Students work together to create a short music video for a familiar children's
song.
Objectives
Students
develop ideas for a music video,
create props and/or costumes for the video,
demonstrate creative thinking and writing skills,
work together as a group to create a five-minute music video about a popular children's song,
learn about video equipment.
Keywords
music, video, song, popular, MTV
Materials Needed
a camcorder
teacher-selected recording of a children's song
student-selected props and/or costumes for the video
paper
pens or pencils
Lesson Plan
This project should be completed over several lessons. The teacher decides the length of time needed to complete the project; the length of the project depends on the ages and abilities of the students.
Prior to the lesson:
Learn as much as possible about your video equipment.
Talk to a your school media specialist for tips and suggestions, or consult a print or online source about video production.
Select recordings of children's songs.
Lesson 1
Discuss music videos shown on television. Ask students what they think goes into making a music video.
Tell students that they are going to make a five-minute music video about a familiar children's song.
Ask students to name some children's songs they know. Play a recording of children's songs. Ask students to name songs that might work well as music videos. Write students' responses on the board. See Campfire Sing-Along for titles and lyrics of numerous popular songs that may be familiar to students.
Let the class vote on one song for their video.
Lesson 2
Have the class brainstorm ideas for the video.
Lesson 3 to Completion
Have students work together to write the script; choose the cast; make costumes, props, and scenery; and create a list of shots to be staged.
Let students practice the video, first without the camera, then with the camera. Note: The teacher should handle the equipment.
Complete the filming of the video. Review and edit the tape. Enjoy the finished project!
Variations:
Idea 1: If school rules permit, let students assist in filming and editing the video.
Idea 2: Let older students work in teams to create the videos. Provide assistance when needed.
Assessment
Evaluate students' contributions and participation in the project.
