1. The document provides tips for using green screening techniques to create motivating photographs for children's writing. It explains how to take photos against a plain background, import them into software, select and remove the background using the instant alpha tool, and paste the photo onto a new background. 2. It emphasizes choosing backgrounds before photos are taken so children can pose effectively. It also suggests using props like desks or dress up items to create flying or leaping poses. 3. The document concludes by explaining how the green screened photos can then be used to motivate various writing activities where children write stories or poems based on the photos of themselves in imaginary roles and settings.

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Take a photo
against a plain
coloured
background. I use a
green sheet hung
against the
classroom wall.
Import the photo into
your computer, then open
Keynote or Pages.
Select the blank page to
work on.
Drag your photo onto the page
or import it from the media
button.
Select it by making sure it has
the dots around it.
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From the Image menu select
the instant alpha.
Carefully click and drag the shape
over the background colour you
want to remove. Parts of the
background will change colour
and when you release your finger
will disappear.
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The more careful you are here the
better result you will get.
If you go too far use apple z or
command z to undo the last move.
Once you have finished removing
the background of your
photograph, choose another
photograph you want to insert
yourself into. Drag it into a new
page in pages / keynote.
Stretch your background to fill
the whole page.
Copy (command c) your
alpha-ed image and then
paste it (command v) onto
your new background.
Move it and size it up or
down to create the most
effective photograph.
How to use green screening to create amazing images to motivate writing.

2. Tips for GREAT green screen photographs.
If children choose
their background
before they take
their photo they are
better able to pose
for their
photograph.
More than one
image can be
green screened in.
Either use two or
more children or
get another
character from
google image
search.
Flying or leaping
poses can be created
by placing a desk or
box under the sheet
for the children to lie
on.
The smoother you
have the
background the
easier it is to
alpha out.
Ideally drape the
sheet in a curve
onto the floor and
have the children
stand on it.
If your children are in
mufti you are lucky - it
is much harder to make
photos look effective
in school uniform, but
you can use a simple
dress up box to great
effect. My spy outfit is
simply a hat and a
black coat.
Encourage the children to be imaginative.
Once they have learnt this technique give
them plenty of opportunities to use it so
they refine their skills.

3. Using green screen photographs to motivate writing.
Green screening or alpha-ing has to be the most fun way for the children to create amazing photos of themselves to write about.
!
Here are a selection of writing lessons using photos we have alpha-ed as our motivation. Reluctant writers no more!
Imagine you are a spy!
How do you move, where do you go, what do you do?

4. Imagine you are an All Black…

5. Imagine you are a character
in a story.
Write a page of the story to
match your picture.

6. Imagine you can fly. Where will you go, what will you see?

7. Illustrate a poem.
There’s a dragon on the playground!!