Exploring our World through Video

Subject- Technology Integration
Topic- Recording life through video
Objective- Students will learn to use a video camera to capture highlights of their day and their life at school/home/extra curricular activities. They will then learn how to import this video into various forms of programs to edit, view and copy their video.
Procedure-
Day 1- Discuss how digital media has changed their lives and where it came from as well as where it is headed. Put students onto computers to do a little research on the topic. Assign students homework- look around your home and come up with a list of items in your home that are used for digital media.
Day 2- Discuss their homework assignment. Ask how many students have a camera or camcorder in their home (this can include cell phones with these functions)? Ask how many students use these and how frequently? Using a slide show, go through the different types of cameras that have been used in the past and how they have changed over time.
Day 3- Show students the new flip video camcorders. Explain to students how they are going to be used. Using an Elmo machine, put the camera and its instruction booklet on the table to be displayed on the screen. Go over the parts of the camera, how it is used, and what we are going to use it for. Pass out the cameras and allow the students to examine/explore the new equipment. Collect before they leave. Suggest to students that if they have their own camera they would like to bring to the next class they may do so. We will only have a limited amount of cameras for everyone to use. (Students may work in pairs or individually)
Day 4- Have students get out their cameras, or pass out the ones that have been purchased. Review some simple rules:1. Do not interrupt any classrooms without prior permission. 2. Take only appropriate videos. 3. Do not take video of anyone who does not want to be filmed. Go over directions for project: 1. Students may do a live/reality video of their everyday life activities. 2. They may act out a lesson they have learned in their core classrooms. 3. They may do an informational video on something they want to get across to people. 4. They may do a news cast of things happening in the school building. 5. Or any other activity that has been approved by the teacher prior to taping. This may take place over several days.
Day 5- Students will import their video using imovie. Students can then edit their video and prepare it for publication.
Day 6- Students will share their movie with the rest of the class using a projector and screen.
Evaluation- observation and student work

Note: I only work with a group of kids once a week. This project will nearly take a whole nine weeks to complete. I will start this project with one fourth grade class at each building and then expand it and make changes as necessary to other classrooms.