Shadow Puppet

Shadow Puppet is an easy-to-use app designed for creating narrated presentations. After launching the app, users can click on the “Create New” button to begin making a presentation. Next, Shadow Puppet links to the iPad’s camera roll, and users can select a variety of images to include in their presentation. After selecting the images, users tap the “Next” button on the bottom right of the screen. Then, users can scroll between their presentation’s image by swiping them, add text by tapping the “T” button and entering the text and effects they wish to use, and include music by tapping the “Musical Note” icon. When ready, users can tap the “Start” button to begin narrating their presentation. As they narrate, users can tap the “Pause” and/or “Undo” buttons as needed. Also, while narrating, users can tap the “Wand” button, which provides them with tools to annotate on their presentation. When finished, users must tap the “Save” button on the bottom right of the screen. Shadow Puppets will then save the presentation to its cloud, and users can share it over social media, email, or they can copy a link to it. Also, from the app’s home screen, users can tap the “Ideas” button to access different ways for using this app.

Instructional Ideas

1. As an introductory activity at the beginning of the school year, teachers can have students create a five-image presentation about a classmate. To do so, students first need to be put in pairs. Next, students can interview each other to learn 5-10 facts about each other. After the interview, students will be responsible for creating a presentation using this app about the classmate who was interviewed. The presentation must be based on the information they gained from the interview, include at least five images, last for at least 90 seconds, and include narration and annotation. When finished, teachers can have students post the link to their presentation on a class website. Finally, classmates can view the presentation and respond by listing what they liked about the presentation and learned about their new classmate.
2. After reading a narrative, teachers can have students analyze it by creating a presentation that follows the plot triangle. To organize the presentation, its first slide represents the exposition, the second slide represents the rising actions, the third slide represents the climax, the fourth slide represents the falling actions, and the fifth slide represents the resolution. For each slide, students must include an image and commentary. Teachers can add to this assignment by having students include a sixth slide that contains information pertaining to the narrative’s theme(s), moral, and/or author.
3. Teachers can assign students to research a famous person, historical figure, hero, or someone else of significance to the students. After conducting their research, students can create a presentation using this app to report their findings. To organize that presentation, the first slide can provide an overview about what makes this person significant. Next, the second slide can report on the person’s childhood, the third slide about the person’s education, the fourth slide about the person’s professional achievements, and the fifth slide about the person’s legacy. For each slide, students must include an image and commentary. Students can then post a link to their presentation on a class website, so it can be viewed by their classmates.
4. Teachers can give students options about how they wish to use this app. To do so, teachers can have students view the “Ideas” section located on this app’s main menu. There, students can browse the list of ideas for creating presentations and then choose one. Next, students can plan and create the presentation. Once created, students can share it by posting it to a class website.
5. To support vocabulary development, teachers can assign students a vocabulary word and have them create a presentation about it. The first slide of the presentation can include the word and its definition. The second slide can include a collage of pictures related to the word. The third slide can use the word contextually in a sentence. The fourth slide can include a list of synonyms and antonyms for the word. For each slide, students will have to include narration. Once finished, students can post these videos to a class website. If teachers do this activity multiple times during the year, they will have a large collection of videos.

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