TOONTASTIC
*AN EASY TO USE CREATIVE STORYTELLING APP*
What is Toontastic?
Toontastic is a creative storytelling app that enables children to animate and share their own cartoons. Children begin by choosing a scene on the Story Arc. This can be a setup, a conflict, a challenge, a climax, or a resolution. They then pick their own background and characters. There are lots of choices available within the app, e.g. pirates and princesses or students can create their own.
Check out the video below for the basics on how to use Toontastic on your ipad. This app is available for students to download in Self Service.
Sample Lesson Ideas
- Students will have previously learned about the parts of a story and plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax, resolution). Tell students that they will be working in groups to retell the events of a story they just read. In the retelling process, they will create a cartoon adaptation of the story using an iPad app called Toontastic. Build excitement and create buy-in by showings an anchor video for a story that students have previously read.
- Have students write their own stories with a focus of your choice. Then, allow students to use Toontastic to animate and record their end product. This can serve as an assessment of literary skills, such as plot development, characterization, the effect of setting on plot, etc. This works on a group or individual basis.
- Review elements of a story, action verbs, and the story The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything. Students create own story using Toontastic, incorporating story elements and action verbs using correct inflectional endings.
- With a partner, students will create a plot structure diagram highlighting the five parts of plot from a novel that they have read.
- Students will choose one of the types of energy (motion energy, electricity energy, sound energy, heat energy, light energy, wind energy). They will reserach the form of energy and reporting on how it works, and what can be converted into it/what it can be converted into. Once students have completed their research, they will create a Toontastic cartoon explaining the form of energy. Questions to consider: What it is, how it is used, what it can be converted too, examples of this form of energy.
**NEW APP ALERT IN SELF-SERVICE**
MyScript Calculator - Handwriting calculator
This calculator allows students to write their problem on the screen and turns their handwriting into results! It is also fast and easy to edit problems. It's super neat! Check it out and let me know how you like it!
*Works best once you've updated your device to the newest iOS 11.*
As always, if you need anything please let Mrs. Raindrop know.
