EDUC 2220- Educational Technology

Story Building
Morgan Matchack
Grade 3/ Reading/writing

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique,
descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.A Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or

characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.B Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and

feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.C Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.D Provide a sense of closure.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7

Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words
in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting)

Lesson Summary:
Requirements: Access to computers, and Storybird software
To help students grow their technology skills and typing skills as well as creatively think of story
concepts. Students will read and then create short stories using the technology Story Bird.

Estimated Duration:

Total time: 170 minutes (Will be split up between five days)

Commentary:
To engage students the first day I will be showing them stories to help spark ideas for this lesson
plan. I will be giving students free rain with what ideas they have with their stories.
Students might have troubles coming up with ideas, or try to use the example ideas. Encourage
them to be creative. (Storybird has really cool art students can get inspired from, and is a great
way to help with writer's block.

Instructional Procedures:

Day One (20 minute duration):

20 min- Use day one as the day to introduce the project to students. Ask what they know about
story writing and assess their knowledge about what makes a story interesting to read.

Introduce them to the app Storybird on the computer, and show them 2-3 different short stories
on the app.

Show them some with just pictures and some with dialogue and ask them which story was more
interesting to read. Explain the usefulness of dialogue and how it furthers the stories,
Tell them to be thinking about short story ideas for themselves.

Day 2 (20 minute duration):

Help show how Storybird works by creating one with the group of students. Show how they can
pick photos for inspiration for their story, and see where the students go with the group story.

Make sure to remind them to be thinking of story ideas for the next day.

Day 3 (40 minute duration):

Use this time to help students set up a Storybird account on the student’s laptops. Help them get
to the software where they can create stories and have them start experimenting with the
program.
Have them start creating their stories and make sure to help when needed with typing skills and
spell checking. Stories should include at least one character, have a setting, a problem and a
solution of some sort. (10 pages)

Day 4 (30 minute duration):

This is a continuation on the students projects from the previous day. To help kids finalize their
projects and check to make sure they are following the prompts.

Day 5 (60 minute duration):

Students will present their stories to the class.
Pre-Assessment:
Ask the students how much they know about story writing before the lesson. Ask them what
makes the story interesting and what they like about stories. See if they can identify the problem
in stories and the resolution.

Scoring Guidelines:
Grading can be up to the teachers. Check for spelling errors and not complete sentences. Make
sure the students follow the prompts and have a complete story. And is visually appealing with
pictures.

Differentiated Instructional Support

If students are struggling with these concepts you can break it down into simpler terms. Help
them come up with a setting and problem to give them ideas they can use if they cannot come up
with one. If students are struggling using the software for storybird take more time going
through the lesson and help each kid.

Homework Options and Home Connections

If students do not complete their stories in class they have the option to log in at home and
complete the stories for presentation day. In weekly letter home to parents tell them about the
ideas of story creating and try to get them to get students reading stories and point out characters
and plot building.

Interdisciplinary Connections
This lesson not only is a reading project, but also incorporates technology, and english as well
throughout the lesson. Students must use grammar and spelling to complete full sentences, and
will grow their technology and typing skills by creating their short stories.

Materials and Resources:

Teachers: Access to projector and computer as well as the software Storybird.
Students: Access to computers and Storybird.

Key Vocabulary
Storybird- Is an interactive story builder website/app that helps build simple stories with pictures
and is easy to use for classroom setting.

Additional Notes
You will need to purchase the Storybird subscription to be able to use for classroom setting prior
to this lesson plan.