Animoto: Writing for Many Purposes

This week, I began my new writing unit!  I introduced the unit by discussing what Writing for Many Purposes is with the students.  We then talked about why, and what, people write.  We brainstormed a list of the kinds of things that people write.  As the students thought of things, I looked up the pictures.  The students chose the picture that they thought best showed the kind of writing that they brainstormed.  The students were very engaged in the making of the video, and they could hardly contain their excitement!  They were personally invested in the Animoto, and therefore, they were encouraged to put "their all" into the making of the video.  I feel that my students have a clear understanding of what kinds of things they will be writing because of their personal investment in the intro of the unit.  I'm hoping to make a Voicethread, or maybe a Digital Storybook (a la The Jolly Postman) as the final project for the unit.  (Students will write one of each type of writing, that will revolve around a story that a group of students come up with.) 

Animoto Project Ideas

So, I've been thinking about how to use Animoto in my classroom.  I LOVE how Anna had her Kindergarten students make a class Animoto to define adding.  That gave me the idea to have my students create an Animoto about the purposes for writing, since our new writing unit (Writing for Many Purposes!) will begin sometime this week.  I think this will be a great way for students to think about, and connect with, the unit.  In this way, they are thouroughly introduced to the topic, and are more invested in their learning!  I think that this will also be a great way to collaborate, since students will be making the video as a class.  Maybe groups of students can be responsible for different types of writing???  What do you think?

I made an Animoto!

I decided to make my first Animoto today!  I wanted to test it out, and make one all about me.  I almost didn't though.  I hate writing/making stuff about me.  It's so hard, and I never know what to say!  Once thought about what I wanted to say, and where I wanted the Animoto to go, the process became easier.  By "the process," I don't mean the physical making of the Animoto.  The website was so easy to use!  (Which I wasn't expecting, if truth be told.  I was having flahbacks to the last time I made a video with Windows when I was making my teaching portfolio.  Nightmare!)  By "the process," I mean chossing the photos and writing the text/captions to go along with the video.  It was actually kind-of fun to make!  I think it's superb, if I do say so myself...