Creating an Electronic Alphabet Book


© Stacy Peters-Walters
Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic

It can be fun to use the computer to learn more about the alphabet. You can use any type of presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, HyperStudio, ClarisWorks or KidPix. You will also need a source of pictures such as from clip art CDs, from the Internet or from pictures you’ve taken and scanned. You can also encourage your students or children to illustrate the picture books themselves. The illustrations can be created on paper and then scanned in or students can use a computer graphics program like KidPix or Paint.

First, read with your students or children several alphabet books. If you have younger students or children, these can be traditional alphabet books like Alphabet City by Stephen T. Johnson or Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert. Older students or children may be interested in more non-traditional alphabet books such as Q is for Duck by Mary Elting and Michael Folsom or A Mountain Alphabet by Margriet Ruurs. This will give your students or children ideas for topics or for an entire theme.

Secondly, have your students or children make a list of what topic they want associated with which letter. For example, do they want Aa to be associated with apple or aardvark? Or do they want to create a puzzle, such as Aa is related to Zoo because Animals live in zoos. Let your students or children be very creative in this process. If they get stuck, don’t give them an answer right away. It is best to have them think through the process. If they do hit a block, have them look in a dictionary or encyclopedia for ideas.

Next, have your students or children create the presentation using the program. Each slide or page will be devoted to one letter. On that slide, have your student or child type the letter and the name of the topic. Encourage your children to jazz up the letters by using different fonts or WordArt if they are using a Microsoft product. Once all 26 slides have been created, your students or children can add the pictures.

Finally, have your students or children proof their ebook for presentation and spelling. Your students or children will also need to add a cover page with a title, their name and any appropriate graphics. If you have time, you can help them to add animation and sound.

If you are a teacher, I would suggest devoting time for students to look at one another’s ebooks and to critique one another. You can also expand this into other electronic books, like a farm animals ebook or a class ebook. One class created an ebook based on the pattern found in Eric Carle’s book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?

Go To Page: 1 2


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo


Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

13.   Nov 6, 2001 5:48 PM
A is for awesome article, B is for bright ideas, c is for creative... I could go on but I don't know what I would use for a z compliment.....maybe ZESTY! Thanks for the great article. ...

-- posted by colleenmwilliams


12.   Oct 22, 2001 6:35 PM
I definitely agree that there are many ways that you can use technology in traditional lessons. Do you have a public section of your online class that I could view? I love to read about what other peo ...

-- posted by speterswalters


11.   Oct 22, 2001 6:33 PM
In this section I will be focusing on how computers can be integrated into other subject areas and how they can be used on their own. I think that almost every subject area can be integrated with comp ...

-- posted by speterswalters


10.   Oct 22, 2001 6:31 PM
I wanted to say thank you all for the wonderful welcome! I just spent the last 3 days at a wonderful reading and literature conference and came away with some great ideas to pass along.

-- Stacy ...


-- posted by speterswalters


9.   Oct 19, 2001 5:45 AM
I loved your first article and will be looking for more! Welcome to Suite101.com.

Elizabeth Nordhausen
Contributing Editor
Gift-Giving Customs ...


-- posted by shoemaker





Join the latest discussions

For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Stacy Peters-Walters's K-6 Student Activities topic, please visit the Discussions page.