Visual Vocab

Hi, this is a great activity to introduce younger students (1-3, K for the brave) to the Camera App and Keynote on the iPad. Depending on your students it will take a minimum of 2-3 thirty minute periods.

Using the Camera App and Keynote on the iPad students turn boring text into art while helping them learn the spelling of a word at the same time. This is also a great way to reinforce the meaning for vocabulary words. In addition, students will learn about fonts and how to change, format and insert an image into them.

Through this activity students will become familiar with taking pictures using the Camera App. They will also become familiar with some basic functionality of keynote including fonts, typing, making a new slide, and filling text with an image and adding shapes and formating them.

The final result will result in a slide show with words that are filled with text illustrating their meaning.

The Process

As I said earlier, I would plan on a minimum of 2-3 class periods to work on this. It might take a little longer depending on the class and how many words you want to do. For the younger students I would just do one or two words. Older students might be able to handle more.

For the first day focus on the Camera App. Many students will know how to use it, but for those that don't demonstrate how to open it and take a picture. Don't worry about editing or anything else.

I suggest doing a photo walk around the building looking for pictures related to the words the students are going to use for the project. In my case we looked for specific colors. Allow students to take as many photos as they can find. They can pick the best one later.

The next lesson will focus on keynote. Depending on the class you might want to have the students do this step by step with you versus doing a demonstration and letting them go free. I'm going to lay it out step by step below.

1. Have the students open Keynote and start a new presentation.
2. I find it easier to add a blank slide and delete the default slide instead of deleting all of the text on the default one. 
   
3. At this point I like to go through the process of adding text and modifying it under the Format window (the paint brush). Show how to change font size, color (even though not needed her), and the font itself. You might want to put out the Image Fill option and tell students you will explain that later. Explain that a thick font will be needed for this and students should not pick a skinny one. I suggest Impact at around 650pt size, but let them experiment if you have the time. You will also want to demonstrate how to move the word into the center of the slide.  
   
4. Now is the fun part. Have students select the word and go to the format menu and choose the "Text" tab followed by "Text Color."
5. Next choose "Image" and tap "Change Image"
6. Tap "Choose Photo" and find the photo that matches the meaning of the word. This step usually gets a huge reaction of amazement and excitement from the students. 
   
7. Students can play with the sizing options in that window to see what they like best.
8. Now for the final part. We are going to add shapes above and below the word.
9. Demonstrate how to add a simple shape to the slide and how to move it and resize it.
10. Next, demonstrate how to change the color using the "Format" window under "Style" this time. They can choose a color swatch already on the screen or tap the rectangle next to "Fill."
11. The color options are up to you. My students love using gradients. If you want to allow them to using the image fill on the shape, feel free. I limit this part to a swatch or a gradient.  
    
12. Repeat the process for a shape under the word. 
    
13. If students are doing more than one word have them add a new slide and see if they can do the next word independently.
14. When finished export the slide(s) as images or slideshows.

Reflection

Keynote is a challenging app for students, especially younger ones, but you will be surprised at how quickly they pick it up and are able to make something. I have used Keynote with as young as Kindergarten and they love using it. Students of all ages especially love taking pictures!

If you attempt this with Kindergarten students you could try single letters and pictures of items that start with that letter (A=Apple).

With that in mind, I found that the step by step approach is the best way to teach this project. It even makes it easier for the older kids. Once they do it once they are able to do the next one on their own with a little help along the way.

This lesson was designed for younger students, but it can easily be used with students of any age and in any subject.

It is perfect for general studies or special area classes. Personally, I am a Makerspace teacher who regularly combines tech, art and other subjects into projects.

It is also not limited to the iPad. Keynote on any device is capable of doing this project.

I suggest finding a way to post the final products in printed form, online in a classroom or some other way. Students love having a way to share the product outside of the iPad.