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Allisyn
teaches 3rd grade at PS 261 in Brooklyn, NY. This is
her 10th year teaching. She loves integrating media literacy
into her curriculum and working with students to create
videos.
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Modifications
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I
used this website as a starting point for research on anti-smoking
with my students. Because there is an overwhelming amount of
information, my students learned to pick out interesting facts,
put them in their own words, and create a simple presentation
to share what they’ve learned using iMovie.
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Instructional
Objectives
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Students will:
- learn and apply basic research skills by exploring anti-smoking
- become critical evaluators of websites
- learn and apply basic public speaking skills to present
their research
- create a kid-friendly public service announcement (PSA)
by using iMovie
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Technology Integration
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We infused
this activity with technology. Students began by brainstorming
current issues that effect kids. They agreed they wanted to
focus on smoking. I introduced them to the idea of Public Service
Announcements, and we watched some examples (http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/video/index.html).
I used the Internet as a research resource in order to teach
kids how to critically evaluate websites. We looked at both
good and bad examples of quality websites, and discussed the
characteristics of both (easy to navigate, clear, solid information,
author, purpose, etc). Students learned how to take notes off
of a website and put information in their own words. To present
their research, students learned to use iMovie to create their
own PSA. Finally, students were involved with preparations
needed to project their movie onto our auditorium screen for
a whole-school screening! |
Assessment
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I based my assessments on student performance on both formal and informal
evaluation tools. I observed levels of participation and effort.
Each step of this activity was broken down and had tangible materials
that I considered. For example, each student wrote their anti-smoking
facts on index cards to create the script for the movie. Students
had to speak loudly and clearly when filmed to communicate their
fact. Finally, the PSA they created served as a valuable tool in
assessing the project.
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Tips
for Teachers
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My first piece of advice is to recruit some parent volunteers. When making
movies, it is easier to divide your class into smaller groups. Parent
volunteers are a tremendous asset and make this possible. For students
with special needs, simply having them choose an interesting fact
and copying it down is enough – the paraphrasing can come later.
When making movies, I start by having students brainstorm all types
of movies/videos/commercials, and then all the jobs they think are
required to make a movie. This gives us a range of jobs so that every
student is involved. Movie making is a great way to build teamwork,
promote responsibility, and teach research and public speaking skills.
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Student Work Samples
Click a thumbnail to see a full-screen or watch the student-produced
Quicktime video.
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