The New York Times
Anatomy of a Scene
Casting, setting, context, frame, camera angle, lighting, soundtrack. Every choice a writer or director makes is conscious. Here's a learning exercise that asks readers/viewers to examine these choices and consider how they are used to...
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Lon Chaney: Three Faces of Lon Chaney
Students watch the Lon Chaney episode of American Masters, read chapters from three original books on which Chaney's films were based, and use a reading strategy called Reader's Theater to adapt each chapter into a script. After...
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Weather Report
Students present the weather report in Spanish. In this weather lesson, students use weather vocabulary in Spanish. Students work in groups to present the local weather report in Spanish. Students film their report and present to the class.
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Midwest Region Commercials
Third graders research their assigned state using a variety of resources including a website, books, and travel brochures. They complete questions on a worksheet to use when writing a commercial for the state. They film the commercial...
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Charlotte's Web
Students complete a variety of activities related to the book "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White. They create a comic strip based on the characters, setting, and plot of the story, and examine the author's writing process. In small groups...
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Producing a skit for the morning announcements
Students produce a skit to appear on their morning announcement that is in lined with their franchise topic. For this producing lesson plan, students produce a 2 minute skit including originating, scripting, editing, directing, and...
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The Important Thing
Fifth graders create a list of "Important Things" about being a fifth grader. In this important things lesson, 5th graders create the script and make a movie about important things in fifth grade. Students share their movie with incoming...
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Lights, Camera, Action!
Learners participate in an alternative reading assessment using a video camera and script. In this alternative reading lesson, students work as a group to perform their reading story. learners memorize their lines and film their play.
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The Words of a Master From Kurosawa
Students identify and discuss elements of Kurosawa's films. They research his life and how he influenced film-making. They create a script, video, or skit/play based on their research.
Science Geek
Atomic Structure
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) was formed in 1919 and was crucial for allowing scientists to discuss findings during the Cold War. A presentation offers an introduction to atomic structure including the...
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Making Magic
Students assess the elements of J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series that have made it such a success. They incorporate these elements into a short film, incorporating such concepts as pop culture mythology, urban legend and archetypes.
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Screenwriter
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a one paragraph text about screenwriters. Students answer one multiple choice question.
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Exploring Film Genres for Telling Hero Stories: Animated Shorts
Pupils will create short movies. The integration of technology into the curriculum is important for learners to apply in various ways. This lesson is an example of that kind of integration.
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ISLA for Theater, TV and Film
Students are introduced to the ISLA website, given instruction and practice time to develop search skills. They complete an assignment utilizing ISLA records, presenting their assignment to the class.
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Historical Episodes
Students choose a historical book set in the Civil War. They create a flow chart of the steps involved in producing a film. They select one scene and prepare props, costumes and setting for the scene.
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Rostislav & Julianna: A Modern-Day Interpretation of Romeo and Juliet
Students author and film their own adaptations of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In this multimedia skills lesson plan, students script a play that pits an Orthodox Christian family against a Muslim family. Students use...
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Britishness
Students view and analyze the film "Island People" and discuss the portrayal of 1940s working Britain. They watch and analyze the film, then in small groups write and present a pitch and script for a short film that explores the concept...
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Writing a Play about Immigrant Life in America
Students research why immigrants came to America and the processes involved in the settlement. They write a script for a short play explaining the causes for immigration and situations that immigrants found themselves in.
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Celebration of Cultures
Learners create a multimedia project to represent their own culture and personal identity. They design a personal Coat of Arms using a computer graphics program and digital camera, write a script and film an interview, and contribute a...
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Movie Music
Students discover film making by participating in a music performance. In this performance arts lesson, students perform music and physical acting to convey an already written script for their peers. Students collaborate with their...
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Final Performance of a Play
Second graders study theatre by designing a play, studying actors, and work in partners to create a story to perform. In this theatre study lesson, 2nd graders discuss theatre as live theatre, television, film, and radio. Students act...
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Romeo and Juliet Promptbook - The Balcony Scene
In this Romeo and Juliet worksheet, students view three versions of the balcony scene. Students discuss why the director chose the elements for the film versions. Students then complete a prompt-book activity analyze the setting,...
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Scene Writing: Literacy and Playwriting
Drama is ever-present in our daily lives and eloquently depicted on stage. Middle schoolers practice writing scenes based on different prompts and frameworks, and then perform those creative scenes for their classmates. The activities...
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Poetry Through the Eyes of An Actor
Students examine the ways poetry has been used by actors. After reading a poem, they discuss the characters and the differences in how the male and female students view them. In groups, they read a few of Shakespeare's sonnets and write...