Teaching With a Bit of Flavor: April 2012

Use a layout that is professional. It shouldn't be too complicated, and all uploaded images should be appropriate.
Share anyone's work without his or her permission.
Make sure that the text is easy to read with the background. The colors should not clash and should be easily seen from a distance.
Use a variety of media. Incorporate as much media as possible: YouTube videos, pictures, and music are great! Don't just use text.
Go more than a couple of weeks without posting. Keep your blog consistently updated in order for parents to stay up to date.
Provide a place for parents and guardians to provide comments/questions/feedback.
Add personal information about yourself or the school, or only allow particular people to see the blog in order to promote privacy of students and parents.
Ensure that past posts are available for viewing in case of questions.
Use complex words or phrases - if your students are old enough to use the blog for themselves, they should be able to understand everything that you are posting.
Share your blog with other teachers and administration! Let other's see what it is that you're doing in the classroom, and how you are keeping in touch with parents.

Aubrey Hart

Grade 5

Theatre

Objectives: analyzing methods of presentation for theatre, film, television, and electronic media, introduction to techniques like voice and expression, etc.

“All the World’s a Stage…”

Art is all around us. It is important to be able to recognize the

many different forms of art. We will be focusing on the art form

known as acting.

Check http://dictionary.kids.net.au/word/art for the

definition of art. Do you consider acting an art? Why or

why not?

______________________________________________

1. Let’s begin our quest with a famous playwright who helped transform the written word into art acted on the stage. He penned the title of this quest and is pictured above.

To learn more visit this site:

http://www.folger.edu/Content/Teach-and-Learn/Shakespeare-for-Kids/

1. Click on Fun Facts first.

Who is this man? ____________________________________________

Name at least one fact from each of the four Cool Facts tabs.

10 Ways to be a Shakespeare Expert________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Shakespeare’s Life______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Shakespeare’s Theater___________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Shakespeare’s World____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Now that we know a little more about Shakespeare, let’s take a look at his actual work. Both of these videos are interpretations of Shakespeare’s work. Jot down notes about important features in each video. Take into account attributes like setting, costumes, language, voice, tone, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjwYVpCxYvQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-IcF82J-eY

Compare and contrast your observations of the two videos. How do the actors influence the performance?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. What actors do makes a difference to the overall effect. These specific actions are referred to as acting techniques. Visit http://quizlet.com/1911301/acting-techniques-flash-cards/ to study up on acting techniques.

-Once you feel comfortable with the words play one of the games offered (Scatter or Space Race)

4. Now that we are experts on acting techniques, let’s watch another clip.

http://novelasyseries.univision.com/la-que-no-podia-amar/avances/video/2012-03-05/avance-la-que-no-podia-amar-cap-47

What acting techniques help you understand what’s going on in this clip, even if you don’t speak the language? Were other factors (the actors’ clothing, background music, etc.) helpful in understanding what was happening? Write about it or draw a picture labeling what was important. Be specific.

______________________________________________________________________________

5. We’ve seen a few clips so far. The first was a stage play of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The second was a modern film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The last was an advertisement for a popular soap opera in Spanish. These are four major methods of presentation that utilize acting. Let’s dig deeper into these art forms.

-Theatre: Watching a production at the theatre means that it is being preformed by actors on the stage as you watch. Visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/special_exhibits/theatre/kids_q.htm to learn more about what a theatre is. Click on the question from the list of questions and give a complete sentence.

What is a play?

__________________________________________________________________________

What is theatre?

__________________________________________________________________________

Now choose a question that interests you and write what you learned.

__________________________________________________________________________

As an audience member it’s important to give the actors respect. Visit the website below to learn about theatre etiquette. List three things you’ll try to remember to do if you visit the theatre. If you’ve seen a production, name the play and list three things that you have done that made your theatre experience respectful and enjoyable.

http://www.musical-theater-kids.com/theater-etiquette.html

______________________________________________________________________________

-Film:

Imagine a movie theatre. You plunge your hand into

salty popcorn and wait eagerly for the movie to begin. The

lights fade and the experience begins. For over almost two

hours you are witnessing the lives of your favorite actors

and actresses.

The link below is a description to how Pixar creates movies. Learn about it in the slideshow provided on the webpage.

http://www.pixar.com/howwedoit/index.html#

Watch this clip of a popular Pixar short. Think back to our acting techniques again. How do you know what’s happening even though the characters don’t speak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ4Nnr0MXKY

Do you think that the experience is different when it’s a live play versus a filmed movie? Tell me your thoughts and personal experiences…

___________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

-Television

Many of us have watched television from an early age. Draw, or write, about the techniques used in your favorite television show. (Example- I really like comedy. Good use of timing helps make my favorite television shows funny) Use the space on the back of this page.

-Advertising

Media uses acting in advertisements in order to sell products to the audience. Discover the secrets of selling through this website:

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts…

http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/advertisingtricks/

1. Click on “What’s in an ad?” and watch one of the commercials.

2. Go back to the main page and select the “Buying Smart” tab on the top.

3. Choose the “Question the Commercial” and read the first list of questions.

4. State which commercial you watched in the “What’s in an ad?” section and answer the first three questions about your commercial.

5. Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns about advertising?

______________________________________________________________________________

Teaching With a Bit of Flavor

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tech Video

Monday, April 23, 2012

Top Ten Points for Blogging

Top 10 Tips for Powerpoint

PowerPoint: Do's and Dont's

Individual Video Project

Top 10 Tips for Video Making

Top 10 Tips for Webquesting

Webquest!