Using Storybird

Lesson Plans Using Storybird Online

https://storybird.com/accounts/login/

https://storybird.com/books/storybird-a-simple-guide-for-teachers-and-students/

https://storybird.com/teachers/

https://storybird.com/books/the-princess-and-the-evil-sandwich/?token=jnpqxpqtqb\

Fairy Tale Unit including: point of view, twisted tales, and elements of the genre.

Reading Expectations:

·         recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning;

·

·         1.9 identify, initially with support and direction, the speaker and the point of view presented in a text and suggest one or two possible alternative perspectives

·         2.1 identify and describe the characteristics of a few simple text forms, with a focus on literary texts such as a fairy tale

Writing Expectations:

·         generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience;

·          draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, literary

·         generate ideas about a potential topic, using a variety of strategies and resources

·         identify elements of their writing that need improvement, using feedback from the teacher and peers, with a focus on content and word choice

Media Literacy Expectations:

·         create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques

·         identify, initially with support and direction, whose point of view (e.g., that of the hero, the villain, the narrator) is presented in a simple media text and suggest how the text might change if a different point of view were used

·         produce media texts for specific purposes and audiences, using a few simple media forms and appropriate conventions and techniques (a story illustrated with diagrams and digital images)

Students are to create their own fairy tale using Storybird on line. The class will create a shared story using the website and LCD in the classroom and then create independent stories during their time in the computer lab.

Storybird provides frameworks/templates for creating stories on line along with an extensive art library to choose from to illustrate the text.  This type of program allows students to choose their artwork prior to writing if they desire, and therefore provides inspiration and assistance in starting stories for hesitant writers.  All creations in the virtual classroom must be reviewed by the teacher before the can be published and viewed by the remainder of the class.  Students can obtain access to their account while at home if they have access to a computer and the internet.

Teacher

·         set up virtual class list in Storybird and print of username/password cards

·         investigation of site features

Introduction of Lessons:

·         Students have been introduced to the genre of Fairy Tales through modelled, shared and independent readings in class.  Discussions have included elements of a fairy tale that are unique to the genre as well as who is telling the story (narrator vs character). 

·         The first period in the computer lab students are introduced to the website Story Bird and given their usernames.  Students are required to set their own password and record it on their username card.  Review the privacy of passwords (keeping it to themselves, other that informing the teacher) and the importance of using a word that is easy for them to remember (so they can have access to the account).  Students are encouraged to explore the site and see what they can learn on their own.  No formal instruction is given at this time as it is preferred that the students see what they can figure out independently.

Continuance of Lessons:

·         The study of Fairy Tales continues with students reading and providing responses to a variety of versions of different Fairy Tales.  Some students are making use of Tumblebooks and ebooks as well as the hard copy texts in the classroom.  This ensures appropriately levelled texts and accessible resources are available to all students.

·         Using the LCD projector and laptop, students view Storybird on the screen/whiteboard.  They are encouraged to lead the lesson by explaining to the teacher and their classmates what they have discovered about the website.  As a group, explore the art gallery.  Discuss how the images chosen will set the mood and tone of the story that will be created.

·         The shared writing will incorporate the three story choses made during the introduction to Fairy Tales from Nelson Literacy.  These include the main character, setting and problem.  Students will pick the set of illustrations they think suit the Nelson choices best and begin to create the Story Bird Fairy Tale as a class.  This will be an interactive lesson where the students will show the teacher how to navigate through the pictures and begin the first page or two of the story. Students will learn/teach how to save the work.

·         Students will use a graphic organizer to brainstorm thoughts about the Fairy Tale they will be independently creating.

Next Computer Lab Session:

·         Before going to the lab, expectations for use of Storybird and the creation of a Fairy Tale will be discussed.  A task assignment will also be available to the students when they log into the site. They will use the picture book format when creating their story.

·         Students are required to create a Fairy Tale that features at least three elements of the genre that have been discussed in class (Examples: appropriate setting, evil character, royalty, the number three or seven, magic, talking animals)  The story must also include a problem and a solution.  It is estimated that the Fairy Tale will take at least 8-10 pages in order to fulfill the expectations.  Students will be given three or four computer lab periods to create, edit, revise and publish their Fairy Tale (timeline will be monitored and adjusted as required).

·         During this period in the lab students will choose the gallery from which they wish to select their illustrations.  Although they could work with a variety of galleries it is preferred they stick to one in order to maintain consistency and limit the time browsing each time they are ready to create a new page.

·         Once they are ready they can begin creating their story using the graphic organizer they worked on in class.

In the classroom:

·         Shared Writing Continued: The class will continue to create the shared Fairy Tale, adding characters, illustrations and creating the problem and solution.  The work will be reviewed and edited as a group.  Discuss how errors are marked with red underlines and the accessible resources for checking spelling as there is not a spell/grammar correct feature on this site.

Back in the lab:

·         Assist students as required as they work independently on their Storybird creation. This is their second full session in the lab so they should be making good progress on their story.  All characters, including the villain, the setting and the problem should be established by the end of this period.

·         Remind students to save and log off at the end of the period (this is Grade Two, and yes they need to be reminded).

In the classroom:

·         Shared Writing Continued: The class will finish creating the shared Fairy Tale making sure there is an appropriate solution to the problem and a proper ending.  The work will be reviewed and edited as a group.  Make any necessary changes.   When the class is happy with the story and believe it is ready to publish and share, discuss the steps required in saving and sharing the story.

      https://storybird.com/books/the-princess-and-the-evil-sandwich/?token=jnpqxpqtqb

      Back in the lab:

·         Assist students as required as they work independently on their Story Bird creation. This is their third full session in the lab so they should be making good progress on their story and hopefully be finished d by the end of this period.

·         Have students have a peer review their Fairy Tale and assist with any revisions. Monitor class progress to decide if another lab period is required for students to complete their Fairy Tales. Remind students to save and log off at the end of the period (this is Grade Two, and yes they need to be reminded).

If another lab period is required for task completion, allow for this, but remind students that it will be the final in school session.  All stories will be saved and sent to the teacher for review.  During the following lab period, students will be reading and reviewing their classmates Fairy Tales and adding appropriate and meaningful comments.  In class, before reviewing stories, discuss with class what an appropriate and meaningful review/comment looks like and create examples.  The online feedback provided by students will also be used as an assessment tool for this activity.

Encourage students to continue using Story Bird as a way to create, experiment and express themselves while at home, or during unstructured classroom or lab  computer use periods.

Checklist
Introduction
3 Fairy Tale Elements
Problem
Solution
Conclusion

Fairy Tale Expectations Rubric
	Level  One	Level Two	Level Three	Level Four
Knowledge & Understanding Form: includes all required elements of the genre Ability to make appropriate and meaningful comments on other stories during peer review	Demonstrates limited knowledge and understanding	Demonstrates some knowledge and understanding	Demonstrates considerable knowledge and understanding	Demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding
Thinking Use of planner, organization of story (it makes sense  and follows a story path)	Uses planning and organizational skills with limited effectiveness (ideas out of order, jumpy, forgets parts...)	Uses planning and organizational skills with some effectiveness	Uses planning and organizational skills with considerable effectiveness	Uses planning and organizational skills with a high degree of effectiveness
Application Transfers knowledge of form into his/her own writing using media tool (Storybird Website) to create a Fairy Tale and to review and comment on the stories created by other students	Applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with limited effectiveness	Applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with some effectiveness	Applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with considerable  effectiveness	Applies knowledge and skills in familiar contexts with a high degree of  effectiveness
Communication Word choice conveys meaning and mood (and connects to graphics)	limited effectiveness	some effectiveness	considerable effectiveness	a high degree of effectiveness