For teachers
A story writing lesson that ends in a film
Toonaroo turns a written story into an animated film, scene by scene. Pupils plan a four-scene story, write what each scene shows and how it moves, and watch their writing become a cartoon. It runs in the browser, so it works on Chromebooks and iPads with no install.
The best part for literacy: every scene forces precise, descriptive writing. "A dragon" gives a vague picture. "A small orange dragon on a snowy mountain, looking sad" gives exactly what they meant. Pupils see the effect of their word choices straight away.
Last updated 29 September 2026
A one-hour lesson plan
1
Plan (15 minutes)
Pupils plan a four-part story on a storyboard sheet: opening, problem, attempt, resolution.
2
Describe (15 minutes)
For each box, pupils write two sentences: what is in the picture, and how it moves. Push for adjectives and precise verbs.
3
Make (20 minutes)
In pairs, pupils type their descriptions into Toonaroo scene by scene and watch each picture appear.
4
Share (10 minutes)
Play the finished films to the class. Ask which descriptions produced the clearest pictures, and why.
Curriculum links
In England, it fits the KS1 and KS2 writing composition objectives: planning and sequencing narratives, and choosing vocabulary for effect. In the US, it supports narrative writing standards for K-5, especially sequencing events and using descriptive detail.
Why it works for reluctant writers
Many children who dread a blank page will happily write two sentences if they know a cartoon is coming. The writing is short, the reward is immediate, and improving a sentence visibly improves the film.
Safety in class
Toonaroo is made for children. What pupils type is filtered for unsuitable words, there is no chat, no public sharing and no contact with other users.
Frequently asked questions
Do pupils need their own accounts?
No. A teacher account on the class device is enough for a lesson, with pupils taking turns in pairs.
Does it work on school Chromebooks and iPads?
Yes. Toonaroo runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install.
What age group is it best for?
Years 1 to 6 in the UK, or kindergarten to grade 5 in the US. Younger classes work best with the teacher typing while pupils describe.
Is it a replacement for Toontastic?
For the storytelling-to-film part, yes. Toonaroo does not record voices yet, which Toontastic did.
Make your first movie
Your kid tells the story, Toonaroo draws and animates it. Free to try in your browser.
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