Lesson 270: Work with a friend to make a digital story

Objective

I can work with a friend to make a simple digital story on a device. I can help plan the pictures and words, take turns tapping or typing, and follow family rules for saving and sharing our story.

Materials

• Tablet or computer with a simple drawing or slides app
• Plain paper and pencil for planning (optional)
• A friend or classmate to work with
• Trusted adult helper (parent, carer, or teacher)

Mini-lesson — Making a digital story together

Guided Practice — Plan a digital story with a friend

Use these steps to help two children plan a short digital story before they start tapping on the screen.

1. Choose a friend pair. Let them sit together with an adult nearby.
2. On paper, help them choose two characters (for example, two kids, a child and a robot).
3. Ask: "Where does the story happen?" Help them pick one setting (park, school, home, space, etc.).
4. Draw three quick boxes or circles. Label them: "Start", "Middle", "End".
5. In the Start box, children say what happens first. An adult writes simple words like "We meet at the park."
6. In the Middle box, they say what happens next. For example: "We build a robot sandcastle."
7. In the End box, they say how it finishes. For example: "We save our story and go home."
8. Practise saying the story in order together: "First… then… last…"
9. Remind them: "We will take turns when we use the tablet to draw or type the story."

Tracing Pad

Lines Primary lines Baseline only Grid Blank Trace (none) friend friends story tablet screen draw typing share turns save

Pen Clear

Tip: As you trace, say a sentence such as "We take turns and save our story."

Practice — Our digital story page

Use this practice to help your child move from planning on paper to creating on a screen with a friend.

1. Open a simple drawing or slides app on the device, with an adult watching.
2. Help the children make three pages or slides: "Start", "Middle", and "End".
3. For the Start page, one child draws the setting while the other says what is happening. An adult can type a short sentence.
4. For the Middle page, children swap roles. The second child draws or chooses a picture, the first child tells the story words.
5. For the End page, they decide together how the story finishes. Keep the sentence short, such as "We save our story."
6. Show them how to press a save button or ask an adult to save for them. Say out loud: "We saved our work safely."
7. Ask your child: "Who is in charge of this device?" Help them answer: "The adults and us, not the tablet."
8. If it is safe, let them show the story to another adult or friend. Remind them not to share full names or personal details in their story.

Quick Check — Working together on a digital story

Answer each question about making a digital story with a friend and using devices safely.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)