Introduction:
Fourth grade students will be learning about the theme of a text. Theme can be defined as the lesson an author wants the students to learn from the text. Students will engage in online media, video creation and editing programs, sharing their work, and giving feedback online.
Objectives:
Students will read a text with their group of 4-5, define the theme within the text, collaborate together to outline a video trailer highlighting the theme, share their video online, and give feedback to other groups.
Standards Addressed:
RL4.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
SL4.5 Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
Materials Required (Web 2.0 Tools):
Activities:
1. Teacher will share with students some trailers of books they've read or might be familiar with. Students will pair/share with each other to discover the theme of the book or movie. Students will need a previous understanding of what theme is. After students have a good understanding of theme and how a movie or book trailer works, the teacher will outline the objectives for the assignment assessing student's understanding of theme in a text.
2. Students will be put into groups and asked to read a new text, or review a previously read text. Students will then work together on Creately to design a trailer for their text showcasing the theme of the text. Some possible diagram suggestions might be making a spider-graph of theme definition and examples from the text, a sequence flowchart of what the trailer will include, or other diagrams that students create.
3. After passing off their Creatley design with the teacher, students will be given a video camera, iPad, or tablet tool to video scenes for their trailer. Students will be acting as the actors. Props should be made or brought from home. Students will then work together on WeVideo or iMovie to create their trailer. iMovie makes this extremely simple with music already available and short trailer templates that simply need video or pictures added.
4. Finally, students will upload and share their video to the class Kidblog. Students will individually post their video with a written blog describing their involvement in the process and description of the theme in their video. Each student will also comment on at least three other peers, from each of the other groups, on their Kidblog post.
Assessment:
Teacher will assess video on content (looking for strong evidence of theme understanding) and ability to use the video to enhance their knowledge.
Fourth grade students will be learning about the theme of a text. Theme can be defined as the lesson an author wants the students to learn from the text. Students will engage in online media, video creation and editing programs, sharing their work, and giving feedback online.
Objectives:
Students will read a text with their group of 4-5, define the theme within the text, collaborate together to outline a video trailer highlighting the theme, share their video online, and give feedback to other groups.
Standards Addressed:
RL4.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
SL4.5 Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
Materials Required (Web 2.0 Tools):
- Video Editor such as iMovie (free with apple products) or WeVideo (account required, limited free version)
- Creately app to work as a team online to diagram trailer sequence
- Kidblog (membership) for students to safely share trailers, and give feedback
Activities:
1. Teacher will share with students some trailers of books they've read or might be familiar with. Students will pair/share with each other to discover the theme of the book or movie. Students will need a previous understanding of what theme is. After students have a good understanding of theme and how a movie or book trailer works, the teacher will outline the objectives for the assignment assessing student's understanding of theme in a text.
2. Students will be put into groups and asked to read a new text, or review a previously read text. Students will then work together on Creately to design a trailer for their text showcasing the theme of the text. Some possible diagram suggestions might be making a spider-graph of theme definition and examples from the text, a sequence flowchart of what the trailer will include, or other diagrams that students create.
3. After passing off their Creatley design with the teacher, students will be given a video camera, iPad, or tablet tool to video scenes for their trailer. Students will be acting as the actors. Props should be made or brought from home. Students will then work together on WeVideo or iMovie to create their trailer. iMovie makes this extremely simple with music already available and short trailer templates that simply need video or pictures added.
4. Finally, students will upload and share their video to the class Kidblog. Students will individually post their video with a written blog describing their involvement in the process and description of the theme in their video. Each student will also comment on at least three other peers, from each of the other groups, on their Kidblog post.
Assessment:
Teacher will assess video on content (looking for strong evidence of theme understanding) and ability to use the video to enhance their knowledge.