0 Inspired to Write: PicLits

PicLits.com is a creative writing site which provides images (unfortunately, you cannot upload your own pictures) and word banks to generate sentences about the picture.  According to the site, “The object is to put the right words in the right place and the right order to capture the essence, story, and meaning of the picture.” 

Students have the option to choose words from the word bank - by dragging/dropping them into the photo - or composing/ “freestyling” their own words.

As the words are dragged/dropped onto the picture, the site allow for the option of capitalization as well as various tenses of the word. It even has end punctuation! How cool is that! 

It is amazing to me that this site has been around since 2008 and I just now stumbled upon it. I cannot wait to share this with my teachers!

Classroom Applications: 

• Practice the various types of sentences (Grammar)
• Writing/introducing poetry (i.e. Alliteration, Limericks, Lanterne, Diamante, Haiku)
• Creative/descriptive writing
• Free verse poems
• Parts of speech 
• Subject/verb agreement
• Compound/complex sentences
• Story starter
• Inferencing
• Vocabulary words (example1)
• Practice with foreign language
• Word formation
• Verb tenses
• New Year resolution
• Sensory and figurative language (i.e. Simlies/Metaphors, Synonyms/Antonyms)
• Character traits
• One line summary of a song or story
• Collaborative writing
• Prompts for journal writing
• The images and accompanying word banks provide visual and vocabulary support for ESL students and reluctant writers. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Science classes can use the nature photos to write about curriculum topics. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Images can be used to practice math problems or write math sentences. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Have students find a memorable quote from a story or book they are reading and create a Piclit to showcase it. http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Each student can choose a phrase they hear often (from mom, dad, grandma, teacher etc.) and design a Piclit around it.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose a line from a favorite poem and create a Piclit.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose a line from a favorite song or rap, http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five vocabulary words.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five adjectives to describe the picture they chose.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five rhyming words to describe the picture they chose.   http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits 

1 Insects: A Collaboration Between Technology and Library

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 5 stations (for Kindergarten) were created around an Insect theme. The educational goal was for the students to discover various facts about insects.

• Parts of an Insect
• Why they are important
• Difference between an insect and not an insect
  

Numerous devices were utilized (i.e. iPads, Macbooks, PhotoBooth) as well as online resources.

 Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

1 Heroes in History and Literature: A Technology and Library Collaboration

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 10 stations (for 3rd Graders) were created around Heroes in History and Literature. The educational goal was for the students to discover what the person/character did and why they were famous.  Below are the heroes the students researched. The final project will result in students creating Taboo cards with their information.

State and National

• Daniel Boone
• Davy Crockett
• Molly Pitcher

Folktales and Legends

• Pecos Bill
• Paul Bunyan

Mythology

• Hercules
• Perseus and Medusa
• Theseus and the Minotaur
• Menelaus and the Trojan Horse
• Zeus 

Various idevices were utilized (i.e. iTouches, iPads, and Nanos) as well as online resources. Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

0 Robert Munsch: A Technology and Library Collaboration

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 5 stations (for 2nd Graders) were created around the author; Robert Munsch. The educational goal was for the students to discover at least 2 facts about the author. Various idevices were utilized (i.e. iTouches, iPads, and Nanos) as well as online resources.

Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

0 Pumpkins: Technology and Library: A Collaboration

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 14 stations (for Kindergarten) were created around a pumpkin theme. Various idevices were utilized (i.e. iTouches, iPads, and Nanos) as well as various online resources. Each station was approximately 4 minutes and the focus of the stations revolved around the following Kindergarten TEKS:

• Technology (2A-C, 5A, 7A)
• Science (K10.B)
• Math (K5.A, 6.0. 6.A)
• As well as other various skills

Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results: