Using iPads during your literacy block can help students engage with text and content on a new level. There is no one app that is going to teach them how to be amazing readers, but there are plenty of apps that can support the tasks that you create for students. One of my favorite activities for getting students thinking about their reading includes the use of the fantastic, free iPad app ChatterPix Kids.
ChatterPix Kids lets students take a picture, slice open the mouth, and record their voice talking through the image. In the reading classroom you can have students use this app to take on the perspective of their favorite character.
iPad Lesson Idea
Here is an example of what you might ask students to do:
- First, draw a picture of the main character of your book.
- Next, open up the ChatterPix Kids app.
- Then, take a photograph of the picture you drew of the main character of your book.
- Next, move your finger across the screen to slice open the mouth of your main character.
- Finally, record your voice speaking through the perspective of the main character of your book.
Exploring Character Perspectives
When it is time for students to take on the perspective of the main character you might ask them to choose one of the following prompts:
Pretend you are the main character of your book and…
- …describe how you felt during an exciting/scary/happy part of the story.
- …tell what you hope to be when you grow up.
- …make a prediction for what will happen in the next chapter.
Technology can help students explore character perspectives. If you’ve used apps to engage young readers, leave a comment below!