I love putting up the Christmas tree each year with my family. We pull out ornaments the kids have created in years past. Gifts they made in preschool and beyond with fingerprints, handprints, or footprints reflecting a moment in time. They are a small sample of their physical self; growing each year.
With the age of technology we have the resources to provide samples of students’ creative expression as well. This year our technology center offered a class for students on virtual gifts. Students ages K-8th grade worked created posters, collages, comic strips and books for family members. These items will be emailed and can join the reflection of growth. You can use these apps with the activities below to create your own special gifts for families. They are small moments in time for unique and special gifts.
Scribble Press iOS $3.99: Create and illustrate books or use the pre-written templates
–     Write your favorite memory or create a story.
–     Illustrate the memory or story.
–     Complete the title page including yourself as author and illustrator
–     Complete the back cover including a picture and a message to your family from 2013
Friendstrip Kids Pro  iOS Free: edit pre-written comic strip templates and add yourself in the comic
–     Have someone take a picture of you with a solid color background.
–     Edit the text.
–     Read your comic.
–     Include your name and year in the comic if possible
Bubbsie iOS Free: add speech bubbles to photos
–     Take a picture of yourself
–     Add a holiday message
PicCollage iOS and Android app Free: create photo collages
–     Take pictures of yourself, your art work, or bring in photos from home
–     Create a collage
–     Add a holiday message, your name, and date
PBS Kids Photo Factory iOS and Android Free: Photo editing
–     Take a picture of yourself
–     Add your favorite PBS characters in the picture
PicPlayPost iOS 1.99: create photo collages with video clips
PicVidPost Andriod .99: create photo collages with video clips
–     Have someone record you reading a poem or book or saying a  short Holiday Message
–     Add pictures
–     Include a Holiday message, your name and 2013
The end of the semester is a busy time of year and offers challenges for keeping students on task. Keep them interested in learning by allowing them to create gifts and share what they know. The apps in this article, along with many others, allow for student self-expression and the activities listed cover ELA standards in fluency, range of writing, and production and distribution of writing. What have you done this year that your students can turn into a gift?
