Literacy-based iPad Apps for the Primary Classroom
Digital Storytelling
iMovie
This is the must have app if you're using iPads in your classroom. It is extremely versatile and allows your students to create movie trailers and their own movies. The trailers are a great way to start with this app before embarking on full video editing and adding transitioning effects. We use iMovie regularly to combine video recorded in other apps and to create our weekly news broadcast. To view more lesson ideas and student samples click here.
Grade: 3-6 Cost: $5.49 |
News broadcast combined in iMovie by Stage 3 students.
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PuppetPals
A fantastic app that allows you to direct your own movies using audio and animation. The free version gives you access to Wild West scenes and characters. By purchasing the Director's pass you get access to all the theme packs plus the ability to import your own image as either a backdrop (.jpg) or character (.png). Additionally you can cut around people in your own photos to make your own characters. This app is very easy to use. You can use the multi touch to control multiple actors at a time, pinch and zoom to resize characaters and there's a pause button so you can change scenes without recording. The video is then saved in the app but you can export it to your camera roll for downloading. Check out some ideas and examples here.
Lite version: Free Director's Pass $3.99 |
App demo by PolishedPlay
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Sock Puppets
Sock Puppets lets you create lip-synced videos using sock puppets. You can add backgrounds, props, puppets and scenery to create hilarious videos. Simply click on the puppet and it will automasticall lip-sync, click on another puppet to switch the conversation. There are cartoon and photo realistic puppets to choose from. The Content Pass allows you to import your own images for backgrounds, gives you more puppets and extends your recording time beyond 30 seconds. Check out some lessons ideas for using this app here.
Lite version: Free Content Pass $1.99 |
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Comic Strip
This basic little app allows you to create comic strips using your own photos. It is as simple as importing your photo, inserting some speech bubbles and then saving and sharing your work. To the right is a basic review of the app and guide on how to use it. Check out a Literacy lesson using this app and a variety of AR apps here.
Cost: $0.99 |
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Strip Designer
This app is similar to Comic Strip but with loads more features. The number of stickers and images is extensive and what's more you can create your own stickers and effects to import into the app. Easy to use with some extra effects. Get the details of a Stage 2 literacy lesson on onomatopoeia using this app here.
Cost: $2.99 |
App review by AppVee.com
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Picturebook
This app allows you to create your very own illustrated story in just a few simple steps. Type in your titles and text. You can add pictures from the image gallery, however they are fairly limited (farm animals, dinosaurs and Cinderella characters). With an in-app purchase of $0.99 you can buy additional picture sets or use your own photos in your stories. There is also a school edition which gives you access to all 200 illustrations plus the ability to use your own photos all for the one off purchase cost of $1.99.
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ScribblePress
This app is an award winning digital storytelling app which allows students to create their own stories to be published. Students can create a story from scratch or use one of over 50 templates to help structure their story. You can draw your own illustrations using over 500 drawing tools, use the in app stickers or take your own photo. What's best about this app is you can download your completed story straight into iBooks. Check out some Stage 2 stories here.
Cost: FREE |
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Tellagami
This fabulous free app is a hit with students of all ages. Create your own avatar, insert a background (one from the app or take a photo to create your own) and then add a voice message to your character. Messages are limited to 30 seconds but students can easily create mutiple messages and link them together using iMovie. For some lesson ideas and student work samples click here.
Cost: FREE Grades: K-6 |
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Talking Penguin
There are multitudes of apps out there where students can record their voice and have it played back in the form of an animal, person or object. We used this specific app as part of our unit on Antarctica. It allowed students to record information as well as record some actions and then string all their clips together in iMovie to make an interesting information report.
Cost: FREE Grades: K-6 |
Black-Browed Albatross from Laura Chaffey on Vimeo. |
Steve Parish Postcards
Create a digital postcard by selecting images, frames and stickers for the front and then typing your message onto the back. Can be saved and printed out. Simple but effective form of creating a digital postcard. Lessons ideas for using postcard apps in the classroom can be found here.
Cost: FREE Grades: K-6 |
Bill Atkinson Photocards
This app is similar to the Steve Parish one but also allows you to add voice messages to your postcard. There are also stickers to add and stamps to paste onto the postcard before you can email it off. Lessons ideas for using postcard apps in the classroom can be found here.
Cost: FREE Grades: K-6 |
Postino
A simpler version of the above two apps. Lessons ideas for using postcard apps in the classroom can be found here.
Cost: FREE Grades: K-2 |