10+ Tech Projects for ILA

One of the things I love to do with my teachers is find an add-on project that is technology-based for their lessons. And when it comes to Integrated Language Arts, there are a plethora of ways for students to express their understanding of a topic.

Here are just 10 of my favorites (and  a bonus +1)

1. Movie Trailers - I generally have students pick their favorite book and make a movie trailer for it. When they finish the trailer, they make a sign with the book jacket and a QR Code that is hung outside the library. (iMovie, Animoto, Adobe Spark Video, PhotoStory, WeVideo)

2. Comic Strip - students choose a scene from a book and create a comic strip (6-panel). (Powtoon, Google Slide, StoryboardThat)

3. Infographic - a poster that highlights one or more characters: features quotes, character traits; ideas are endless. (Canva, Adobe Spark, Glogster)

QR Code for Book Trailer

4. Reader Theater - scene/summary of a book or my favorite: assigning parts and having the students act them out and create sound effects. (Audacity, Garage Band)

5. Podcast - interview a character from a book (Audacity, GarageBand)

6. Brochure - character/place as a tourist tri-fold (Google Slides, Power Point, Publisher)

7. Fake Social Media - conversations using fake social media templates, this can be done digitally or on paper (ClassTools: Twitter, Fakebook templates)

8. Wanted Poster - create posters for the antagonist or other characters (Canva, Adobe Spark Page, Slides)

Google Slides Comic Strip Panel

9. Webpage - showcase understanding of characters, plot, theme (Adobe Spark website, Google Sites)

10. Stop Animation - recreate a scene from novel study using stop motion. My favorite so far has been from the book Wonder. (Lego Animation iOS app, Google Slides, HeronAnimation )

BONUS: BigHugeLabs -- create Trading Cards, Movie Posters, Magazine Covers, and Cubes to showcase characters, theme, and summaries 


What are your favorite resources or tools for integrating technology into your lessons?

Disclaimer: There are no affiliate links on this page - I make no profit from recommendations

Looking like a Movie Producer was never easier!

I have been using a digital storytelling website in my classroom for the last year that I absolutely ADORE!  It's fast and easy and makes me (and my students) look like a movie-making genius (ok so the secret is out). The site, http://Animoto.com/education, is fantastic for creating all types of wonderful videos with a plethora of themes.  It's as simple as uploading pictures/images & sorting them, choosing a theme, choosing music, and pushing a button! Animoto takes care of the rest. Within a few minutes, the video is finished and ready to download or share.
Last month, I had my 2nd grade illustrate the parts of the Lifecycle of a Butterfly in MS Paint. I saved the drawings as jpg files and uploaded them to Animoto. We picked a theme (sky and clouds) and a song "Elusive Butterfly" by Geoff Byrd - and let Animoto do its magic. The students, teachers, and parents were thrilled.

Recently, I did the same as they drew different scenes from the Nativity story (music by Steven Curtis Chapman -- O Little Town Of Bethelehem). It was beautiful. Check it out.

Animoto offers several pricing plans from Lite (free/limited) to professional, but educators can apply for a free Animoto Plus account for use in the classroom.  It's     worth it whatever plan you choose !