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Storybird

​Visual storytelling for everyone.

A platform for writers, readers, and artists of all ages.

Storybird lets anyone make visual stories in seconds. We curate artwork from illustrators and animators around the world and inspire writers of any age to turn those images

into fresh stories.

 

It's a simple idea that has attracted millions of writers, readers, and artists to our platform. Families and friends, teachers and students, and amateurs and professionals have created more than 5 million stories—making Storybird one of the world's largest storytelling communities.

Free online

Storybird Watch the video

 

PS can setup the kids passwords before you start - you will need to be creative with the usernames as there are many already taken.

 

Will the Real Martian Please Stand UP?

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22minutes of Amazing StoryTelling

A black and white masterpiece ideal for studying narrative storytelling.

 

Here are some great questions to get you started:

 

What are the settings?

Name the characters and provide a brief description.

What is the problem?

What things increase the tension?

What is the climax?

(stop the tape at 17mins in and ask.....)

Who is the Martian?

What do you predict will happen?

What is the resolution?

What did you think of the story?

 

CHALLENGE: Write a Twilight Zone story.

Use the headings above to make a story map.

You might like to start with the opening narration:

 

You’re traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only

of sight and sound but of mind.

A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of

imagination. That’s the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the

Twilight Zone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RMQM9LX9Yk

 

Art and Prepositions

Here's a great InfoGraphic - my latest favourite thing 

Use this to produce artwork on prepositions. Simple and
MondrianEsq..... This would make a fabulous informative display.

 

Plot Device

Plot Device Video

Great Plot device video - very entertaining and engaging

Plot Device explanation

Straightforward explanation with lots of examples.

 

Multi-Modal Texts

webBOOKS

Inanimate Alice Great webisode story - fabulous teacher resources a multi-modal text. Teacher Resource pdf lesson starter

 

Luminaris from Juan Pablo Zaramella Stop frame animation multiaward winning short film.(6mins)

 

eBOOKS The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - view the video.(15mins) View the APP PRomo. Buy the APP - award-winning short film is now an interactive narrative experience. William Joyce's "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore", blurs the line between picture books and animated film.

Check out the Books Creators at their Moonbotstudios website, for more titles and

 

Grammar

SENTENCE SURGEONS - Sentences to correct

 

Blogs

Planet Zoe Edublog Great Prize winning blog from 5/6 student, take a look at the 100 word challenge. And also take a look at her thought s on Inanimate Alice. Her ideas for a thinklink are great,

 

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Narrative Voice

The spider who couldn't hide...... Splendid TEDED Lesson

Narrative voice is another name for a person telling a story. The narrative voice adds clarification and can better explain what is going on in a scene -- it's even an insight into a character's thoughts. Take, for example, this spider who couldn't hide. Fabulous. Use this as inspiration for making a video, use iPads. Write and record POV for the For the Birds | Original Movie from Pixar(3.26m) or for Pigeons (2.5min rest is credits) Also try some live action videos from the Discovery Channel - try activities with whole class first then in pairs. (short videos about 2mins)

Use Padlet for students to ask questions http://padlet.com/cathy007/spider

Suction Cup Ducks - Great to discuss walking in straight lines

Chad Michael Simon Videos

 

AWESOME

 Jill Shargaa: Please, please, people. Let's put the 'awe' back in 'awesome'

Possible MUTE FROM 4.00 - 4.20

Which of the following is awesome: your lunch or the Great Pyramid of Giza? Comedian Jill Shargaa sounds a hilarious call for us to save the word "awesome" for things that truly inspire awe. Watch the TEDED video

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Word Cloud from ABCYA

Word list "Awesome Alternatives" as word document

 

Some ideas, take notes from the Video. Make a list of 5 truly awesome things. Write a sentence about each. Write a list of 5 ways you use the word awesome this week, go on be honest. Replace the word with something more suitable.

 

More Adventure, use iPad app 'Explain Everything' to docment things that are awesome and things that are not. See if you can go for a comparison by opposites. Show a high level of skill and context in your presentation but add some humour.

 

Even more adventure - Work in powerpoint and use the exit animations to setup a reveal on click option for things that are truly awesome and things that are just well NOT.

 

SIX ALTERNATIVES TO BOOK REPORTS

Some visual writing ideas that are alternatives to the standard book report from John Spencer.

 

 

 

 

© Cathy Brown 1998 - 2018