Research shows that when students create multimedia, it engages a wide variety of cognitive skills. Deeper learning and the development of critical thinking skills occur, allowing them to express what they've learned in meaningful ways that are unique to them.
Through a grant generously funded by the B.E.S.T. organization, The Hive now has access to WeVideo - an online video editing tool for beginners. We chose this digital tool for a variety of reasons this year, which you will discover through this blog as the school year unfolds (hint: we're remaking literacy in relevant and exciting ways). We introduced WeVideo to students this week as part of a literacy unit on story themes. Students have been learning about the importance of story themes (the theme being one reason why an author writes a story - using the story to share a message with readers). We focused on one particular story titled The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Students were able to identify a variety of relatable themes in this story. Having them write about those themes laid the foundation of what was about to come next. We took their thinking to the next level, asking them to create a video book trailer for the story that portrayed one of the themes that they identified in the story (initially launching the experience with a storyboard plan). Talk about total engagement - satisfaction and enjoyment x 10. We observed the development of several skills including, but not limited to creative thinking, critical thinking, vocabulary, and communication. Students will be sharing these book trailers with third-grade classes in an effort to promote this much-loved book. Today's guest bloggers reflect on this experience. Enjoy! (P.S. scroll to the end to find some examples of their amazing book trailers)
WeVideo is an amazing digital tool. It stretched my creativity and my thinking to the next level. I like WeVideo because I can be creative without too many rules. - WowWriter
I used to think THEME was the topic of a story, but now I know that THEME is the message or lesson that the author wants you to take away from the story to help you in life or to be a better person. - Cheeto111
Using WeVideo helped deepen my understanding of THEME because making a book trailer that portrays the THEME of the story without coming out and saying it made me have to think about what pictures and words I would need to use to represent it. - Lonnie
WeVideo is a good digital tool to help us develop our literacy skills and it makes learning the skills super fun. It helped me think about THEME in different ways, which was really awesome and helpful. - Wolverine12
WeVideo helped me deepen my understanding of THEME because I could represent the THEME with images instead of just words. Finding the right images took a lot of thought. - WaterBottle1
Using WeVideo to represent the THEME took a lot of thinking because the pictures and the words have to be just right in order for them to go together and show the THEME without just saying it. - Swagger_25
Using WeVideo helped me deepen my understanding of THEME. It was a lot of responsibility to find the right images and choose the right text that fit the story's THEME (True friendship means making sacrifices). If you haven't read The Wild Robot, you should. It's a very good book. - Pineapple
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