HCPS Middle School

The students in Mr. Cross’ 8th grade English class spent some time studying abridgements. (Specifically- The Princess Bride)  After finishing their study, they were given the task of taking one of the Grimm, Perault, or Anderson  fairy tales and abridging it.  In groups, they wrote, directed, filmed, edited, and starred in their own “abridged” versions of the fairy tales.  Students used iMovie to create their movies.  Here is an example from a group that abridged “Little Red Riding Hood”

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Ms. Myers 6th grade Reading class worked collaboratively using the ActivStudio software to summarize and illustrate the journal, Trapped By the Ice, written by Michael McCurdy. Their small group projects where then collected to form a short story video about the real-life story if Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance.  Click on the links below to find out what happened to these brave men in 1914!

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Ms. Alcazar used literature circles in her 6th grade reading classroom to allow students to openly discuss topics within the assigned book Surviving the Applewhites.  After students read and discussed the book in class they were given the task of creating a digital project.  Students were allowed to choose the media in which they would present the project but were asked to include the following criteria:  book title and author, main character(s), conflict (and what type of conflict it is), important vocabulary words from the book, a one paragraph summary of the plot, using the words exposition, climax and resolution, a one paragraph review of the book – what was good or bad and why.  The 1st picture is from an iMovie and the 2nd is from a keynote presentation.

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Students in Ms. Mitchell’s physical science classes partnered up (collaboration) to create advertisements on various elements on the periodic table.  Their task was to sell the element using persuasive techniques while providing factual scientific information on the element.

The groups of two had the freedom to choose either a radio or television advertisement.  This lesson stressed to the students the difference between the two forms of advertising and allowed students to see the importance of audio and visual choices when creating these products.  This student example was completed using iMovie combining both audio and visual components to sell the element, Helium.

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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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