Digital Storytelling - Fotobabble or Blabberize

Here's a little activity I did with my 8 year olds.  www.fotobabble.com and www.blabberize.com are very similar sites except you can add a "mouth" to Blabberize which makes it more fun for students.  You can also upload sound files, which isn't possible with Fotobabble.  I used Blabberize for this activity.  www.fotobabble.com  is simpler and quicker and, if you have an iPhone, there is an app so you can do everything on your phone.  An app for Android is coming soon according to the website so keep an eye out.

In this activity, my young learners talked about themselves, but language and topic can be adapted for ALL ages and levels.




Description:  Students create a poster, then upload it to a website and talk about it.
Time:  60-90 minutes
Age:  Any
Level: Any

Materials 

• strips of coloured paper 
• small squares of white paper to draw a picture (optional)
• A4 sheets of coloured paper - one for each student
• scissors, crayons, glue
• smartphone or camera, microphone and class computer or netbooks
• www.blabberize.com or www.fotobabble.com

 Procedure

1. Review language you want to practise. 
2. Put strips of coloured paper in a pile on a chair or table. Handout sheets of coloured paper and optional white paper
3. Students write one sentence on each strip of paper, draw and colour the picture (optional) and stick on paper.
4. Take photo of finished poster and upload to your class computer, netbooks or iPhone (if you're using Fotobabble).

Digitise

1. Students read and record the content of their poster (you can vary this according to level)
2. Go to www.blabberize.com and upload the image.  (It is optional to place a "mouth", if students have netbooks, it's a fun idea, if you are doing it in a hurry just skip this part) or use www.Fotobabble.com
3. Students record their narration.
4. Show completed Blabberizes/Fotobabbles to class

Follow Up Ideas

• Students "Review" each other's Blabberizes/Fotobabbles
• Compare and contrast speaking activities (depending on topic/language)
• Discussion activities (depending on topic/language)
• Writing essay, report, etc. 
• Use for language revision/recycling
• Pronunciation issues

Classroom Management Tips
If you've got 12 younger or teenage students it will be difficult to keep them quiet while one student is recording.  If you can get your hands on a microphone extension, send the recording student outside (or the netbook/iPhone).  If you haven't got any of those, play FREEZE (with or without freeze cards).  Give a student a freeze card (a card with "freeze" written on it:)).  Just before someone starts recording, The freeze card holder counts down from 5 then shouts freeze holding up the card.  All the students have to stop talking (but allow them to continue with their posters if they haven't finished yet).  Remarkably, it works!
 

My Country Vocabulary

Flashcards of geographical vocabulary for elementary level students.

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NY Times Reading about Models.

Read this article from the New York Times then answer the questions below.
Checking Model's IDs at the door

1. HOW old are some runway models in Europe and the United States?
   HOW do you think the fashion industry should ensure that underage women and those with eating disorders do not make it to the runway?
2. WHY have designers and modeling agencies pledged not to cast models under 16 years old?
3. WHERE is this issue currently a problem?
4. WHO is Diane Von Furstenberg?
   WHO is Lynn Grefe?
   WHO is Ana Carolina Reston?
5. WHAT has each of them done to combat eating disorders and underage models?
6. WHEN did Ms. Reston die from anorexia?

Speaking and Listening - One Day - Song

Download lyrics worksheet here.

Watch the video without sound.  Write notes about what you see.

1. What do you think the song is about?  Discuss with your partner.
2. Listen to the song and complete the gaps.
3. Was your prediction right?
4. What is the message behind this song?

The Social and Physical Dangers of Texting While Walking

Do you think it's dangerous to walk and text at the same time?

Watch the video and answer the questions:

1. WHO is Casey Neistat?
2. WHAT are the hazards associated with texting while walking?
3. WHAT is the “blind spot”?
4. WHERE was the film made?
5. WHEN have you seen a collision (or near miss) happen as a result of someone texting while walking?
6. HOW can people politely and safely text on the go?

Based on an activity in the New York Times.

Grammar Jeopardy Game

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Who Wants to be a Millionnaire