Storytelling in all its forms (traditional pen and paper or digital) has always been a favourite of mine. I always include some kind of storytelling activity with my classes so I decided to write about some available tools for use online (digital storytelling) or in the classroom to support pen and paper storytelling.
To support storytelling in the classroom
Sets of 5 images that make up a story. Assign a set or have your students choose one and write the story.
Random creators of story starters
Rory’s storytelling cubes $1.99 for iPhone and iPad
Dice with images. Simply shake your iPhone to roll the cubes and create a story using all 9 face-up images. Thanks to Graham Stanley for this one!
Story dice $1.99 for iPhone and iPad
Story Dice is a creative tool to prompt ideas for plot, character, and setting. This idea generator can be used effectively for both written and oral storytelling.
Story Shout $0.99 for iPhone and iPad
Story Shout is an innovative fun game for iPhone and iPad that challenges players to invent and tell stories out loud whilst prompted by a set of onscreen images (glyphs/icons).
Tell a tale Free for iPad
You’ll get the first and the last sentence of a story, three pictures are added and the rest is up to you.
Writer’s Hat $0.99 for iPhone and iPad
Writer's Hat is an ideas generator to inspire creative writing, oral literacy and imaginative thinking.
To be used online
I love Pic Lits. You can read my previous post on it for more details
Folding Story is a web game in which players write one line of a story, fold the paper, and pass it on to the next person.
Zooburst Free for iPad and website
ZooBurst is a digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own augmented reality 3D pop-up books.
Story wheel $2.99 for iPhone and iPad
1-4 players can create a story. Start by spinning the wheel to get a picture. Next, record your voice as you develop a story with that picture. Each player will build upon the story with a new picture. When done, you can listen to your story and share your creations online, or email them to family and friends.
Story Patch $2.99 for iPad
Story Patch is a new application for the iPad that children can use to create their own picture books. With hundreds of included images, easy-to-use controls, and the ability to import photos.
Scribz Free for iPhone and iPad
Scribz is a simple, creative and funny way to share short stories. Make artistic storyboards with your iPhone: add 3 pictures, write a few captions for the storytelling and use the « film noir » template to share the story on Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook or even by mail.
Storyrobe Free for iPhone and iPad
This is a really great app for making photo slide shows with voice recording.
Tellagami Free for iPhone and iPad
Tellagami is a quick and easy way to create and share a fun short story called a Gami. Just select and customize a character. Personalize your Gami with photos and your own voice. Then share your Gami with friends.
Thumbstruck Free for iPhone and iPad
Thumbstruck is a social networking/ storytelling application that allows users to improvisationally write stories together through three methods of interaction: Choose my words, Use my words, and Fuse my words.
There are other tools that I have used over and over like
- Voicethread
- Storybird
- Zimmer Twins
- Xtranormal
- Bubblr
- Bookr
I have already written about these tools in a previous post which you can read here
Hope you have found something to spice up your storytelling activities! If you have any suggestions for other tools or how to use them, please leave a comment.
