An ACHS Digital Short: The True History of Pirates

After studying and researching the history of the Atlantic world from the beginnings of European exploration, through the establishment of the Columbian Exchange and Triangular trade, to the involvement of the American colonies in international trade with English, French, African, and Latin America, the students will examine the rise of piracy and the reasons why Europeans, Africans, and American chose or were forced into piracy and the benefits of it. Students will also research infamous pirates and develop a digital production of “glorified” skits in which they present the true history of pirates and their social, political and economic livelihoods through entertainment. Students will be able to create a music video, a short dramatic film, or a comedic sketch to present the historical content. With the use of digital cameras and flip videos, students will shoot their digital short after creating a story board, script and conducting rehearsals. Students will then use either Windows Photostory 3 or Windows Movie Maker to edit and create their short along with narration and music. Students will then display their shorts to the class and student body at a school wide technology fair at ASTEC High School in the spring.

Students will be able to meet the following objectives as a result of this project:
1. Analyze the impact of European expansion into the Americas, Africa, and Asia
2. Examine political and economic policies of Europe in international trade and mercantilism
3. Analyze the social, political and economic push and pull of piracy on European, African, and American sailors and seaman.
4. Describe the social and political structure of a pirate ship and the impact of piracy on the Atlantic world in the 18th century.
5. Analyze the most infamous pirates and the romanticism of the fiction and reality of their personalities
6. Utilize contemporary digital technology to apply research and knowledge content through digitized storytelling
7. Develop critical thinking skills in creating intelligent entertainment to relay historical content.
8. Understand the process of digital production.