Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, students celebrate their learning by watching the completed book trailer videos. Kids are usually extremely proud of their videos! Give them the chance to reflect on and celebrate their achievements by hosting a red-carpet video premiere! Add popcorn or healthy movie treats for an especially festive touch.
Lesson Plan:
Suggested Grades:
4-5
Objective:
To celebrate the children’s success in planning, filming, and producing a book video trailer. (AASL 4.1.8, “Use creative and artistic formats to express personal learning.”)
Suggested Time:
45-50 minutes
Success Criteria:
Students will watch and respond to one another’s book trailer videos.
Lesson Outline:
1. Introduction:
Remind the students that they have written and recorded book trailer videos and that today is the day to watch and celebrate their success.
Explain that today the children are expected to do two things:
- Be a respectful audience member.
- Listen and watch critically. Look for specific things that their classmates did well, or specific things that their classmates can improve on. You may wish to use the “Two Stars and a Wish” framework if you and the children are familiar with it.
2. Main:
Show each of the completed book trailers. Each video will be approximately a minute long. After each video, give a round of applause. Then, have the children point out two specific things that were well done and one suggestion for improvement for each of the videos. Try to steer comments away generalized remarks such as “It was good” or “I liked it,” to more specific content. Suggestions could include their peers’:
- Choice of subjects to photograph
- Composition of photographs
- Choice of background
- Choice of music
- Degree to which the video persuaded you to read the book
- Degree to which the video held your attention
- Use of text slides
- Use of title slides
- “Fit” between the target audience and the finished video
3. Conclusion:
Thank the students for their work and participation. Encourage them to share the book trailer videos with their families. Ask them to think about other projects they might like to tell about in a video trailer format. Finally, request that they help tidy up the room before they go.
Resources:
- Students’ recorded book trailers, ready for playback.
- Video playback equipment with projection and audio capability.
- Seating area for the class and any invited guests.
- Room that you can darken during the video performances.
- Popcorn or treats (optional)
Notes:
If you have the opportunity, post the book trailers to the class Weebly, web site, or the students’ digital portfolios. Send the files to your AV team and ask them to put them on any large screens around the school. Show off trailers, because they are an extraordinary culmination of the children’s study of advertising and effort at creating an original ad for a book.
I’ve done this project with great success. Teachers sometimes focus on having the children analyze or critique professional ads, but the book trailer is an easy-to-do project using the same concepts that pulls in EAL children, adds an element of fun, and results in an unforgettable learning experience.
Don’t be tempted to pass up the Book Trailer Premiere lesson! If you and the children have gone to the effort to make these videos, it’s worth the time to celebrate them together.
Recommended books for this lesson:
None
Key Terms:
Trailers, Book Trailers, Videos, Animoto, Advertising, Ads, Media, Video Production