Wonder Media is an educational animation company that creates engaging, intentional content to help children learn important life skills, such as empathy, problem-solving, and emotional awareness. Their tools, like the Wonder Media Story Maker, allow students to write, narrate, and animate their own stories, making learning both fun and meaningful .
How Wonder Media Impacted GT Students at Lytle Elementary
At Lytle Elementary School, Wonder Media played a transformative role in the Gifted and Talented (GT) program through a project called EdTalks. Launched in early 2025 by Smart Lab Teacher Mr. Pedro Rodriguez, the initiative empowered GT students from 2nd to 5th grade to create animated TED-style presentations on topics they were passionate about.
Skills Developed:
Research & Writing: Students conducted in-depth research and crafted compelling scripts.
Voice Performance: They practiced public speaking by recording their narratives.
Collaboration: Working in teams, students learned to cooperate and share responsibilities.
Creative Expression: Through animation, they brought their ideas to life in a visually engaging format.
Notable Student Projects:
“Dolly Madison” by 2nd graders Jason Chessher, Julianna Clark, Gael Davila, and Zaniyah Myers explored American history.
“Your Amazing Body” by 3rd graders Daniel Ovalle, Dominic De La Cruz, Ethan Cyrene, and Pierce Vaughn explained human anatomy.
“Similes and Metaphors” by 4th graders Sarahi Hernandez, Kaylee Lingo, and Esai Garcia delved into literary devices.
“Don Quixote” by 5th graders Alonzo Sandoval, Xavier Cisneros, and Axel Rojo Perez brought classic literature to life.
"Sons of Liberty" by 4th graders Amia Salazar, Emily Dawson, and Mileena Rios, discussing historical acts of protest.
"Personal Narratives" by 4th graders Juan Escamilla, Cullen Ford, and Keaton Brysch, emphasizing the importance of personal storytelling.
These projects not only enhanced academic skills but also boosted students' confidence and creativity. The success of the EdTalks initiative highlights how integrating technology and storytelling can enrich the educational experience for GT students.
For more details and to view the student-created animations, visit the Lytle Elementary Animation Projects page.
To view the complete playlist of these student-created animations, you can visit the Lytle Elementary EdTalks YouTube Playlist.