Sago Mini Monsters

Sago Mini Monsters allows users to choose and customize their own monsters. After launching the app, users must tap the “Play” button. They will then be taken to a new screen, where the outline of a monster will float into view. Users can choose to use and customize that monster by tapping it three times, or they can choose a new monster by flinging the monster off the screen while still in the water. If they do choose the monster by tapping it, the monster’s head and shoulders will appear out of the water, and users can customize it by choosing different colors and drawing on it. When satisfied, users must tap the “Check” button to continue, and the monster will then grow hair, eyes, and a mouth. Next, items (e.g., food, a toothbrush, hats, band aides, stars, etc.) float up to the monster, and users can drag them onto their monster or cast them aside. When finished, users can tap the “Camera” icon to take a picture of their monster or they can tap the “Check” mark to reset the app and begin creating a new monster.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can have students create a monster to their liking and then save a picture of it to their camera roll. Students can then email the picture of their monster to their teacher, and the teacher can print them out. Next, teachers can hang the monsters around the room to celebrate students’ work.
2. Teachers can have students create a monster and save it to their camera roll. Next, teachers can have students import the monster into another app such as Popplet, Pic Collage, iBrainstorm, or Explain Everything. Once imported, teachers can have students include details for their monster such as: (1) Where is the monster’s hometown?, (2) What is the monster’s favorite food?, (3) Who are the monster’s friends and parents?, (4) Where does the monster work and play, and (5) Where does the monster live? Students can answer these questions using a combination of images and text. Once complete, students can email their teacher a copy of their work or a link to their work.
3. After creating a monster, students can write a story about it. Some story ideas include something that happened while the monster was still a child, a story about the monster visiting a restaurant or going shopping, or a story of the monster going to school or work. If students want to add additional characters to their story, they can do so by creating new monsters. Students can write their stories using an Office app, and they can email their teacher a picture of the monster(s) and their story. Teachers can then print them out the pictures and stories or post them to a class website where they can be shared.
4. After students create their monster, teachers can have students do a think-pair-share activity. To prompt the “Think” component, teachers can have students name their monster and create a backstory for where their monster came from and where their monster lives. Next, students can “Pair” together and share the stories they created about their monster. Finally, teachers can have students “Share” by asking each pair of students to explain one of their monster’s backstories.

Screenshots