Sycamore students use digital storytelling to study the American Revolution
Fourth graders at Sycamore Avenue Elementary stepped beyond the traditional textbook to deepen their understanding of the American Revolution through a dynamic project that blended social studies, nonfiction writing and library research skills.
Working in groups, students researched and authored six chapters of a collaborative digital book using the Book Creator app. Their work explored the causes of the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party, major battles, influential figures and a detailed timeline of events.
During library classes, students gathered information, organized notes and shaped their findings into well-structured paragraphs. Library media specialist Ms. Ladick created a customized Book Creator template to guide students through the publishing process. Each completed book included researched chapters, a glossary, a timeline and a “Perspective of a Patriot” writing piece that challenged students to consider history through multiple viewpoints.
To expand the project further, students stepped in front of a green screen to script and record broadcasts as colonial-era news reporters covering the Boston Tea Party. After editing their footage in WeVideo, they embedded their videos directly into their digital books. Students selected harbor-themed backgrounds and signed their finished publications with digital pen tools, adding a personalized final touch.
