10 Engaging Topics to Get Your Kids Hooked on Writing with Digital Stories

By Guest Blogger: Carrie Sebora

Have you ever wanted to send your students on an adventure to Ancient Rome or to wander the streets of London during the time of Shakespeare? 
Perhaps your students will have a blast when they discover for themselves what would happen if leaders chose another option to start or end a conflict? You might also be challenged by getting your students to realize how they make an impact on the environment? Students learn not just by doing, but by sharing and there is no better way for them to engage in this process than with a digital story.

Digital Storytelling is a relatively new term which describes the new practice of everyday people who use digital tools to tell their ‘story’. Digital stories are presented in compelling and emotionally engaging formats, that can be interactive.

For example, when I was a kid I LOVED the Choose Your Own Adventure books.  It was so much fun making a decision and finding out where the adventure led you and when it finished knowing you could go back and start over with new options!!! Why can’t students have this same feeling today, digitally?  

The above Google Slide template is just one example where your students can create a digital document that promotes interactivity. I’ve shared a few templates to help you get started below.

Here are a few topics to get you started on Digital Storytelling and they can be adapted to any level:

1. Create a virtual tour of a country or historical place 
2. Create a public service announcement on an important local or world issue. 
3. Simulate an interview of a historical character. 
4. Simulate a debate on an historical topic, such as the Bill of Rights. 
5. Create a presentation based on images of local artifacts and architecture. 
6. Cell growth and division 
7. Ways to conserve water 
8. Habitat and diet of a certain animal species or species family
9. Skeletal system growth, wear, strengthening, and deterioration
10. A day without math

Generally, anything with a process is a good topic for a digital storytelling assignment. Likewise, anything that needs a description, such as a certain animal’s habitat to support its diet will also support your students in the digital storytelling process.

You might be thinking, where do I begin? 

All good teaching starts with an idea/activity you want to do with your students to meet an objective/goal/standard/skill. Start where you normally do and build it from there. There are a lot of great templates out in the internet-verse that will help you start a digital storytelling project.  Here are a few that I have created to support my students in writing digital stories. These are great examples for middle school students but can also be used with upper elementary and high school students as well. I have added a few below for your use on Google Slides:

Choose your own adventure

You can still provide your students with information while they are creating their digital story. For example, I created a Water Conservation Google Slide and added a slide where the learners needed to click on ways they could help conserve water which would take them to a fact page about the use of water. See Here !!

How are you using Digital Stories in your classroom? Join our discussion on Facebook in the Group Teacher Prep Tech

Want to learn more about using Digital Storytelling? Check out the full presentation about Digital Storytelling.

About the Author:

Carrie Sebora moved to California over 16 years ago to teach middle school history. She is now an EdTech Tosa who supports teachers in integrating technology at her school district. In addition to her role as a Tosa, Carrie is also a board member of MBCUE and a Google Certified Trainer.

You can tweet out to Carrie on twitter: @carriesebora