Hi there! I’m Darri Stephens from Common Sense, and I love finding fun ways for kids to show what they know. Today, we’re going to talk about two cool tools that help kids create amazing projects. These tools are called Book Creator and Shadow Puppet Edu. Let’s see what makes each one special!
Both Book Creator and Shadow Puppet Edu are tools that help kids make awesome projects using text, pictures, videos, and sounds. They are super easy to use, so kids can start creating right away. Plus, sharing what you make is a breeze with these tools!
Book Creator is like a magic book-making tool for Android tablets and iPads. Kids can pick how their book looks and fill the pages with words, pictures, videos, and even drawings. They can also add sounds or record their voices. When the book is ready, it can be saved as an eBook, a PDF, or even a video. It’s a fun way to make your own storybook!
Shadow Puppet Edu is a simple tool for making video slideshows on iPads. It helps kids find pictures and videos from places like NASA and libraries right inside the app. They can also add their voices or music to make their videos even cooler. Once the video is done, it saves automatically, and teachers can help share it with others.
Both tools are great, but they have different strengths. If you want to make eBooks and have lots of creative choices, Book Creator is perfect. But if you want to make video slideshows and use an iPad, Shadow Puppet Edu is a fantastic choice, and it’s free!
We’d love to hear which tool you like best! And don’t forget to check out more awesome tools at Common Sense Education. Happy creating!
Create a Mini Project: Choose either Book Creator or Shadow Puppet Edu and make a small project about your favorite animal. If you choose Book Creator, create a short eBook with pictures, facts, and your own drawings. If you choose Shadow Puppet Edu, make a video slideshow with images and your voice explaining why you like this animal. Share your project with your family or friends and ask them what they learned from it.
Observation and Sharing: Spend a day observing things around you that could be turned into a story or a video. It could be your pet, a plant growing in your garden, or even a fun day at the park. Use Book Creator to write a short story about it or Shadow Puppet Edu to make a video. Think about what makes your story interesting and how you can share it with others.
Discussion Time: Talk with your classmates or family about which tool you prefer and why. Do you like making eBooks with Book Creator or video slideshows with Shadow Puppet Edu? Discuss what you found easy or challenging about using these tools. What new ideas do you have for projects you can create with them?
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Hi, I’m Darri Stephens, senior director of education content for Common Sense. When I was in the classroom, I was always on the lookout for creative new ways my students could demonstrate their knowledge. We’ve reviewed a lot of digital creation tools, but it can be challenging to determine which ones are best for younger students. In this episode of our EdTech Quick Take series, we’ll compare two standout tools, Book Creator and Shadow Puppet Edu, to help you decide which one is best for your classroom. Let’s take a look.
Both Book Creator and Shadow Puppet Edu are easy-to-use creation tools designed with a young audience in mind. Their kid-friendly features make it simple for primary students to jump right in and start creating. Both apps allow kids to combine text, images, video, and sound into engaging projects. Additionally, both tools make sharing easy, with various options for saving and exporting the final product. However, each tool has unique features that cater to different learning scenarios.
Book Creator, available for Android tablets or iPads, is essentially an eBook maker. Students can choose a layout and design their pages with text, images, video, and hand-drawn sketches. They can also record audio or add sound files. With numerous customization options, kids can really play with the look and feel of their books. When they’re ready to share their creations, students can export them as an ePub file, a PDF, or as a video. Book Creator’s interface is user-friendly for elementary students, though some may require additional teacher support.
On the other hand, Shadow Puppet Edu is a straightforward video slideshow creator for iPads. Content sources are embedded right into the app, making it easy for primary students to conduct research for their creations. They can use the map feature and search for images and videos from sources like the Library of Congress, The British Library, NASA, and more. Kids can also utilize the filtered search tool to find images on the web, and they can add narration or background music to enhance their projects. Finished videos automatically save to the camera roll, or teachers can assist students in sending a direct link via email or social media.
As you can see, both of these digital creation apps offer a lot of features. For eBook projects, those using Android tablets, or for students who want a bit more creative freedom, Book Creator is an excellent choice. However, for primary classes that need an all-in-one project creation tool for iPads, Shadow Puppet Edu is a strong option. Plus, it’s free.
So, which one is best for your students? We would love to hear your thoughts, and be sure to check out our reviews of all the best edtech tools at Common Sense Education.
