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5 Ways to Use Gone Google Story Builder in the Classroom

Gone Google Story Builder is a FREE digital tool that is easy for teachers and students to use in the classroom. You don't even need a Google account to access and use Gone Google Story Builder!

5 Ways to Use Gone Google Story Builder in the Classroom. Whether you are 1:1 or have access to Chromebooks, laptops or computers, this digital tool will be a hit in your classroom! You don't even need a Google account to access and use. Gone Google Story Builder creates video stories that look like an interaction happening between multiple people (the characters) on a Google Doc. Come learn about some ways you can use this digital tool in your classroom!


What does it do?

In a nutshell, Gone Google Story Builder creates video stories that look like an interaction happening between multiple people (the characters) on a Google Doc. Here is an example:


Note: This is a screen recording of my story. The digital tool produces a link that will take you to the movie that was created. It does not allow you to download a movie file.

Also, I highly suggest checking out the 4 examples on the website. They are HILARIOUSšŸ˜‚

How do you create a story?

You can have up to 10 different characters and 10 exchanges. The first thing you are asked to do is name your characters. Each character's cursor will appear in a different color. You can customize the colors by clicking on the thin colored rectangle.


Once the characters are added, you simply type in the sequence of interactions. You can select which character is typing from the dropdown menus.


If you want one of the characters to erase something that is already typed and replace the text with their own thoughts, simply make the corrections in the text box next to their name.

Heads up! 

This message will pop up if you continue onto the next step and go back to edit a previous step. It will erase all of the steps after the one you want to edit. If you are limited on the amount of time you have with your devices, it might be best to have students brainstorm their stories before visiting the website and maybe even draft a copy!




Music options are available if students would like to add a little suspense.


Once complete, enter your name and click the blue Get Share Link button to grab the url to your video!
I would have students paste their link in a Google Doc, submit in a Google Form or post to Google Classroom so you have all of the links in one location. They could even turn their link into a QR Code by using my favorite QR Generator, QRStuff!

FYI: I tested this website on my ipad and was able to successfully create a story; however, I noticed that the sound did not work. 

Here are 5 ways you could use Gone Google Story Builder in the Classroom...

Anticipatory Set

Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook mentioned using this tool for setting the stage for a lesson.  He actually inspired me to write this post after I heard him talk at last week's MACUL Conference in Detroit! I had heard of Gone Google Story Builder but did not realize how quick, easy and straight up AWESOME this tool would be to incorporate into the classroom. Matt showed how he used this web tool to kick off a lesson. For instance, let's say you are getting ready to teach a lesson about the water cycle. Captivate your students' attention with something like this before starting the lesson:

Retelling

Students could use this web tool to retell a story they have read, a historical event they have learned about or even steps to take to solve a math problem. Critical thinking really comes to play since it only allows you to have 10 interactions between characters. Students will have to figure out how to get everything in. Great summarizing practice too šŸ˜‰ The first example I embedded into this post shows a retelling of The Three Little Pigs.

Writing with Voice

Using Gone Google Story Builder would be such a FUN and meaningful activity to practice writing with voice as well as characterization. Students can take on the "voice" of a certain character whether that be a specific person, animal or thing! It would even be fun to use this in social studies to review historical figures. You could partner students up on one computer and have them write a conversation or story as if they were that person, animal or thing. Once again, the first video example shows this skill (voices of the pig and Big Bad Wolf). 

Word Work/Language Arts Skills

Another idea for using this story builder in your classroom is to have students create videos by having the "characters" be the word features they are working on. Parts of speech, affixes, different verb tenses, r-controlled vowels, or whatever the feature of the week is could all be practiced. You could also really target language arts skills such as literary devices which can help make writing POP. Here is a little paragraph "written by" Mr. Onomatopoeia, Miss Personification, Mrs. Alliteration and Ms. Simile and Mr. Hyperbole. šŸ˜‚

Enhancing Videos

Gone Google Story Builder would be a great addition to a video your students are creating. In order to capture the video to pull into a video editing program, students would need to screencast the final product. If you have QuickTime software already on your devices, that would be an easy way to accomplish this task. For those of you who work with Chromebooks, check out the extensions Nimbus ScreenshotScreencastify, or Capture Cast. Read about these three options HERE.

These are just FIVE ways Gone Google Story Builder could be used in our classrooms. How else could teachers and students use this digital tool for learning?

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