Student Newscast Project
Student Demographic and Learning Context:
Grade 4/5 classroom setting
Project Summary:
Students (in pairs) will choose a location in British Columbia, and find two recent news stories from that area. They will rewrite the stories into their own words, and will locate pictures or video clips to support the story. The students will then create a video newscast in order to present their stories.
Learning Goals:
-Demonstrate an ability to summarize non-fiction writing using key words, and then re-write the summaries using their own words.
-Demonstrate an ability to read a non-fiction passage fluently and with sufficient volume.
-Demonstrate video editing skills.
-Demonstrate research skills.
-Demonstrate project management skills.
Project Completion Outline: (each period approximately 45 mins)
- Assigned partners, and choose a region in British Columbia. (1 period)
- Locate and decide on recent news stories from that area. You will need to choose two each). (1 period)
- Take notes using key words, and rewrite the stories in your own words. Practice reading your stories until you are fluent. (3 periods)
- Find at least one picture that relates to the story and that adds interest. (1 period)
- Dress for the part, and record yourselves reading the news stories in front of a green screen, role-playing as news anchors. Recorded stories must be clearly audible. (Sign up for green screen time)
- Edit your video using iMovie to add pictures at appropriate times, and a news channel intro, including music. (2 periods)
Students will be responsible for researching and writing summaries for two stories. The total news cast should be four stories. Group members will be collectively responsible for editing the video to add in music and the introduction splash.
The assignment and supporting tutorials and information are hosted on a Google Sites webpage. Students will be able to scan the QR code to quickly find the webpage using the school iPads. Students will be led through the process of creating the videos by the teacher, who will scaffold learning and time management synchronously. Students will keep a project journal, which will include their project location choice (marked on a map), as well as key word summaries and rough copies of all writing. Students will also comment on work habits and goals after every work period.
