HCPS Middle School

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Students in Ms. Dyson’s Earth Science classroom researched information about earthquakes, volcanos, and tsunamis. In part one of the project,  students were taught internet safety and copyright law while gathering information from traditional and digital sources. In part two of the project, students were asked to create informational movies or news broadcasts like those seen on the evening news or on learning channels such as Discovery. As part of the process, students created a storyboard to organize their work, wrote and recorded their scripts, and organized their pictures in a video presentation. To accomplish the creative portion of this project students used Garage Band.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Mr. Rankin’s 7th grade French I.B students  put their oral language skills to the test when they gave tours of a house to demonstrate their understanding of the French language.  (SOL FI.5)  This assignment was done individually and could be done live in front of the class, or pre-recorded.

This example is an enhanced podcast that was completed using GarageBand.  The student matched pictures to her voice recording to create an amazing tour of a beautiful home. (creativity & innovation)

Popularity: 7% [?]

Students in Mrs. Clements’ 6th grade Gifted and Talented class worked together to create ad campaigns centered around a product of their choice.  Students were organized into groups (“agencies”) that were responsible for creating an ad designed to sell their product. Students had to work together and effectively communicate key components of their product with a larger audience. In their groups, students created TV commercials, radio commercials, and billboards that highlighted their product. Once the products were created they had to share them in a professional and informative presentation.

This lesson allowed a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in a lesson that they could easily transfer into a “real world” context. Before creating their own campaigns, students used the internet to research PR firms, listen to adds, and generate ideas based on their findings. Technology enabled students to create multimedia products that were very professional. Students were engaged and excited about the unit.

Because students starred in their television commercials we will not be able to post them here, but can share some of their radio ad’s. We hope you enjoy!

“The Ultima Show” (Radio Ad)

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“Groovy Gum” Bubblegum (Radio Ad)

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Students in Mrs. Tierney’s 7th grade Social Studies class researched and studied FDR’s New Deal programs (SOL USII.5d)). To teach this unit Mrs. Tierney had students research FDR’s programs using a variety of resources and tools (research & information fluency), write their own “fireside chat” (creativity & communication), and record their scripts in Garage Band.

In this lesson students not only learned about key features of the New Deal, but also how to use research and communication tools to clearly articulate information. Each vodcast (podcast with pictures) was unique and supported students’ understanding of the New Deal programs.

A pre/post test on this SOL demonstrated major gains in student mastery with 98% pass rate on the unit assessment for this specific SOL.

For more information about this lesson please contact Mrs. Tierney

Popularity: 6% [?]

Through our Library Information Center, students in grades 6-8 create book reviews to share with their peers. The format of the website not only allows students to post their review, but rate other books listed on the site.

More to come

http://byrdmiddle.org/books/

Popularity: 6% [?]