different types of media. Add pictures, files, or videos and then add comments or narration over top. Check it out here.
Alternative Apps
There are tons of storytelling apps out there: Book Creator, Story Creator, Scribble My Story, etc. I like VoiceThread, Videolicious or Educreations for two reasons: They are free and they produces a URL that can easily be shared with families or posted on teacher blogs/websites. If you know of other storytelling apps that are free and produce a URL, comment below! I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!
PicCollage Directions
- Launch the PicCollage app.
- If this is the first time opening PicCollage, tap the screen to create a new collage. Otherwise, swipe until you see the screen to tap to create a new collage.
- Tap the bottom left layout button to change the layout of pictures and/or background. When you have made your selection, tap the down arrow.
- Tap anywhere on the screen to add pictures using your camera, from the camera roll or from the web.
- Use one finger to move the picture around. Use two fingers to pinch in or out to re-size/rotate the photo.
- Tap anywhere on the screen to add additional photos, text, and stickers. You can also tap the plus sign at the bottom.
- When adding text, you have four tabs in the middle of the text editing box: font style, text color, background color, alignment, and text outline. Format your text as you see fit.
- When adding stickers, you are given a starter pack plus some additional free stickers. Caution: Students can browse for more stickers that cost money. This can be a time suck if you don't have a conversation with your students ahead of time.
- To delete objects, swipe the object to the top, right corner toward the trash can (Note: The trash can doesn't normally appear on the screen.) If you accidentally delete something, tap the trash can and it will reappear. This is your undo button. Keep tapping to get any objects you deleted.
- To edit a photo placed in the collage, tap twice on it.
- When all objects have been placed on the collage, tap the share button in the bottom right corner. Choose save to library. This saves the collage to your camera roll.
- For better management of photos overtime, create a folder in the camera roll for each student.
VoiceThread Directions
- Launch the VoiceThread app.
- Create an account if you don't already have one.
- Tap the create button at the bottom.
- Tap the green + mark. Choose library to pull PicCollage pictures from the camera roll.
- Choose Camera Roll and select all the photos for letters A to Z.
- Tap done.
- Tap and hold each picture to rearrange or delete.
- When all pictures are in the correct order, tap comment.
- Tap the microphone at the bottom to record narration. The screen will count down for you. Record, then tap the blinking, red button to stop. If you like what you hear, tap save. If not, tap cancel.
- Swipe to the next picture.
- Tap the speech bubble with the plus sign to record narration again.
- Repeat steps 9-11 until all pictures have narration.
- When finished, tap the X in the upper, left corner.
- To get the URL, you'll need to log in to www.voicethread.com on a regular computer.
- Click on the My Voice tab. Click the gear icon on your ABC Book, then share.
- Click the button that says "Get a Link."
- Click "copy the link."
- Paste this link into an email to share with families or paste it into your website/blog.
Note: These are very basic directions. VoiceThread has a great support section on their site. Check them out here.
Stacie C. Taylor
Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT)
Hanover County Public Schools
Email: sctaylor@hcps.us
Website: http://hcpstech.wordpress.com/
Location: Mechanicsville, VA, United States
Phone: -
Twitter: @sctaylorITRT