In Summer 2007, I had the opportunity to teach three extracurricular courses in technology. One course was titled “Television and Film Production” - a course that invited students to write their own short script, film it, and do post-production to get a handle on the core elements of filmmaking. I have adapted the lessons created for this course to include much more core subject content
This unit takes what can be a boring segment of United States history - the growth and development of the Western US - and turns it into an exciting unit where students get to experience life of the time and have a final product to keep for posterity.
The
Unit in Brief
Lesson
1: Realism in Motion -
Students are motivated through the viewing of a classic Western
television show, then given the opportunity to discuss the what was
seen, how it was historically accurate, and how it probably was not.
Lesson 2: Discovering the West - Groups of students are given a narrow topic of early Western life and asked to research it before presenting what was learned to the class.
Lesson 3: Screenwriting 101 - In larger groups, students create and write their own screenplay, choosing roles for themselves.
Lesson 4: Be a Boy Scout - While writing continues, students determine what (if any) scenery/costumes/props they need.
Lesson 5: Filmmaking 101 - After the teacher talks about the basics of filmmaking: acting, camera angles, sound setup, etcetera, students plan the camera angles and sound for their film.
Lesson 6: From Script to Screen - Students work together to film all of the footage needed for their end product.
Lesson 7: Production and Effects - Students take thier raw footage and manipulate it, adding sound and effects as time allows.
Conclusion - After a final (public or private) viewing, students and teacher discuss how unexpected situations in the filming and production were handled.
Lesson 2: Discovering the West - Groups of students are given a narrow topic of early Western life and asked to research it before presenting what was learned to the class.
Lesson 3: Screenwriting 101 - In larger groups, students create and write their own screenplay, choosing roles for themselves.
Lesson 4: Be a Boy Scout - While writing continues, students determine what (if any) scenery/costumes/props they need.
Lesson 5: Filmmaking 101 - After the teacher talks about the basics of filmmaking: acting, camera angles, sound setup, etcetera, students plan the camera angles and sound for their film.
Lesson 6: From Script to Screen - Students work together to film all of the footage needed for their end product.
Lesson 7: Production and Effects - Students take thier raw footage and manipulate it, adding sound and effects as time allows.
Conclusion - After a final (public or private) viewing, students and teacher discuss how unexpected situations in the filming and production were handled.
Recommended
Schedule
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| Lesson 1 60m |
Lesson 2 60m |
Lesson 3 60m |
Lesson 4 60m |
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| Lesson 5 60m |
Lesson 6 60m |
Lesson 6 (ctd) 60m |
Lesson 7 90m |
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| Conclusion 45m |