Microsoft Photo Story 3

Hey everyone!

I realized that I have talked a lot about this in my posts for this class and showed you an example of a Photo Story (see Diamond D Field Trip below), but I have not actually shared the link to the website and WHY I think it is such a fantastic resource. Too make it even better, I also included a kind of mini-lesson to get your started...just ten steps and you're finished!! :-)

• Photo Story is a FREE download for registered Windows users. You should even be able to put it on a school computer (if it uses Windows...if you are not allowed, contact you school's tech person).
• It is SUPER easy to use. It would be too advanced for younger primary students (like my little first graders) but I think students from third/fourth on could definitely handle it. Basically you follow the on-screen directions to do all of these fun things:
1. Import Pictures (just select your source...hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple pictures from the same folder)
2. Arrange your pictures in the correct order (click and drag to the correct position)
3. Click on a photo to edit it (red eye removal, crop, rotate, add a special effect like making it black and white, etc.)
4. Add text to the photos if desired.
5. Record a narration to your story if desired (I've never tried this, because I tend to talk too much!!)
6. Customize the transition between slides if desired (It also does this for you automatically, but if there is something special that you want...like for your face to come out in the middle of a star...you can make it happen!!)
   
7. Add background music if desired (I love this feature!! You can either select from a library of a variety of music and Photo Story will customize the timing to your own show OR you can rip music from a CD/iTunes. Definitely click the link that says Learn more about adding background music for helpful hints.)
8. Preview it to make sure you like it.
   
9. Save it!
10. Share it!

I hope that you will take the time to try this one out...both for yourselves and for your students! Here's how I plan to use it in my classroom: At the beginning of next year, I plan to put my students in pairs and let them go out with a volunteer to take pictures of all the important people/places around the campus (each pair will be given a few specific people/places to photo) and then use Photo Story to create a virtual field trip for the parents to view on Open House night. I am going to let the students add the text to their photos (or maybe even let the RECORD a sentence) and as a class we will choose the music and preview/save the show. At their age, I think even modeling the use of technology is important, because it gets them interested in it and will hopefully motivate them to learn and do as they get older. At the bottom of this post you will find that I have added a Photo Story of a trip with friends to EPCOT. It was before Christmas and as you will see, it ended up being a "How many different silly hats can we photograph ourselves in??" kind of day...which was really fun! For each different region/area I did a different kind of music that I felt related to that area. Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions (or think of fun uses for it in YOUR classroom)!!

Sabrina :-)