Format: Application for Apple devices
Suggested age: 5 +
Cost: Free or $2.99 full version.
I’m always on the
hunt for apps that can engage my daughter (2 years old) and ones that can be
useful in the classroom and library. I
came across Puppet Pals HD while trolling professional development workshops
for the latest British Columbia Teacher Librarians Association (BCTLA)
conference. I didn’t end up attending
that particular workshop (there were so many excellent ones to choose from!)
but I did end up installing the recommended apps from that workshop.
Puppet Pals HD is a free app which allows the
user to create a two dimensional puppet show while recording a voice over. The interface is attractive and user friendly,
I began using this app without any instruction.
The user is able to choose from seven characters and three backgrounds. Online tutorials show the app including
characters from the “Wild Western” theme but my version came with fairy tale
characters. You can move, flip, and resize the characters
and upload your recorded puppet shows to a personal computer. I
found that I grew tired with the limited choices and would suggest purchasing
the optional $2.99 Director’s Cut to unlock the ability to puppetize yourself
or loved ones from your photos, add personal backdrops as well as gain access
to dozens more characters and more flexibility with backdrops. All in all, I was impressed with the quality
of the free version of the app and would feel comfortable recommending users to
purchase the extended “Director’s Cut”.
I see many curricular connections with this app including retelling
stories, creating alternate endings, presentations, and dramatic learning. I know that many of my students from previous
years would be too shy to present orally in class or participate in drama
classes and this gives a viable option for those students to meet those
learning outcomes but not have to get up
in front of the entire class.
