It’s always fun to write a story. Deciding on a plot, setting, characters, and illustrations can allow you to create a world that can be shared with others. What can be better than that? Well, how about writing stories with friends from Australia?
We paired up with our buddies from 2KM and 2KJ to write our stories. Now, we were trying to determine what the best way was to work on our stories together. We figured traveling there probably wasn’t an option but we thought we’d check it out in Google Maps anyway.
We figured a 16,351 mi (26,314 km) trip probably wasn’t our best choice. Not to mention, Google Maps said we’d have to kayak across the ocean! Although that sounds fun, it also sounds exhausting!
Then we thought maybe we could mail stories back and forth. That definitely wouldn’t work since 2KM and 2KJ finish up their school year at the end of this week. So, instead, Mrs. Morris, Miss Jordan and I decided that we’d use a website called Storybird. This was an idea that we got from two other teachers, Mrs. McKenzie and Mrs. Watson. You can read about their classes using Storybird by clicking here or here.
Storybird is a site that allows students to choose a set of illustrations. From those pictures, we can start to build a story page by page. Another great aspect of Storybird is that we’re easily able to invite someone else to write a story with us. We put students from the two classes into groups and then began our stories.
Our class started by choosing the illustrations. We created the title page and wrote the first page, giving 2KM and 2KJ a start to the story. Then, we started taking turns. 2KM and 2KJ wrote the next two pages. We wrote the next two and we continued alternating until our stories were complete.
We were so impressed by what amazing writers the students in 2KM and 2KJ were. Their use of detail and the way they kept the story flowing was incredible. Everyone did such a great job! Take a look below to read through the finished product!
You can read the rest of them by clicking here.
A giant thank you to all the students of 2KM and 2KJ for working so well with us! Enjoy your holidays!
What was your favorite part about this project?
Have you ever worked with someone in a different country before?
Dear Mr. Avery,
I liked these stories. Are they by your class or are they your class’ favorites?
MERRY CHRITMAS! π π B)
Rebecca
Dear Mr. Avery,
Our names are Ashley and Rachel and we read “The Scientist” and we REALLY liked it! It was full of really interesting wording and colorful illistrations. It was a fun story and it was really creative. We read your other books and they were also good. But if we had to pick one, we would pick The Scientist!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Techie Kids,
Rachel and Ashley
Dear Mr. Avery,
Your stories were looking good on your blog. You have 3 stories & could be popular in a zzzzzip! How long did it take you to make the stories? I think you will make more stories that will be popular like the other ones.
Sincerely,
The techie kids
Luke & Nick (0_0).
Dear Mr. Avery,
I liked the story time. It was fun. I also liked the science story. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sincerely,
Madeline
Mrs. Moore’s class
Dear Mr. Avery’s Class,
I think Storybird is awesome. How did you come up with it? And I hope you have a nice christmas π
Merry Christmas,
Your Techie Kid
Sydney B
Dear Mr Avery and class,
Thank you so much for skyping with me today. I had so much fun talking to you all and your questions were just fantastic!
It was fun sharing some information about life in Australia and here a bit about your lives too.
It is unfortunate that 2KM and 2KJ couldn’t join me but it would have been too early in the morning for them!
Thank you also for helping my grade two students with their Storybirds. You were all amazing role models!
Your friend in Australia,
Mrs Mβrris
Dear Mr. Avery,
I like that you put all of the storybirds on the blog. That was very nice.
Love,
Fiona P.
Hello Mr Avery and Class,
Storybird looks wonderful. This is yet another way of working together. I think it is brilliant. π
Ross Mannell (teacher)
NSW, Australia
Dear Mr Avery and Grade 6
What a great project.
I’m still working my way through reading and enjoying all of the stories but I am impressed at how well you have worked with your buddies in 2Km and 2KJ to make stories that have a storyline that flows.
The children in B4 found that it’s not easy when you have to wait and see what your buddy added to the story and then maybe change your mind about the way you thought the story would turn out!
Did any of you get a surprise with the way your story turned out?
What did you enjoy most about the project?
best wishes
Mrs McKenzie
Dear Mrs. McKenzie and B4,
Thank you for visiting our blog. We really enjoyed making storybirds with 2KM and 2KJ. It was a fun project and we got to work with kids from Australia. That was fun. I hope you enjoy our storybirds.
Sincerely,
Will G.
Dear Mr. Avery and Class,
I really enjoyed reading this post!
What was my favourite part of this project?
My favourite part of this project was having great partners. They were, Taite and Hannah! Also reading the story!
Have I ever worked with someone from a different country?
Well, I have with you. So just go with a yes.
I loved reading Marie’s Cherry Tree , Blu’s Jungle and The Scientist! The Scientist scared me alot!
I have a blog if you want to check it out? (I am putting a new post on this week. I can’t tell though!) Maybe you could leave a comment! Here is the link:
http://jordisblog.global2.vic.edu.au/
I hope you like my blog! Your blog is amazing… It is very colourful and bright!
Soon today, the 2KM and 2KJ blog is going to have a post about Storybird. Here is the link to get to the 2KM and 2KJ blog (If you need it):
http://2kmand2kj.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/12/19/writing-collaborative-storybirds/
Your grade 6’s do really know how to wright stories. What amazing people they are!
Spectacular comment! I really enjoyed wrighting the stories! It was great fun!
From,
Jordi π
PS-I was with Dana (2KM)!
@ Mr Avery and class,
Great post.
What was your favourite part of the project?
My favourite part of the project was how we got to read and we got to go with a partner from Mr Avery’s class.
Have you ever working with someone in anther country?
I have never worked with someone that is in another country. I really want to. Now I know how it feels to work with another person from another country I think I might try it.
I think you did a really good post.
I loved making the story birds.
My story bird was called a Hike Through the woods. My Partner was Ed and Kevin. I think. Sorry if I got it wrong.
I have my own blog and I would love if you could check it out. If you can check it out here is the link http://alanasblog.global2.vic.edu.au/ . Here is the link to my Christmas post http://alanasblog.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/12/17/christmas-traditions/ .Hope you like my blog. My post is about Christmas because it’s nearly Christmas in southern hemisphere.
I think your grade 6’s are really good writers. I also think 2KM and 2KJ are good writers too.
I really like the scientist story. I still like the other stories are great.
The 2KM and 2KJ will have a post up soon, but now right now. The post will be on soon.
I think you blog is great. Itβs colourful and all your posts are interesting.
I think your post is funny. Even the whole grade thought it was funny.
I wish 2KM and 2KJ still had a couple of mouths left and then we could do another story bird.
Best Wishes,
Alana
Dear Alana,
Thanks for commenting. I think my favorite part about the story bird project was working with kids from another country and that we got to build off other peoples work. You were also right on who you worked with. I have never worked with kids from another country before and I thought that it was really fun. I to enjoy making story bird. I will try to go onto your blog.
From your friend in America,
RyanS
Dear Mr Avery and class,
Hi my name is Mitchell Iβm in 2KJ.
My favourite bit of the Story bird was finding out what my partner was.
No, I have not Skyped with anyone a different country,
Iβve Skyped some friends and Grandparents before in Shepparton.
From Mitchell
(Australia)
Dear Kelsea, Fiona and Mr Avery
Hi my name is Millie and I did a storybird with you two.I really like how you finished it was a nice ending and I thought that we did a good job and of couse everybody else did a great job too.
I think the stories that Mr Avery put up on the blog sound fantastic.
Has Mr Avery made a Storybird? (about music of couse)
Have you made on?if so what was it called?
From your blogging friend,
Millie
PS: I said Mr Avery would do one about music because he love to rap and sing to maths songs and others too.