The N-G-C Trifecta
Posted by dogtrax on May 5, 2007
The videos are starting to come in!
First up is Bud’s moving tribute to nurses with his Letter N:
Next, is Scott’s Letter G and I won’t even begin to go into the hoops he has had to go through to get this up and running (do we really need sound?). But I think it is worth it, as his movie gives a real sense of place:
And I did a quick Letter C this week to show how my sixth graders and their second grade cooperative group members are making some claymation creations. We start filming our mini-movies next week (cross your fingers):
I am working on the Master ABC Webpage, too, and will update later this weekend.
It is very interesting how very different our three movies are, and how varied the emotional centers are, and yet they tell very succinct stories, I think. Keep up the creative work!!
– Kevin
May 5th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Scott, you really capture the town in your movie. I felt as if I were there and then had the image of the rodeo (and, to be honest, rodeo clowns for some reason) in my head.
Bud, I loved this movie. It really got deep into appreciation for nursing and moms, and my mom was a nurse, too, helping intensive care pediatric patients (the littlest of the littlest) to fight for survival. Thanks for bringing that back to me.
Kevin
PS — As for mine, a quick reflection: I was aiming for student voices as much as possible with this letter and therefore, I intentionally left off my own narration. It seems kind of empty to me — but not in a bad way, necessarily — and I felt as if it needed some sort of introduction — thus, the Star Wars scrolling words (do they zoom too fast?). I hope the kids demonstrate humor and creativity with their hands (I was avoiding their images) and claythingamabobs. I used a little USB-Digital Movie Camera, which is cheap ($100) and easy to use (click and shoot) and great for web-based videos.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Can I just say, too, that I love the still images that the video services have randomly chosen for the front of our movies?
The statue — the neon sign — the hippo.
They seem right, somehow.
Kevin
May 5th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
BRAVO to all three new pieces. I love the excitement! It was cool to hear your interactions with kids, Kevin.
Bonnie
May 5th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I wish I had high speed to watch them now. I can’t wait until Monday to view them at school. I will be back to comment then. Thanks for posting them.
May 6th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
This is the script in written form from Scott:
G IS FOR GLADEWATER
Gladewater, a Main Street City, is at the intersection of two US highways and is the intersecting corner of three counties. It was founded by the Texas and Pacific Railway Company in 1873. Two communities, St. Clair and Point Pleasant came together and moved to Gladewater once the railroad announced that the only mail stop in the area would be there. The first post office at Gladewater was established on August 22, 1873. The town’s name probably originated from its proximity to Glade Creek, a stream that rose in a rather barren region called the Glades.
In 1874 Gladewater was incorporated but lapsed, and a new charter was not obtained until 1931, when an influx of population due to the oil boom necessitated organized city government.
On April 7, 1931, the first Gladewater oil well blew in. It was located one mile outside town in the Sabine River bottom. Oil production led to a population increase during the 1930s from about 500 persons to around 8,000. Lake Gladewater, constructed in 1954, provides recreation for city residents.
In 1990 the community became known for its numerous antique stores. The population was 6,027. Important annual festivals include the East Texas Gusher Days in April, the Roundup Rodeo in June and the Arts and Crafts Festival in September.
Since it’s beginning in 1938, the Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo has grown to be one of the premier rodeos in the country. In 2005 the Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo was selected as one of the top 5 medium outdoor rodeos in the nation. The 70th rodeo will be held in our four year old state of the art rodeo facility. World champion cowboys, cowgirls, and rodeo clowns will descend upon Gladewater for nearly one week in the hopes of being crowned champion at this historical event.
G IS FOR GLADEWATER
May 7th, 2007 at 9:50 am
“His name is Fred. He is kind of mutated. Don’t make fun of him for it.” Classic line.
Great documentation as to learning out of your seat. Please give us the unit plan and link ot the claymations when you are finished. I tried claymation several years back with my GT students. They turned it into a Barbie story, a car race, and a ninja working its way through our fish pond in the atrium. Not much in the way of story line at all. They realized quickly the number of pictures needed per second to make it work right and freaked. GT kids like it smooth and easy sometimes.
Thanks for sharing. And don’t make fun of Fred for being mutated.
May 7th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Bud,
Loved the nurses video. You captured them very well. It would be a good lesson to do in 8th grade where students are considering which courses to take at the high school. They can research possible career choices and make a DS based on that. It would share the job with others and help them think through whether they are really interested or not. Thanks for sharing it.