Story Dice by Thinkamingo at Mac App Store analyse

Story Dice is a creative writing prompt tool to come up with ideas for plot, character, and setting. It can be used for both written and oral storytelling. * * * * * "What we like to do, is take turns, each of us telling a story that uses all of those elements. And then we, as a family, vote on the best one." - Mark Frauenfelder, editor of Make Magazine, appearing on NPR Morning Edition * * * * * This app can be used with a wide variety of age groups ranging from preschoolers to middle school and high school language arts students. The user interface is simple enough for ages 3+ to use without any additional instruction. The use of the app does not require reading, so it is an ideal tool for using in a preschool story circle (see lesson plans) as well as a general writing prompt for all ages without reading or native language barriers. Features: - Universal App! - High-resolution graphics supporting Retina Display - Choose number of dice to roll, 1-10. - Realistic dice sounds and still images. - 200+ pictograms in dictionary. - Swipe to view previous rolls. - No reading necessary. - Optional game instructions included in app. Game Ideas: 1. Charades - Use the single die roll to determine a charade item. 2. Stories With Friends - Form a circle. Roll the Story Dice (any number, 1-10). Create a sentence including all of the items from the dice. Pass to the next person and repeat, adding onto the story each time. 3. Song Challenge - Roll a single story die. Come up with a song that includes that item in the lyrics. 4. Poems With Friends - Same Stories With Friends, using only 1-2 dice, and create rhyming lines. 5. Drama Club - Roll dice (any number). Form a character using these items, then create an improv skit with friends as your characters! * * * * * “Pictograms do not require the ability to read, which is great for my Kindergarteners and those who have difficulty reading.” - Consonantly Speaking, SLP blog * * * * * Education Applications: Story Dice is primarily useful in higher order activities under Bloom’s Taxonomy, particularly Synthesis, where you create, invent, compose, predict, plan, construct, design, imagine, propose, devise, and/or formulate. You can devise less and more challenging activities, as in the following example. Sample Journal Activity “My Perfect Day” using Bloom’s Taxonomy Student/Short Version: Student will create a character using Story Dice, then describe/write/dramatize their own “perfect day” from their character’s perspective. Teacher Version: Student will create a unique character using the Story Dice for seed ideas. After writing a short character sketch, student will compose a Journal Entry called “My Perfect Day” writing from their new character’s perspective. The evaluation step is the highest order activity and is a self-grading option.. Finally, a fun bonus option in a classroom or small workgroup setting is to have students perform their journal entries as monologues, in character, possibly interacting with each other, adding a drama element. 1. Knowledge: Roll five or more Story Dice. Identify and describe the pictures on dice. 2. Comprehension: Paraphrase the task (Journal Activity “My Perfect Day”) in which you will use the dice. 3. Application: Prepare a chart with five categories: name, age, job, pets, hobbies. Place each dice image within a category. Imagine that you are this character and write a short paragraph describing yourself in detail. 4. Analysis: Examine each feature of your character and determine what makes them special. 5. Synthesis: Compose a journal entry called “My Perfect Day” from the character’s perspective. 6. Evaluation: Decide what worked and what didn’t in your journal entry. Were you successful at combining the dice pictures in a believable way? BONUS Activities: Perform journal entry as a monologue and interact with other students. Stay in character!