Project Description
This project uses narration and digital photographs to tell the stories of immigrants who came to America between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. The teacher introduces the unit by presenting students with the stories of immigrantsusing poems, song lyrics, books, and video and audio clips. Students conduct research using the Internet, childrens literature, and reference texts to learn why people left their homeland for America and the hardships they endured. Students adopt an immigrant persona and keep a journal for that person that reflects their research. The journals provide the storyline for their iMovie projects.
At the same time, students use a digital camera to take photos of groups of four to six students dressed in costumes from the era covered by the project. Students pose as immigrants in scenes that reflect the hardship of leaving ones country and coming to the United States. Students import the photos into one class album in iPhoto. The whole class shares the photos. Students can work individually or in small groups to create their iMovie project. Students also include music to help convey the mood of their movie project. They import the music into iTunes. The photos and music provide emotional content so that the narration should primarily offer viewers research-based information.
Students are introduced to iMovie and learn how to import and edit photos and add narration and music. Students then import photos from iPhoto, change the photos to sepia tone, record narration based on their journal entries, add music, and add credits and other elements to complete their iMovie projects. The movies can be saved in iDVD and burned on one class DVD or exported to QuickTime and burned on a CD and shared with guests at a project-ending celebration.
At the same time, students use a digital camera to take photos of groups of four to six students dressed in costumes from the era covered by the project. Students pose as immigrants in scenes that reflect the hardship of leaving ones country and coming to the United States. Students import the photos into one class album in iPhoto. The whole class shares the photos. Students can work individually or in small groups to create their iMovie project. Students also include music to help convey the mood of their movie project. They import the music into iTunes. The photos and music provide emotional content so that the narration should primarily offer viewers research-based information.
Students are introduced to iMovie and learn how to import and edit photos and add narration and music. Students then import photos from iPhoto, change the photos to sepia tone, record narration based on their journal entries, add music, and add credits and other elements to complete their iMovie projects. The movies can be saved in iDVD and burned on one class DVD or exported to QuickTime and burned on a CD and shared with guests at a project-ending celebration.
Outcomes
After completing this project, students will be able to:
- Tell the stories of immigrants in America in the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries.
- Write a script that balances the emotion of the images with factual content.
- Understand the power of visual imagery to convey emotion.
- Select music that supports the mood of a story.
Technology Skills
After completing this project, students will be able to:
- Operate a digital camera.
- Download, organize, and edit photos using iPhoto.
- Import music into iTunes.
- Import and edit picture and sound files to create an iMovie project.
Assessment Suggestions
- The teacher and students can develop a rubric to demonstrate methods for conveying emotional and research-based content in the video stories.
- The teacher can develop and give students a checklist of research criteria and technical needs for digital photography and iMovie work.
- Students can share the movies and provide constructive criticism.
Tools and Resources
Internet
Tools
Macintosh computers (one computer with a SuperDrive or CD burner), digital camera, Internet connection, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, iDVD (optional), costumes and props
Macintosh computers (one computer with a SuperDrive or CD burner), digital camera, Internet connection, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, iDVD (optional), costumes and props
First published on Jun 21, 2006. Content last updated on Oct 10, 2006.
