Media Production Teacher Resources

What an interesting film! A stage electrician describes the tools and techniques of his job. It is fascinating to hear the intricate details of the lighting and sound preparations. This film might open up new possibilities for young...

Some jobs in film production are more obvious than others. The director directs, the cinematographer films, and the special effects people create those tricky effects. But who designs the mise-en-scene, who structures the set, and who...

Who was Steve Jobs and what has he contributed to American culture and technology? Kids ask themselves these questions as they read a New York Times article about Apple and Mr. Jobs. There are seven comprehension questions for learners...

Find out who works in various careers with a vocabulary activity, which features matching activities and a crossword puzzle. Learners use word banks to figure out which skills belong to which career, and then fill in the blanks with...

Conservatory approach or liberal arts film approach? Or self-taught? That is the question prospective filmmakers must decide when considering a film school. A helpful video ponders whether it's better to study a single craft within the...

Gorgeous cinematography is the result of painstaking, detail-oriented work by many different departments of a film production. An informative video shines a light on the grip and electric departments, the ways they use filters, gels, and...

Students develop an understanding of the animation process by working collaboratively to create an animated film. This lesson suggests using digital cameras, iMovie, Photoshop, and GarageBand.

What do corn and career exploration have in common? A lot, if you're considering an agricultural career that contributes to alternative fuel resources. Through a series of films, presentations, activities, and readings, learners will...

Students critique, discuss, and identify characters in a film about Latin America. In this Latin America lesson plan, students watch the film and discuss the film and everyday life.

Students discuss the difference between independent films and and films produced by a major studio. They select an independent filmmaker to research and begin their research from a list of given Web sites. When research is complete,...

Expose your class to the world of aerospace engineering using this film. A aerospace design engineer describes what he does, and explains the intricacies of this type of work. This would be a good way to introduce your class to the field...

Love the sound of music? Sound engineers produce the audio for music, radio, film, and television. Learn what it takes to run those fantastic soundboards from a short video.

The movies and television shows we enjoy always look effortlessly professional, but the truth is, the work involved in film production is anything but effortless. A thorough video on film production explains the departments below the...

John Ford's 1940 film version of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath is the subject of a 23-question worksheet designed to accompany a viewing of the film. The questions not only focus viewers on events, but also ask them to make...

George Bailey learns that it truly is a wonderful life when he discovered how many lives he has touched—not to mention how many new generations of lives the story touches every year. A study guide on It's a Wonderful Life  introduces...

Discuss life in the 1930s in relation to the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, then do a cross-media analysis. Here you'll find background information on film maker John Ford, writer John Steinbeck, and 1930s America. You can compare the...

Students define the characteristics of a hero by creating their own fictional superhero.  In this film making lesson, students write the background of a superhero character and storyboard scenes from a movie they would like to make....

Students explore various careers that involve math.

Students discuss career choices and goals in this introductory instructional activity to a unit on the art of Film Scoring. Emphasis is placed on brainstorming within a small group of learners.

Biotechnology has allowed us to engineer transplantable bladders and other organs successfully. The hope is to someday be able to engineer kidneys, and so save many lives. Dr. Anthony Atala, who specializes in regenerative medicine,...

Ordinary people, ordinary jobs, ordinary life. According to George Orwell it's the ordinary that should be the focus of literature. Introduce readers to this extraordinary writer with a short video that details how his life experiences...

Amazing historical crime scene photos and information is shared by Deborah Blum, an author who has done a tremendous amount of homework on forensic science! Perhaps you could show this to upcoming chemists as you are inspiring them to...

Learners analyze how successful job seekers got their jobs and consider which strategies they might use. They access stories about young adults who have successfully mainstreamed into the world of work.

Students consider gender equity in mathematics careers. Students will view 12 15 minute episodes on future math careers then discuss that particular career as well as how women have been treated in both traditional and non traditional...