Video Pen Pals

Students from the Whiz Kids tutoring/mentoring program (http://www.whizkidstutoring.com/) and East Central High School (http://echs.sunmandearborn.k12.in.us/) create and share videos using a Flip camera. I have named the groups WK (Whiz Kids) and EC (East Central). I am the teacher in the Indiana classroom (9th grade) and the Lead Teacher for the Whiz Kids program (7th & 8th grade).

The first installment was a letter written from a WK to an EC kid. The students asked and responded to a set of questions that served to introduce themselves. (Pen Pals were assigned randomly.)

After the first letters were exchanged, both sets of students wanted to know when they could meet their Pen Pal. Arranging a meeting would be difficult for many reasons. I immediately thought of my Flip camera.

Through the course of the school year, we have created several videos that cover topics of interest to the students. The most recent was called "Video Valentine" and featured the students telling about the things they LOVE.

The collaborative elements of this lesson include having the students create the questions they want to ask their Pen Pal. We discuss what makes an interesting question. Instead of having me tell them what to ask, they invent questions.

This lesson also encourages speaking and listening skills.

This project has been wonderful. The two groups of students are very differerent from each other, but we have all learned that we share many things.

This is not a traditional lesson plan, but it utilizes the Flip camera so well, that I must send it in! The super-easy operation of this camera makes it ideal for this type of project.