Little Britain second graders create digital time capsules to end an unforgettable year

Little Britain second graders in Mindy Fowler’s class had an unforgettable year and will be holding onto the memories they made in their digital time capsules!  Using Google Vids, students created digital time capsules to capture the essence of their year, from their favorite books to the three words that define who they are today.

The project was a collaboration between Mrs. Fowler and District Tech Coach, Mrs. Ellefsen that bridges the gap between traditional literacy and modern media production. 

For second graders, many of whom are still becoming fluent readers, this project strengthens storytelling while building a strong technological foundation. Guided by Mrs. Ellefsen’s technical expertise, the students learned how to navigate the complex spatial logic of layering objects and precisely timing their oral reading to match the duration of a scene. This process requires them to storyboard their writing, effectively translating a few sentences on a page into an engaging visual narrative from scratch.

While the design of the scenes and visual elements is typically the most exciting part for students to engage with, the real magic happens when students record their own voices. This oral reading component allows them to practice prosody - the rhythm, expression, and intonation of their speech - as they turn their written words into a digital performance. Check out some examples below!