Group+2

Does tool require Sign-in? You can create without logging in, but you cannot save your work. So yes.
==Description of Tool: Collaborative storytelling website. One can create and save a story, collaborate with others, and share it with the class. Students using this tool must choose from their proprietary artwork, but they can write their own text. Teachers can manage assignments, keeping student work in one place, refer back to previous assignments, establish threaded discussions, fundraise through sales of books, and, for a price, upgrade to a better management tool and more storage space.==

==How does tool apply to your curricular area? (if your group contains more than one curricular area, give an example in each area) In English, teachers could assign summarizations using this tool. Students could meet personal writing standards by creating their own story using this website. This tool would be helpful for visual learners to encourage them to integrate text into visually dynamic paradigms. Synergy! Buzzwords! Collaborate!==

==Where does tool fit in Digital Blooms and why? This tool would require students to create work. The limitations of this tool, however, are the proprietary nature of the artwork and the limited space for text, which would hinder this creativity to some degree. Neither of the teachers in this group found the artwork too aesthetically appealing for stories. It seemed more appropriate for greeting cards. Also, we fear that students will be discouraged by the sophistication of the artwork from creating their own or finding more appropriate images for their story. The limitations of the choices might guide the story itself.==

=Part 2=

Adapted Lesson Plan
from http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/teaching-epic-through-ghost-225.html

STUDENT OBJECTIVES
Students will
 * explore the connections between the oral traditions of ghost stories and epics.
 * define the qualities of an effective oral storyteller and ghost stories.
 * demonstrate knowledge of the elements of an oral story.
 * collaboratively create their own story using integrated technology with Storybird.com

SESSION ONE

 * 1) To recreate an epic storyteller’s setting, begin by asking students what situations leave us without electricity at night. Students usually mention a blackout, a storm, or a camping trip.


 * 1) Next, ask them what we do on such occasions, lacking reading or television to entertain ourselves after dark. Answers typically include “talk with each other,” “sleep,” “sing,” and “tell ghost stories.” There are no right or wrong answers here. Allow students to share whatever they they think of.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Set the scene to share a ghost story with students by turning off the lights, lighting a candle, and so forth.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tell students “Brown Mountain Lights” (http://www.secstate.state.nc.us/kidspg/lights.htm).


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Point out that the story is a cultural tale of the supernatural that many people consider a true tale. To underscore how such tales are accepted as part of everyday life, share the NPR News story “ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3399aa; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Spiritual Cleansing: A Mexican Ghost Story] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">” (Real Player or Windows Media Player required) with the class. Emphasize the importance of supporting diverse cultures to ensure that all students feel comfortable in the class.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ask students to brainstorm a list of the qualities that make the ghost story vivid. Write the list on the board or on chart paper. Students will use this list as a checklist for their stories. Focus on the following questions:


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What makes a ghost story entertaining?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What makes characters in a ghost story strong, believable, and interesting?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What makes a setting appropriate for a ghost story?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How is the underlying code of behavior best communicated in a ghost story?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are ways to connect to the history of a place or people that make work well in a ghost story?


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Expand the discussion of ghost stories by asking students to think of other times that people tell stories of the supernatural (e.g., to explain something that seems unexplainable as in the “ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3399aa; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Spiritual Cleansing: A Mexican Ghost Story] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">” recording). Encourage students to discuss cultural differences in ghost stories that they know.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As a writing assignment, ask students to imagine themselves in the dark or in another appropriate situation, and to use Storybird to create a ghost story that they have heard, but have never seen written. They will share these stories using the projector in the following sessions.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To get started, have students use the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3399aa; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Literary Elements Map] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">__(http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/literary-elements-30011.html)__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> as a prewriting tool. Preview the tool, providing a focus lesson for English language learners on how the tool works. Ensure that everyone understands the mechanics of the tool before students turn to the content of the lesson.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Reinforce the vocabulary of the literary elements highlighted in the tool by reminding students of the definitions and providing examples from readings that students are familiar with.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As you introduce the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3399aa; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Literary Elements Map] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> activity, provide the following tips:


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Character: Think about the ghost as the main character or focus on the reaction of a key character in your story who is affected by the ghost.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Conflict: The conflict in a ghost story is usually the issue that makes the human return in ghost form. It may be a violation of the code of behavior that the story seeks to illustrate.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Resolution: The resolution in a ghost story typically involves the ghost's return and the details of the haunting. Remember that the haunting in a ghost story usually relates closely to the conflict and code of behavior.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Setting: Students may have more than one setting to think about, the present time period that the ghost haunts and the past time period when the ghost was a living person.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For homework, ask students to use their prewriting from the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3399aa; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Literary Elements Map] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> to write out their story in Storybird. Stories should be finished by the beginning of the next session. English language learners can be encouraged to compose parallel or bilingual stories if desired. If students need additional time, consider adding an optional in-class work session in addition to homework time for them to compose their stories.