Story Wheel

Review by Melinda Smiles

Price: Free

Rating: 5/5 stars

Story Wheel is a great digital storytelling application for the iPad or iPhone. The basic version of this fun and educational app is free and is great for all ages. Once you have downloaded the app, simple tap “create a story” and choose a theme. Although the “story teller” theme is free, additional themes including space, knights and princesses, and pirates, cost an additional $0.99 each.

Once you have chosen a theme, you can add 1-4 players. Once you have chosen your players, the story wheel will appear on the screen. The player one will spin the wheel to get a picture. Player one then thinks of something to say, taps the “record” button, and has up to 30 seconds to record a narration. If player one is happy with what he/she recorded, click “next player” to move on. If he/she is not happy with the narration, there is an option to redo the recording. Keep spinning and recording for up to 12 pictures. Once your story is complete, tap “done.” You now have the option to add a title and save your story. Afterward you can listen to your complete story with the animated images from the wheel playing on the screen. All saved stories are saved on the main page of the app under the section “listen to stories.”

Pros:

- Great way for kids to practice the art of storytelling by adding a beginning, middle and end

- Improves oral language skills

- Since you are recording and listening to your own voice, it is a fun way to teach kids to tell stories with fluency and expression

- The free version is robust and will provide hours of fun

- The additional themes are inexpensive

- No objectionable material- appropriate for young kids and classrooms

- Promotes creativity and imaginative play

- Encourages collaboration when creating a group story

Cons:

- Once you’ve spun the wheel, you cannot skip a picture; you are stuck with your spin