This past week, one of the science teachers I work with had the students in his class create videos to teach each other about weather. Each of the small groups were assigned a particular aspect of weather. The groups then spent some time researching the topic and putting notes together on what they thought was important. Then the students worked the information into a script and created a storyboard. Before students could start recording, the script and storyboard had to be approved by the teacher. This was to make sure the students would be sharing relevant knowledge with the rest of the class.
The cool think about a project like this is that it really engages the students in what they are learning, and they are not only getting strait science. They are also covering their reading and writing standards, as well as oral speaking and presentation standards. It was all packed into 3 weeks of fun!
Like all video projects, it seemed to take a little more time than we thought, but the product, as is almost always the case, was super. Most of the students really stepped up and went all out with their work. Several of the groups experimented with chroma-key screens (green screens) to make their videos. One group wrote a four minute song on the workings of the water cycle. Another group had some inventive special effects. I was really amazed at what the students put together. I have posted one of the videos, but if you want to see more, click here to go to SuperMraragon’s Youtube channel and watch the rest.
Honestly, if you are teaching the water cycle anytime in the near future, one of these vide
