We have a dream....

Step 1: Students should watch Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. They should then be engaged in a classroom discussion about the speech. For example, what was the meaning of the speech? What was MLK Jr. trying to accomplish? Who was he trying to reach? Were his dreams attainable?

Step 2: Students should then discuss some dreams that they have. This can include goals that they have for their school or their community. Discuss with the students valid, thought provoking dreams, not simply "pizza everyday for lunch".

Step 3: Introduce the project to the students. Inform them that they will be using the Flip ULTRA Camcorders to create their own 'I have a dream" speech. However, instead of just one person doing the speech, it will be a montage of different people around the school stating what their ideals are for the school community.

Step 4: Have student brainstorm on who they should interview and how they should approach them. Have them create a list, as a class, of the students, faculty, staff, and possibly community members, whom they would like to include.

Step 5: Divide the students into groups of 2 or 3. Divide the list, previously made, and decipher who will interview who. Each group will be allowed to take 1 Flip ULTRA Camcorder around the school to do their interviews.

Step 6: Students are taught the proper care and use of the Flip ULTRA Camcorders. They should be comfortable using the camcorders, as well as connecting them to the computer and uploading their videos.

Step 7: Let the filming begin!!! Students go around the school/community and collect their interviews, asking the individuals what they would like to see in the future of their school.

Step 8: When they are all finished they will bring the Flip ULTRA Camcorders back together and upload all of their collected videos onto a computer. The students can then use the computer to edit their videos and put them together in one long stream of dreams. In this step the students, tell the students they are the editors! They can edit the videos together so that one person's dream feeds right into another. One person could finish another's sentence. Let the students really use their creativity!

Step 9: The students should add an introduction and closing to their video. They can change the coloring effect, possibly making it black and white or adding text. Music can also be added for an extra effect.

Step 10: This video can be added to the school webpage or some other form of media to show the community what the dreams of the school community are.

This lesson is a great way to bring staff, students, and community members together as a whole and celebrate what they look forward to for the future of their school.