Inspiration for Writing
Updated: July 5, 2005
Instructional Technology Level: Intermediate user
Grade Level: Primary, Intermediate
Subject Area: Language Arts, Social Studies
Required Software: Word, Windows Movie Maker
Think About... providing your students with inspiration for writing.
How Does This Look?
Assign students the task of making a documentary film about your community. This project can provide writing inspiration for your whole class, and also works well with smaller groups of students who need help with ideas and motivation for writing.
1. | Send students out to collect video clips. Parent volunteers can organize this, or you can plan class field trips to local parks, businesses, fire stations, libraries, post offices and other community sites. |
2. | Import all the clips into Windows Movie Maker. |
3. | Have students write a narration for each clip. They can use the Movie Maker storyboard tool to plan their narration. Students can practice reading their narration to make sure it matches the pictures and timing of the video clips. Then students record their narration together with the video. |
4. | Students can share their documentary with other students at their school, with parents, or the larger community. |
Academic Standards
Language Arts: Communication Skills, Participating in Society
Social Studies: People, Places, and Environment
ISTE NETS Standards for Students
Technology productivity tools: Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.
Related Links
Quick directions for Windows Movie Maker
Associated Templates
Movie planning sheet
