Creating fictional text messages using SMS Generator
What is SMS Generator?
SMS Generator is an online tool (created by Russel Tarr) that allows users to create fictional text messages. This fun and creative tool does not require a log in and can be easily used immediately upon visiting the site. The text message generator can be used to create messages between fictional, historical, or real people. To create a conversation, users click on the gray or green speech bubble and type away. There is no limit on how long the conversations can be. Once entered, the text can be edited or rearranged. The finished conversation can be easily shared through an embed code, URL link, or it can be turned into a QR code.
Give me an example.
I was so excited to try this tool out with my 8th graders because they love to text! Currently my students are reading the play, The Diary of Anne Frank by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hacket. In order to enrich their reading experience and help them relate to the characters a bit more, I asked them to pretend Anne Frank could text. They were asked to put themselves in Anne's shoes and "text" another character from the play, using details from what they had read to create a mock conversation. The directions for their assignment can be located HERE. Some of my students were very creative and wrote humorous and entertaining conversations. A few examples are below.
Want more ideas?
Students could use Classtools SMS Generator to create 21st Century-like conversations between characters in a book, important historical figures, or take part in creative writing. I could also see this working well for foriegn language classes or ESL students to practice translating or communicating in a new language. This tool allows students to consider point of view, and to consider what others are thinking. Overall, it's a fun way to make literacy more techie and relatable to students who often do not engage in reading and writing assignments!
Resources
"Create a Text Message Exchange Between Fictional Characters" - Free Technology for Teachers
"SMS Generator" - Seomra Ranga: Resources for the Primary School Teacher
"Faketext SMS Generator" - World History Teachers Blog
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