Digital Storytelling and the 5th Grade Classroom

As a 5th Grade teacher, I have dreams of using Digital Storytelling in the classroom. I need more time and technology for it to take off and to be effective in my classroom environment. I see Digital Storytelling working very well in the Social Studies content area (where instructional and educational value is lacking in 5th grade).

Digital Storytelling in Social Studies would be a way for students to open their minds and creatively bring historical events to life! Below is my dream "Digital Story Social Studies Lesson":

Lesson: A History Book "Hello" (Digital Storytelling)

Purpose: Students will recreate a historical event through a fictional characters eyes, using multi-media tools such as computers, PowerPoint or Prezi, audio and video recordings to accurately explain the event in history with detail.

Materials: Access to computer or laptop, PowerPoint, Prezi Student account, video recording technology, and audio recording technology.

Groups of 2-3 Students

Plan: Students will first choose a historical event that they are interested in. Once they have established this, they will then create a fictional character that live(s) during the time period of the historical event. Students will explain the event through that characters' Point of View (this is cross-curricular integration as Point of View is a heavily tested standard in the Literature Framework for students. Student will use PowerPoint or Prezi to give the meat of their presentation. Through audio and video, students can get creative with costumes or scenes to "bring to life". Students would need to have their entire plan for the Digital Story written down on paper before they would begin integrating it with technology.


This is obviously just a very basic and simple draft idea, but students would be able to creatively show their understanding of multiple standards for Literature, Social Studies, and technology. By introducing students to the idea of presenting stories Digitally, they are being exposed to the limitless opportunity technology provides education.