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Science

 

Lesson 2

Lesson Title:  Earth’s Earliest Ages TV Show

Synopsis:

Using research gathered in the previous lesson and working in small groups, students will create a video TV show that highlights the eras and periods in Earth’s geologic time.  This will be conducted as an interview show in which one student interviews one or two other students who, using props, are posing as a plant, animal, water molecule… that existed in a specific time era/period.  Students will include an introductory theme song and poster that announces their “program”.

Authors:  Valerie Ordway and Stefani Langol

Interdisciplinary Pairing: 

  • Primarily Science
  • Secondary subjects include:
    • Music
    • Multimedia
    • Technology
    • Graphic Design (Art)

Objectives:

  • Students will learn about multimedia presentation techniques such as video or slide show (PowerPoint), to be used in outlets such as Myspace, Google Video, and/or YouTube
  • Students will create a video presentation to explain the main events of each era/period in the geologic time of the earth.

Intended Grade Level:

Middle School

Prior Knowledge & Skills: 

  • Students will have been introduced to relative time, absolute time, geologic time scale, fossils, fossil dating, radioactive dating, and rules for determining earth’s age as told in its rocks, and have collected in-depth information on each of earth’s periods and eras.

Equipment: 

  • Video Camera
  • TV with video player
  • Computer with sequencing or recording software such as GarageBand (Mac), Home Studio(PC) or Acid (PC)
  • Video Production software such as iMovie (Mac) or Movie Maker (PC)

Duration: 

  • The preparing of script may take one to two class periods.  Props should be designed at home.  Taping of all presentations may take another two class periods.  Viewing the final production can be done in one more class period.

Materials:

  • Geologic timeline research project/information
  • Items for props

Procedure:

  • Divide students into groups of two or three.
  • Assign each group a specific time era/period on which to present.
  • Have groups create a script in the form of an interview.
  • One student is assigned as the host of the show.
  • The other student(s) are to be items, creatures from their designated era/period.
  • Students should include information on the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere for their time period.
  • Each group designs a poster with the name of their era/period to be videotaped as the introductory scene.
  • Interviewees should have props that enhance their presentations.
  • Theme songs should be collected for each era/time period.
  • Allow time to rehearse scripts.
  • Video the live interviews of each group.
  • Have groups take notes with the intention of submitting two questions with answers on each era/period to be used for a quiz.
  • Play the entire video to the class as a culmination of this project.
  • Compose submitted questions into a quiz if desired.

Evaluation:

  • Completed presentation.
  • Include a rubric to evaluate process not just the product (optional)

 

Lesson Extension(s):

  • A third lesson is given that incorporates artwork to develop an enhanced podcast.

 

 

 

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