K-2 iPad Project: Book Creator app
Dolphin Project Details
Grade Level: 1st Grade
Subject: Science
Curriculum: (Common Core Domain/Lesson) – Non-fiction reading and informational writing
Title: Dolphins
Project Description: Students used Book Creator App and created iBook demonstrating their knowledge of Dolphins. The students had previously read books on the topic and practiced writing facts and drawing diagrams to show what they’d learned. That work became the springboard for learning how to use the iPad app: Book Creator.
Process: Plan for 5 or 6 sessions of about 30 minutes to create a book.
Session 1: Shared a finished Book Creator projector done by some other students. Talked about how we could use the students’ dolphin work posted in the hall to learn the Book Creator app and to create a book about dolphins.
Session 2: Used the iPad to take the students’ pictures. Students had hands on time and took turns making every decision from the shape of the book, background color, placement of pictures, colors of text, etc... They created the cover of their book and learned how to add and resize their pictures.
Session 3: Students decided what facts they wanted to share and began taking turns typing their sentences. They decided they wanted to record their voices reading the text so that younger students would be able to enjoy the book too. To keep things moving, we focused on writing first and then recorded them reading at the end.
Session 4: Students completed the text and almost all the recording. They learned about doing online pictures searches and giving credit for the images and added a few pictures from Google and a few of their drawings.
Session 5: Students were asked some questions that they answered in writing on a piece of paper and this became the material they used to type up their individual sections of the Meet the Authors page. They also took turns recording this piece.
Session 6: Gave s. an oral Book Creator “quiz” so they could show their readiness to use the app independently. The goal is for students to move from needing teacher support to using Book Creator on their own and becoming supports to each other in using the app.
Additional Notes:
Set clear goals for each session, choose students that are functioning pretty independently in the classroom and ready for the challenge of learning how to show off their creativity, critical thinking skills and oral expression abilities.
Resources: iPad, Book Creator app, student drawings and writing