Hello, Readers!

This week, we share the journey of a Grade 3 class that explored the world of twisted fairy tales. With our help and the guidance of their dedicated teacher, the students were able to write short stories, record their voices, and even created cover art for their audio books. Let’s see how it went!

When Exploring Twisted Tales, It’s Best to Be Prepared!

By Carlo

For around two weeks, the Grade 3 students dove deep into studying story structure, characters, and the art of writing. They cooked up their own versions of beloved fairy tales, adding their own twists, and alternate endings. Writing, however, was just the beginning. We wanted to make their stories came alive by hearing the students' own voices narrating and even acting out different character voices. But before we could get to that, we still had some technical steps to undertake.

First things first, the class needed to get their school user accounts up and running. Introducing young learners to their school accounts is a lesson in and of itself! We wanted to ensure they understood the weight of having a school account, so we had a rundown on digital responsibility and helped them sign in for the very first time.

With their stories ready to go, and user accounts active, each student was ready to record their own story. Using the simple iPad Voice Recorder App, the students practiced their storytelling skills and captured their voices in compelling audio.

But that's not all, folks! While some students were recording their stories, others explored Canva, a cool design tool. We showed them how to whip up cover art for their audio books — and wow, the students sure did let their imagination and artistic skills loose! Canva’s efficient and easy to use tools allowed them to create their cover art in a short amount of time.

With a mash-up of language arts, visual design, and performance, there were definitely many moving pieces to this project. It is a good example of awesome things that happen when you're prepared before entering the digital world. By fully understanding their stories, and rehearsing their parts, these students were ready to  utilize the digital tools with confidence. The teacher's groundwork helped them dodge any bumps in the road, maximize time in the classroom, and level up their work.

What do you think? Are you ready to dive into the enchanting world of audiobook and podcast recording? There is some serious magic that can happen when creative writing meets digital fluency.

Until next week,

The Classmate Team

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