From Cover to Canva: 4th Graders Review Books in Style
In today’s increasingly digital world, combining creativity with technology is essential for students to communicate their ideas effectively. Mr. Duffy's 4th graders recently had the opportunity to showcase their favorite books by designing vibrant book review infographics using Canva, and the results were nothing short of spectacular!
A Blend of Creativity and Skills
The project began with students selecting a book they had recently read and drafting key elements for their infographic. Then, the fun began as they brought these ideas to life using Canva, a user-friendly graphic design tool.
Students explored various design features, such as:
Layout and Composition: Choosing templates that fit their content while maintaining visual balance.Typography: Pairing fonts to create emphasis and ensure readability.
Color Theory: Selecting color palettes that matched the mood or themes of their book.
Visual Elements: Incorporating icons, images, and charts to enhance their reviews.
Each infographic was unique, reflecting the student’s perspective and their growing skills as digital designers.
Aligned with MA DLCS Standards
This project also met several Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) standards for grades 3–5, including:
Digital Tools and Collaboration (DTC)
3-5.DTC.a.3: "Use digital tools (local and online) to manipulate and publish multimedia artifacts."
3-5.DTC.b.3: "Collaborate through online digital tools under teacher supervision."
Computing and Society (CAS):
3-5.CAS.a.3: "Describe the different uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses provide."
Computational Thinking (CT):
3-5.CT.d.1: "Individually and collaboratively, create, test, and modify a program in a graphical environment."
Beyond the Standards
In addition to meeting curriculum goals, this activity encouraged critical thinking about how to communicate ideas effectively in a visually driven format. It also allowed students to explore how design choices—like font style or color—can influence how their message is perceived.The Final Product
The finished infographics were displayed in the classroom. They sparked meaningful conversations about books while showcasing the students' creativity and design savvy.
Why It Matters
By integrating technology into literacy activities, students gained practical skills in digital design and communication—skills they will use throughout their education and beyond. This project wasn’t just about reviewing books; it was about empowering students to be creators and communicators in a digital world.
We can’t wait to see how these budding graphic designers apply their newfound skills to future projects!
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