Students had time in class today to work on their story structure. They were also listening to the music clips they had selected last week to identify when changes in action should occur (to be in time with changes in music).
We put a call out to each other for bringing in props to help each other. If you don't mind having your picture up on the wall in room 11, please take pictures while you work on your films (writing scripts, holding cameras, in costume, on location...). You can share them with me via the Google Drive folder, "Film Project Photo Wall". If each group sends in 5-10 photos, I'll print them off and replace the SAIT Wall pictures. We read about urbanization and its impact on The Renaissance/worldview. Reminder: we will have a Social Studies quiz on Tuesday, November 21. Topics covered will include: Factors that Shape Worldview, How a Society Operates as a Function of Worldview, The Crusades, The Silk Road, Leonardo of Pisa, The Feudal System, The Black Death & Urbanization.
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Below is a copy of the film assignment we've been working on. Earlier this week groups were exchanging information for when and where they could easily and safely meet outside of school. If you're getting together this weekend remember the various types of shots, angles, camera movements and their purposes.
Next week we'll map your ideas into a cohesive story structure and talk a little about editing. Hope everyone has a great weekend! Reminder: these 3-minute long films are due Monday, November 20th. I'm so EXCITED by our first Pecha Kucha presentations. Not only were they interesting, well rehearsed, and visually appealing, but I feel like I learned a thing or two about skateboarding, guitars, and our presenters. I hope everyone was paying attention because these were great examples!
We started the Khan Academy course The Art of Storytelling. This will be a self-guided exploration into the world of storytelling and film making. If you have any questions, please ask. We talked about how the Plague lead to The Renaissance because it caused mass urbanization.
REMINDER: Fever 1793 essays are due tomorrow morning. If you don't hand it in tomorrow come and see me so we can figure out why and what our next steps need to be. HOMEWORK: You can download and print the file below or just copy the template onto a blank piece of paper. Watch a scene from any movie or TV show that you typically watch (school appropriate) and compete the scene analysis as we demonstrated in class.
I'd like students to sign up for a free online course. It's a partnership between Khan Academy and Pixar. It's called The Art of Storytelling. We will have limited time in class to work on this, so please work at it on home over the next week.
Pay particular attention to the section Film Grammar as it will help you with organizing different types of shots for your short film. In Social Studies today, students took part in a simulation. They were either on a trade mission or a pilgrimage during the late Middle Ages. On their travels, many of them contracted and spread disease much like how disease was spread at the time.
Once a student contracted a disease, the odds of survival were slim. Two students, however, were able to beat the odds and survived the Plague (by rolling two consecutive 1's on a die). In English Language Arts, we watched a couple of silent short films: past winners of the International Youth Silent Film Festival. We discussed what made the films successful (keeping it simple, keeping it consistent, big facial expressions, closeup shots of important details, matching the video to the audio...). Students chose groups of 3 and started brainstorming ideas (keeping within the parameters of the 10 genres and their specific soundtracks). The final 3 minute silent short films are due on November 20. We will hold a grade 8 Film Fest on Friday, November 24. Also, to students: if you have the chance, please find the feedback survey I sent to your educbe.ca accounts. It is anonymous and will help us have fun and productive year together. Thanks! Essays that were handed in on Friday were returned with feedback today. There is an appointment sign-up sheet posted in my classroom for students who are interested in one-on-one essay work.
We analyzed the story structure of Fever 1793 to prepare us for discussions coming up in our brief foray into short silent films. We're going to have a Grade 8 Short Silent Film Festival on Friday, November 24. Tomorrow we'll be looking at some examples, the official rules, and getting into groups to brainstorm ideas. We read and discussed the Black Plague epidemic of 1347 and made connections to Fever 1793. We watched the first 10+ minutes of a Black Death documentary. Tomorrow we will be risking our lives on either trade missions or pilgrimages hoping to avoid the pestilence! =) Finally, I shared a Google Form with students this evening. It is completely voluntary and anonymous. I'd love your feedback about our class and my teaching so far, especially if there are things you find very helpful (that I already do) or things that would be very helpful (if I started doing them). I had a great weekend with your essays - there was lots of wonderful writing and insightful thinking. I saw opportunities for us to extend and refine, so I'm giving you all the week to revisit them. When you get them back tomorrow (Monday) you will notice that they don't have a mark on them. Instead, they have suggestions for "next steps". I have posted a (voluntary) sign up sheet for one-on-one appointments to review your essays before and after school this week.
We had our last essay review today including some peer editing and reviewing key elements and expectations. Essays are due tomorrow.
In Social Studies we reviewed the feudal system during the Middle Ages, the implications it had for the worldview of Medieval citizens. We also discussed and took notes on how social systems began to change during the Renaissance (through increased trade, new ideas, and contact with other groups). Students read about the life of Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci) and how his living and learning in North Africa impacted his life and by extension our lives. Our discussion focused on how new IDEAS & KNOWLEDGE from OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE shaped his worldview.
We wrote an example conclusion on the board and identified the components of a strong conclusion (brief summary of main ideas, restatement of theme statement). We described an introduction as an inversion of the conclusion (state theme statement and then introduce main points of the essay). Students had 1 period in the Learning Commons to continue writing their essays. Students need to come tomorrow with a hard copy of their first draft (or however much they have complete) so they can work with a partner to edit. |
AuthorMr. Spencer teaches Grade 8 Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Drama at Mount Royal School. Archives
May 2018
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