Making+Your+Classroom+Projects+Visible

=**Making Your Classroom Projects Visible**=

If you are looking for a new and unique way to motivate and engage your students, then this session is for you. Using the free program PhotoStory3, we will add pictures, background music, and authentic narration to different projects that will motivate your students to create meaningful presentations for your classroom. The possibilities are endless. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptop with PhotoStory3 (free download from Microsoft.com) installed as well as a text to use in order to develop a great project that your kids will love. Imagine what kinds of presentations they can make to show what they have learned. Art, English, science, history, and anything you can imagine can be brought to life by using this free program and a little imagination.

**PhotoStory3 Ideas**
PhotoStory3 is a great program to use with your students. It is easy to use and you'll be amazed at what your students can create to show what they are learning. Using photos, music, and narration, your students can tell about their lives, read poetry, discuss global issues, or examine a scientific or mathematical concept. The program allows them to manage their images as well as adding special effects. Students can create their own music or they can upload a soundtrack to create the effect they want to give their audience. Adding their own voice and narration to the project gives it authenticity. Once finished the stories can be watched on TV, computer, or an MP3 player. Think of the ways that you can use this in your classroom. Here are some of the ways I have used this program in my classes: =Museum Box= ====This is a great program for you to use with your students in any curricular area. The students can create an exhibit for the virtual museum and everyone can go in and learn about the topic you are studying in layers. The Museum Box give your students the tools to explore an argument, event, person, time period, or to create a time capsule. Imagine creating an exhibit right in your classroom that will be viewed around the world. This program also gives your students the chance to view other exhibits and to comment on them as well.==== Here are some of the ways I have used this program in my classes:
 * Duet poems
 * Poetry stories
 * Historical Fiction reports
 * Public Service Announcements
 * Demonstrative Speeches
 * Book Reviews
 * Autobiographical Reports
 * Holocaust
 * authors of a particular time period
 * books or series of books or genres
 * composers of music
 * Great Depression
 * Autobiographical
 * time capsules

=Voicethread= ====Using pictures and your students voices, you can create projects using Voice Thread. This program allows your students to create a multimedia slideshow using images, documents, and videos. Students can view the slideshow and leave comments in five different ways which makes it a snap. Later, your students can export them to MP3 players or a DVD.====

Here are some of the ways I have used this program in my classes:

 * Holocaust reactions
 * history
 * authors
 * books
 * compositions
 * vocabulary
 * grammar

=Kid Blog= ====If you are looking for a blog for your class, this is the place to go. This program is simple, yet powerful. The tools allow your students. Kidblog.org was designed by an elementary teacher to be used at the elementary and middle school level for teachers who want to provide each one of their students with their own blog. This tool allows your students a secure classroom blogging community where they can publish posts and participate in discussions while you the teacher maintain complete control over your student blogs.====

Here are some of the ways I have used this program in my classes:

 * literature circles
 * response to literature
 * diaries or journals
 * response to instruction

=Animoto= ====If movies are your thing, Animoto helps you turn your photos, video clips, and music into unique videos that show. Animoto boasts of its artificial intelligence that makes their videos take on the mind of a director and editor.====

Here are some of the ways I plan on using this program in my classes:

 * drama videos
 * autobiographical presentations
 * my poetry video show
 * book reviews
 * author information

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