Overview

Title of the Project/Task: Infomercial: Part 3: Filming and Editing
Essential Question:
How can we create a visual representation of our research about a wellness issue so that information is made relevant to our peers?
Overview and Purpose:
Students will working in groups of 4-5 to film and edit their infomercials. Students will be using new digital video cameras (zoom Q8) and video editing software on their laptops (Final Cut Pro) to create their 3-5 minute infomercials to bring awareness about a wellness issue to a broader audience. Students will score the videos using rubrics, and a panel will choose which infomercials are shown to the whole school through the hallway TVs. Infomercials will be shown in the ELA classes, as well. Students will not only share what they have learned with their peers, but they will also gain technical skills in filming and editing as well as 21st Century Skills such as collaboration, verbal communication, and problem solving.
Standards (including technical standards):
●CCSS ELA SL9-10.4
●CCSS ELA SL9-10.5
Twenty-First Century Skills:
●Collaboration
●Problem Solving
●Verbal Communication
Key Activities That Develop 21st Century Skills:
Activity #1: Memorizing and Practicing Script
Students will memorize and practice their scripts.
Activity #2: Film Infomercials
Students will film infomercials using Flip video cameras.
(At this point, the top 3 filmed infomercial scripts as determined in Task 2, Activity 7 from each class will be presented to the ELA classes for evaluation according to a rubric for filmed infomercials. Activities #3-6 will happen only for the top 3 voted films overall based on student feedback. This work will be done after school.)
Activity #3: Expert Lesson on Filming
Fatima Rayzor of Paper Girl will be teaching students film and editing techniques.
Activity #4:Film Top 3 Infomercials
Students will film their infomercials.
Activity #5:Editing
Students will be editing their infomercials using the Final Cut Pro.
Activity #6:Final Showcase of Films for HOP Awards
Final films will be judged, the films will be showcased, and the overall winner will be announced at this school-wide event. The final winners’ films will be aired in the hallways for the duration of the school year.
Feedback:
Students will get feedback from advisory teachers in the moment in Activity #1 and 2. Students working on the top 3 scripts in the class will get feedback from the ELA students. Students working on steps 3-6 will get feedback from Fatima and Advisory teachers. Teachers from each of the core subjects will be judging the top 3 films to determine the winner on the night of the showcase.
About Our School:
At Health Opportunities High School we are dedicated to providing rigorous and stimulating instructions as well as establishing a nurturing and supportive environment that will enable our students to achieve their graduation requirements. Our graduates will be prepared for higher education and the world of work. We are committed to seeing our students attain academic excellence, global awareness, and leadership skills.
Our standards-driven instructions, internships, and study opportunities enable all students to acquire career related skills, explore issues of self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and respond to demands of global citizenry. We strive to create well-rounded, civic-minded individuals who are involved in local as well as global communities and are prepared to succeed long after they have graduated from our school.
Credits:
Karen Fraser
Linda O’Connor
Alexandra Balant
Nodia Chambers
Maria Lore
Yasmine Butler
Supported by Educurious

Lessons/Steps/Activities

Activity #1: Memorizing and Practicing the Script

Student Directions / Teacher Notes
Question students are answering:
How do we memorize and practice a script?
Skills and Knowledge:
●Memorization
●Body language
●Dramatization
●Personalization
21st Century Skills:
●Verbal Communication
●Collaboration
●Social Awareness
Task Introduction (for Student):
“Today you will memorize and practice the script you’ve been writing. What do you do when you want to memorize something? ”
Goals/Outcomes (21st century skills):
Students will memorize and practice their script.
Feedback and Evidence (for Student):
Students will get feedback from their advisory teacher. The evidence that they have completed this task is that they have successfully memorized their skit.
Resources You Will Need:
●Completed Scripts
●Cue cards and/or note cards, as needed
What to Do: (This provides directions for the activity with links to the resources students will need)
  1. Teacher will discuss with students memorization tips and tricks for memorizing scripts.
  2. Students practice memorizing their scripts.
  3. Teacher will conduct a mini-lesson on intonation, stage directions, positioning, voice, speed, volume, etc.
  4. Students practice their skit again with what they have just learned about dramatization.
  5. Students continue practicing until the teacher says they are ready to film.
/ English Language Learners and SPED students may need more practice time memorizing scripts for receptive and expressive language.

Activity #2: Quick Filming: All Students

Student Directions / Teacher Notes
Question students are answering:
How do we capture information and emotion on film to convey a message to our peers?
Skills and Knowledge:
●Speaking
●Memorizing
●Take and follow directions
●Film
●Be aware of timing
21st Century Skills:
●Verbal communication
●Collaboration
●Social awareness
Task Introduction (for Student):
“Today you will learn how to capture your message on video. ”
Goals/Outcomes (21st Century Skills):
Students will use verbal communication, collaboration, and social awareness to create a video of their skit.
Feedback and Evidence (for Student):
Students will get feedback while filming and will receive feedback from their teacher using the rubric after they film. They will turn in their video on the flip video camera to the teacher at the end of the day.
Resources You Will Need:
●Flip Video cameras or iPhone
●Rubric for the film
●Tutorials : Video 101
What to Do: (This provides directions for the activity with links to the resources students will need)
  1. Teacher will model how to use the flip video camera. Students can choose to use their phone or flip video cameras to film.
  2. Students will film multiple takes and submit the best take to their teacher after following a checklist for basic qualities, such as no profanity, follows script, and adheres to the time limit.
/ Students will need access to Flip Video cameras or allow students to use their iPhones.

Activity #3: Expert Lesson on Editing and Filming

(Expert Lesson on Filming: Fatima Rayzor of Paper Girl will be teaching students film and editing techniques.)

Student Directions / Teacher Notes
Question students are answering:
How can we effectively film and edit our infomercials?
Skills and Knowledge:
●How to use the editing software
●How to use digital cameras to film
●Lighting and sound
●Editing tips
●Filming tips
●Lighting tips
21st Century Skills:
●Verbal communication,
●Collaboration,
●Social awareness
Task Introduction (for Student):
“Today you will work with an expert to advance your skills of filming and editing to make an amazing infomercial.”
Goals/Outcomes (21st century skills):
●Students will be able to use the editing software
●Students will be able to use the digital cameras to film
●Students will be able to capture the sound effectively and light their videos effectively
●Students will be able to collaborate, communicate verbally, and exhibit social awareness to be able to film their infomercial
Feedback and Evidence (for Student):
Students will be taking notes on the video tutorials/expert knowledge and will be asking questions of the expert.
Resources You Will Need:
● Shooting 101
●Episode 1: Introducing Final Cut Pro
What to Do: (This provides directions for the activity with links to the resources students will need)
  1. Students will learn some tips on shooting effective video from the expert and/or video tutorials
  2. Students will learn some tips on editing their videos and familiarize themselves with the software of Final Cut Pro
/ These could provide directions for teachers, educative features (e.g. background on the topic, additional resources), alternatives for differentiation, etc.

Activity #4: Film Top 3 Infomercials:Students will film their infomercials

Student Directions / Teacher Notes
Question students are answering:
How will my infomercial influence my peers in a positive way?
Skills and Knowledge:
●Filming a video
●Correctly transferring the video to another device for editing
●Techniques re: movement and holding camera still, angles, lighting, sound, capturing the speaker, etc.
●Techniques for filming effectively re: lighting, camera tips, and capturing good sound
21st Century Skills:
●Verbal communication
●Collaboration
Task Introduction (for Student):
“Today you will be applying the basic skills you have learned re: filming as you capture your infomercial for your peers.”
Goals/Outcomes (21st century skills):
●Students will be able to persevere through obstacles they face in filming (reshooting a scene, etc.).
●Students will be able to work with their team members to film their infomercial by the end of the period with minimal supervision.
Feedback and Evidence (for Student):
Students will be getting feedback from their expert, teacher and peers throughout this process. Their deliverable will be to have a completed, filmed infomercial.
Resources You Will Need:
●Camera
●Script
●Filming Rubric
What to Do: (This provides directions for the activity with links to the resources students will need)
  1. Students will spend class time filming their infomercials with their teammates, receiving feedback from their expert and teacher.
  2. They will transfer their infomercial to their teachers’ computer using a USB cable at the end of the period.
/ (Notes will be added after HOP teachers complete the teaching of this task.)

Activity #5: Editing

Students will be editing their infomercials using the Final Cut Pro

Student Directions / Teacher Notes
Question students are answering:
How do we edit an infomercial?
Skills and Knowledge:
●Using Final Cut Pro
●How to effectively use Final Cut Pro
21st Century Skills:
●Problem Solving: considers all parts and causes (re: lighting, sound, etc.)
●Collaboration
●Social Awareness
●Verbal Communication (ask questions to make sure other understand the message)
Task Introduction (for Student):
“Today you will work with Final Cut Pro to edit your infomercials. ”
Goals/Outcomes (21st century skills):
●Students will demonstrate self-direction, verbal communication, and teamwork as they complete this activity.
●Students will demonstrate the ability to use the software final cut pro to edit their infomercial.
●Students will be able to solve problems that arise in this process.
,
Feedback and Evidence (for Student):
Submit their final edited infomercial to their instructor. They will receive feedback from the expert and their teacher throughout this process.
Resources You Will Need:
●Computer
●Final Cut Pro software
●Video
●Filming rubric
●Tutorial videos: Editing 101
What to Do: (This provides directions for the activity with links to the resources students will need)
  1. Students will spend their class time editing their video, re-shooting any footage that they need to redo.
  2. Students will turn their video in at the end of the class on the final day.
/ (Notes will be added after the HOP Teachers teach this portion.)

Activity #6: Final Showcase of Films for HOP Awards

Final films will be judged, the films will be showcased, and the overall winner will be announced at this school-wide event. The final winners’ films will be aired in the hallways for the duration of the school year. As this is an after school event, there is no need for a lesson plan template for this activity. Judges will use the final filming rubric to determine the winner.

Resources:

●Projector

●Computer

●Screen

●Rubric

●Prizes for the winners

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