Instructional+Plan

=Instructional Plan=

North Carolina Standards
Prior learning experiences we will have provided for our students before beginning this unit on digital storytelling: Retelling in sequential order, telling beginning middle and end, telling with more details, oral retelling as part of guided reading groups, written retelling through reading logs, picture retellings, graphic organizer retellings with pictures and writing
 * Background Knowledge/Prior Experiences**

Explain to students that we are going to retell some of our favorite stories using the computer. Show examples of voicethread story retellings. Discuss as a whole class what made those examples successful, i.e., what elements make a strong retelling. What elements did not work as well or were difficult to understand (e.g., talking too close to the microphone, using pencil drawings with no color).
 * Day 1: Getting Started**

Outside of Class Time: Create teacher version of the e-book. Create original drawings to retell the story. Take digital photos of the drawings and upload photos to voicethread. Add comments that retell the story (beginning, middle, and end with details) in own words.

[|Show teacher created e-book]. Share original drawings, share voicethread e-book. Explain how teacher created e-book. Have students choose their own book for retelling. Ask each students to draw three pictures to represent the beginning, middle, and end of the story. After the students have finished the pictures, have them write at least two sentences that retell the beginning, middle, and end of the story. **Early Finishers**: Teacher will model how to use the digital camera to photograph their drawings. First few students become experts and teach other students how to use the camera. //Outside of Class Time:// //1. Teacher uploads photos of completed drawings onto voicethread. Teacher will either create thematic voicethreads (any students that do a retelling of the same book will share a voicethread that will include several retellings) or individual voicethreads (one per student).// //2. Create voicethread accounts for students//
 * Day 2: Beginning Retelling and the Writing Process**

Students will complete their drawings and their beginning, middle, and end sentences. Students will revise and edit their writing with a partner. Students will conference with the teacher to review their final draft. Students will finish photographing drawings.
 * Day 3: Completing the Retelling and Writing Process**

Teacher models 1) logging in to voicethread, 2) finding own voicethread story, 3) and using the comment tools. After each step, teacher will have students try that step on their own. Students will help one another to navigate through the website and use the tools.
 * Day 4: Using VoiceThread for Our Stories**

Mary will use AverKey and demonstrate what to do via the TV. Kristen will take students to the computer lab. Kristen will demonstrate via a laptop hooked up to the digital projector. Students will bring their writing with them.

Students will begin recording their retelling narration using the comment tools.

Students will complete recording their retelling narration using the comment tools.
 * Day 5: Recording Narration (Comments Tool)**

Teacher will model commenting on another student’s voicethread. Students will experiment with commenting on other students’ voicethreads.
 * Day 6: Wrapping Up**

Parents are invited to visit the class. Parents and students will watch all the completed voicethreads. After viewing the completed products, parents and students will enjoy refreshments and talk about the digital storytelling experience.
 * Day 7: Celebration**

[|www.voicethread.com]
 * Resources:**