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TECH TALES: CREATIVE TASKS

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USING ONLINE TOOLS

IN THE ESL CLASSROOM

Service national du RÉCIT, domaine des langues

2024-2025 Version

Presentation

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There are many ways to use technologies in the ESL classroom. The different tasks presented in this document are only an overview of the infinite possibilities of how you can use technology with your students.

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• The tasks can be used either at the elementary or the secondary level.
• Depending on the level of your students, you can offer more or less support (models, word banks, tutorials, etc.).
• Some tasks (using technology) require more time and planning and others can be done in a 45-minute period.
• The different colours correspond to the level of investment (time related).

Intention

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Read a story or a text and construct the meaning of texts in short tasks using online tools.

*Number of periods using technology.

One Period

Elementary and Secondary

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Two periods

ESL Intensive or Secondary (or more periods for elementary)

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Steps:

• Select a story.
• Have your students read the story or read the story with them.
• Ask questions and explore the text (guided reading, response process, …)
• Choose one or more tasks from this document.
• Explore the apps with your students before doing the different tasks (optional).
• Provide the link to access the document.
• Invite your students to read the task or read the task with your students.
• Make sure your students understand the task.
• Provide support documents (models, word banks, etc.) if needed.
• Let your students be creative!

Classroom Management

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Your classroom organization will depend on the number of available devices, the level of your students and their level of comfort with technology. Whether you have one device per student or a few available for the whole class, you can choose between these options. Even if you have one device per student, you may want to consider organizing workshop stations and group your students in pairs.

Option 1

Give one task from the bank.

Option 2

Preselect a few tasks (2 or 3) and have students pick one randomly.

Option 3

Have students choose a task from the available bank.

Watch the clip for a great classroom strategy!

Ask 3, then me!

Suggested tools to do the activities online

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Docs

Slides

PowerPoint

Other suggested tools that could be used for the same activities

Drawings

Canva

Pages �

Adobe Express

Word

PosterMyWall

Mindomo

Voki

Forms

Office Forms

iMovie

Genially

Thinglink

Book Creator

Jamboard

Scratch

Video Editor

Saving and Sharing the Productions

Email

Youtube Channel �(teacher)

Office TEAMS

Google Classroom

In order to share your productions, it is important to save your final copy into your library. Usually, apps offer to save images and videos in the Photos app.

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It is also possible to share images, videos and links through email or directly in your chosen school platform (Seesaw, TEAMS, Google Classroom, etc.).

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When creating videos, you can directly share your productions in YouTube, if you have an account (teacher). For books, they can be saved directly in the iPad in the iBooks app.

Ideas of Creative Activities

One Period

Elementary and Secondary

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One - Two Periods

Elementary and Secondary

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Two periods

ESL Intensive or Secondary (or more periods for the primary level)

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Retell (or interpret) the events of the book.

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Create a timeline of important events in the story.

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Preparation�

1. Think about the narrative structure of the story you just read: beginning, problem, rising action, solution, turning point (climax) and ending. Take notes on these elements to prepare your timeline.
2. Search for a picture on Pixabay to represent each part of the story. Save the pictures in a folder.

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Share�

• Save your production in your Drive.
• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

You can use this planning template to take notes before you create your timeline.

It’s also possible to create a timeline using other tools such as: Jamboard, Drawings, Word, etc. �Many templates in Slides Carnival include a slide with a timeline.

Creation�

• Create your timeline using the tool of your choice.
• Place the elements in the order they happen.
• Write the elements of the narrative structure. Add a description and a picture.

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�Intention�Create a graphical representation of events in a story.�

Timeline

Design a postcard that one of the characters might give to another character.

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Preparation�

• Think about the story.
• Which character would you like to be?
• Pretend you are this character.
• What would you say to another character in the story?

Share�

• Save your production in your Drive.
• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

You can also use web tools such as Canva to create a postcard. Canva requires an account (13 years and older). You can also ask for a free teacher account and invite your students in your class.

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Creation�

1. Write your text using the model that your teacher gives you (optional).
2. Search for a picture on Pixabay to represent what you are writing about in your postcard. Save the picture in a folder. You can also insert a video if you would like.
3. Use the provided template to create your postcard.
4. Type your message to your chosen character. You can change the font of your text. Add your image and your video.
5. Write the address you wish to send it to.

Intention�Write a personalized message to a character in the story.

Template

Template

Click on “use template” to create a copy

Save a copy of the document to modify it.

Make a collage of words and pictures from a story.

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Preparation�

• Think about the story.
1. - What was the story about?
2. - What words and pictures that could represent the story?
• Create a list of words that can represent the story for you.*

Share�

• When you are finished, download your collage on your computer.
• Share your production.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER�You can create a teacher account and students will not be required to sign up. Watch this tutorial for more information.�

You can also use web tools such as Canva to create a collage. Canva requires an account (13 years and older). You can also ask for a free teacher account and invite your students in your class.

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Creation�

• Access PosterMyWall .* Your teacher will give you the necessary information.
• Click on Create a Design.
• Start a new poster from scratch and select the proper format.
• Search for images that represent the story for you.
• Write words, expressions or sentences that summarize the story for you.

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Intention�Summarize a story using words and images.

Canva

Create a poster to promote a book.

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Preparation�

• Think about the story.
• What is the book about?
• What did you like about this story?
• Why should other people read it?
• Use a model or canvas to write your promotional message.*

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Share

• When you are finished, download your collage on your computer.
• Share your production.

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*NOTES �You can create a teacher account and students will not be required to sign up. Watch this tutorial for more information.

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Creation�

• Access PosterMyWall individually (13 years and older) or through your teacher’s account.*
• Click on Create a Design.
• Select your background.
• Select one or two images to represent the book.
• Type your promotional message.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER�You can create a teacher account and students will not be required to sign up. Watch this tutorial for more information.

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You can also use web tools such as Canva to create a collage. Canva requires an account (13 years and older). You can also ask for a free teacher account and invite your students in your class.

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Intention�Invite people to read a book.

Create a story map that includes the main events that happened in the story.

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Preparation�

• Think about the story: beginning, problem, solution, turning Point (climax), ending, main characters and settings.
• Take notes of important events using a note taking document.

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Share�

• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

Mindomo is often available for free in your CSS. If not available, it requires an account (13 and older).

You can also use tools from the Google or Office: Drawings, Slides, Word, PowerPoint to create a mindmap.�

Creation�

• Access Mindomo. You will need to create an account to have 3 free maps.*
• Click on Create New and choose model.
• Double click anywhere to add an idea (an element).
• Create a story map about the story or some of its elements (like characters or settings).
• Use a picture or an icon to represent each idea (insert from the left menu).

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Intention�Capture essential elements of a story and represent them in a story map.

Record an audio clip to talk about a character in the story.

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Preparation�

• Think about the story.
• Who is your favorite character?
• Describe the character (likes/dislikes, physical appearance,…).
• Use a model to write your text.

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Share�

• Share your production (link) with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

You can create an avatar and record a message without creating an account. If you want to save it, an account is required. According to the Voki Terms of use, children under 13 can create an account but they recommend not to use personal information such as their full name.

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Creation�

• Access Voki.
• Select the picture of an avatar. Customize it according to your needs.
• Add emotions to your avatar.
• Change your background.
• Record your message ( up to 1 minute). You will need to enable the access to the microphone.

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Intention�Create a portrait of a character.

Create a quiz about the book.

Preparation�

• Think about the text: What was important in the text? Make a list of the questions that you would like to ask.*
• Write various questions about the text (at least 5). You can choose between multiple choice, true or false and short answer questions.
• Prepare the answers to all the questions.

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Share�

• Have your teacher verify your quiz.
• Click on Send or Share to copy the link of the quiz.
• With your teacher’s permission, share your quiz to your classmates.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

Review question words and how to make a question (interrogative) sentence.

There are many other quiz tools. Some need to create an account. Check the usage rights before using them. (i. e. Quizziz, Wooclap, Kahoot, etc.)

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Creation�

• In your Google or your Office tools, click on create a New Forms.
• Write a title.
• Select the type of question you want to ask.
• Type in the questions and answers. You may provide a picture for some questions.
• You can also choose to add feedback for correct or wrong answers.
• Click on Theme to change the appearance of your quiz.

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Intention�Write questions and answers to demonstrate your understanding of the story.

Forms

Office Forms

Create an interactive poster to represent an element of the book. (under 13 years old)

Preparation�

• Think about the story or the text and select an element from the following: a scene, a character, a setting or a theme.
• Find or take photos that visually portray the selected element. You can find images on Pixabay. Save them in your library.
• Find images, videos or Web links to add pertinent information about the text.

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Share

• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

It’s also possible to use Google Slides.

Creation�

• Access Drawings or PowerPoint.
• Choose a background image to start with or create a collage of various pictures.
• Look at the tutorial to add the different elements (links, words, videos or pictures) to your poster and make it interactive.

Intention�Represent visually an element of the book with images, texts, audio and videos.

Google Drawings Tutorial

Create an interactive poster to represent an element of the book. (13 years and over)

Preparation�

• Think about the story or the text and select an element from the following: a scene, a character, a setting or a theme.
• Find or take photos that visually portray the selected element. You can find images on Pixabay. Save them in your library.
• Find images, videos or Web links to add pertinent information about the text.

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Share

• Save your production.
• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

* Genially requires an account (14 years and older).

* Thinglink requires an account (13 years and older).

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Creation�

• Access Genially or Thinglink.
• Choose a background image to start with.
• Upload your background picture.
• Add the different elements (links, words, videos or pictures) to your poster.

Intention�Visually represent an element of the book with images, texts, audio and videos.

Genially Tutorial

Thinglink Tutorial

Create a movie preview about the book.

Preparation�

• Think about the story.
• What are the important events in the story?
• Select moments in the story to create your movie preview.
• Use a storyboard to plan you video sequence.
• Take or find pictures to create your movie preview.

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Share�

• Save your production.
• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER�

You can use this resource to plan with iMovie.

Creation�

• Access Video Editor (available in Photos on Windows 10) or iMovie. (iMovie offers a Movie Trailer option)
• Start a new project and select a theme for your trailer.
• Upload your pictures or videos and audio. Place them in order in the timeline.
• If you are using the trailer option in iMovie, select the style of trailer and add your clips were needed. (see tutorial)
• Edit your video: add titles, audio, transitions and text to your video.

Intention�Invite others to read a book by capturing key moments.

iMovie (trailers) tutorial

Video Editor tutorial

Retell events in a comic strip.

Preparation�

• Identify an important event from the story with the characters and setting involved.
• Take notes on what is said, done and seen in order to prepare your frames.
• Plan and write the dialogues to fit a comic strip format.
• Find the visual elements that you will add to your comic strip. Take pictures or find images on the Web (pixabay.com).

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Share�

• Save your production online and/or to your teacher.
• Read the book online using the sharing options.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

*Prior to this activity, teacher will need to create a class account and invite students to their library (class code). Then, students will create their account to create a book. See tutorial.

You can also use tools such as: Storyboardthat, Makebeliefscomix

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Creation�

• Access Book Creator online. Connect to your classroom account.
• Create a comic strip that will follow your plan: choose a template (panel), import your images, add speech bubbles or thought bubbles, add stickers, etc.

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Intention�Synthesize important events in a story.

Book Creator - Tutorial

Create a back cover of a book.

Preparation�

• Think about the story: What are the main events in the story?
• Select moments in the story that will capture the reader's attention without giving away too many details.
• Use a storyboard to plan your text and the outline of the back cover.
• Write a summary of the book that will capture the reader's attention without giving away too many details.
• Research information about the author of the book
• Find a picture of the author (keep the image source) and save the image on your computer.

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Share�

• When you are finished, you can download your production on your computer.
• Share your production.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER�You can create a teacher account and students will not be required to sign up. Watch this tutorial for more information.�You can also use web tools such as Canva. It requires an account (13 years and older). You can also ask for a free teacher account and invite your students in your class.

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Creation�

• Join PosterMyWall individually (13 years and older) or through your teacher’s account.
• Select the template that you want to use for your back book cover.
• Set the background colour.
• Type your summary of the book and the short bio of the author.
• Add the picture of the author.

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Intention�Summarize important elements and present the author of the book.

Retell (or interpret) elements of a story in a video.

Preparation�

• Identify the key elements of the story: characters, setting, problem, solutions, …
• Place the elements of the story in proper sequence.
• Plan and write your text. You can choose to write your text using an document app. �

Share�

• Share your production with your teacher using a link.
• You can also download your production on your computer.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

*Adobe Spark requires to be 13 and older.

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Creation�

• Use this storyboard to plan your digital story.
• Take pictures or find images on the Web using Adobe Express
• For each frame, add the text, the image or the visual elements that you might need to illustrate what you want to say.
• Record your narration.�

Intention�Select key elements of a story and retell them in a video.

Adobe Spark Video - Tutorial

Create an animated scene from a book.

Preparation

• Learn how to code with Scratch using the Getting Started tutorial. Take a look at the vocabulary resource sheet.
• Access the Create a story tutorial to understand how to build a story in this program. You can also consult the Create a story cards.
• Identify an important event from the story with the characters and setting involved in order to create your animated sequence.
• Use this planning tool to plan and write your scene.

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Share

• Save your production.
• Share your production with your teacher.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

You can ask for a teacher account and manage students accounts.

Creation

• Access Scratch.*
• Click on create, set your scene and add characters.
• Follow the steps on the story cards to code your story according to your plan: add conversations and animation, etc.

Intention�Represent a part from a book in an animated scene.

Imagine another ending to the story.

Preparation�

• Brainstorm another possible ending to the story.
• Will you…
• change the outcome?
• offer another perspective?
• change the mood?
• Write your text.

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Share�

• Save your production online and/or to your teacher.
• Read the book online using the sharing options.

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*NOTE TO TEACHER

Students can collaborate in a book.

You can also use Google Slides or Powerpoint.

Creation�

• Access Book Creator online. Connect to your classroom account.
• Create a book that will follow your plan: import your images, add audio, stickers and text.

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Intention�Create another ending to a story and represent it in a book.