Adventures in After School Learning Blog

-By Mike DeBritz on Thursday, December 29, 2011

Along the same lines as the new versions of the  “Cookie Jar Mystery” and “Missing Money Mystery” we’re developing a smaller version of “Playing with Percussion” to be released in March.

We’ve heard from a number of sites interested in introducing students to world music but in a shorter format.  Our new version will focus on eight core lessons that can be delivered sequentially or standalone. They include step-by-step instructions on instrument construction and playing techniques. But now sites will be able to purchase just the Instructor’s Guide and DVD with student activity sheets provided on CD (similar to photo).

This new kit will allow sites to involve more students by building the activities and supplies (we’ll provide the shopping list) around the targeted population of kids. Also, site leaders can utilize the kit to productively fill any gaps in their instructors' schedules.

In addition, bonus material will be included on the Resource CD with plans on how to make other interesting “found object” instruments from recycled materials. Once students understand the core rhythms they can apply these techniques to any of the newly built instruments. 

With all the emphasis on STEM this year these hands-on projects will help sites knock off another requirement that can categorized nicely under the “Science of Sound” heading. 

Have a Happy New Year!

-By Mike DeBritz on Wednesday, December 21, 2011

We’ve been hard at work developing new versions of the “Cookie Jar Mystery” and the “Missing Money Mystery” targeted for in-school use.

With most of our customers utilizing our kits for out-of-school learning, we wanted to include classroom teachers in on the fun! 

The main difference is that both mysteries will be modular, so if class time isn’t available to complete the entire mystery, teachers can do any module as a standalone.  Each module is packed with fun, hands-on activities and delivers valuable lessons that individually reinforce science concepts taught in class. 

On the practical side, the kits will be more lightweight and easier to use.  

Another exciting feature of these version of the “Cookie Jar Mystery” and the “Missing Money Mystery” is the mock trial is built in! 

Student crime scene investigators take steps all along the way to prepare for an eventual trial.  This really drives the learning home and provides teachers with an abundance of cross-curricular learning opportunities!

Look for more details to come in February.

Enjoy your break!

-By Mike DeBritz on Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Have you heard of Evernote? 

It’s a very interesting tool that has unlimited possibilities for both students and teachers.  Evernote is designed to operate as an extension of your brain to help keep notes, pictures, presentations, recordings and websites organized.

Sounds good who couldn't use more brainpower now and then?

The story about the company that developed the product was recently featured in Inc Magazine as their "Company of the Year."  One secret to their success and widespread adoption is the low barrier to get started, which is free.

Take a look a this video below to see how one school is utilizing Evernote and harnessing technology to help kids learn.

Talk about teaching life skills!

-By Mike DeBritz on Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Because school filters are getting tougher and tougher these days, I want to re-post some key information and links on our newest kit, "Screenwriting for Short Video: An Introduction for Teens."

Student Introduction:

Have you got the chops? The hook? The imagination? Before your video can collect “millions of hits” or connect with your social network on YouTube, Photobucket, Flickr or Vimeo, it’s got to be conceived, written and developed. Putting together the idea— “scripting” your film—that’s screenwriting!

Welcome to Screenwriting for Short Video: An Introduction for Teens, a 10-lesson introduction to writing the script for your own video. In this course, you’ll learn all the fundamentals of screenwriting, from coming up with a story idea, to developing your characters, working on dialogue, and exploring the basics of set design, action, and even publicity!

Each lesson is focused on a singular goal: providing you with the tools you need to write your own screenplay. It doesn’t matter if your film is a comedy or a tragedy, an animation or a horror film—it needs a screenplay.

By studying each lesson, playing games and participating in exercises with your friends, you’ll have the opportunity in every lesson to sharpen a new dimension of your screenwriting talent. You’ll also be given time to write, and learn how to format your screenplay just like the professionals.

In each lesson, you’ll also put on your film critic’s hat and watch a series of short videos that were produced by teens just like you! After you watch a film, you’ll score each one and then compare your reviews with your classmates. By watching films, you’ll study the details of filmmaking, and learn “what to look for” when you’re watching TV, video, movies or even commercials. Exercises like “conversational pairs” provide plenty of comic relief—screenwriting is fun!

In the end, you’ll be charmed with all you know and strut your own stuff during “Premiere Night” –when your classmates act out your screenplay (you’ll be the Director!) and our own unique awards, the Frannies, are awarded.

Screenwriters are Hollywood’s unsung heroes. And they are Hollywood’s best storytellers. Behind the dizzying rip of Jack Black’s guitar riffs in The School of Rock, Juno’s goofy infatuation, and Jon Heder’s awkward dance in Napoleon Dynamite, a screenwriter crafted the dialogue, helped pitch the film to studio executives, and communicated a vision of how characters should behave and move.

Everyone knows that JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series. But a screenwriter named Steve Kloves adapted her novels for 7 of the 8 films, translating Rowling’s hefty cast of characters and intricate plotting into one of the world’s most-loved story sensations.

What kind of sensation are you going to create?

Grab your pen and crack open that journal! Your “millions of hits” might be just a few pages away!

Structure of each weeks meetings and activities:

To make this course easy to teach in an after school setting, we designed a format that promotes active learning, discussions and clear goals for high school students.

Every lesson in Screenwriting for Short Video begins with an overview of the goals for the day and the timeline in which students should accomplish these tasks:

Activity 1 – Notes to the Student
This section included in both Facilitator's guide and Student Production Book is a hybrid of activities, including a brief review of material covered in the previous lesson, a “lecturette” or shared reading that covers new material in the lesson, and time for questions and answers. Occasionally, a brief activity supports the reading.

Activity 2 - Film Forum
Brings students together to watch a brief student-made short film, and to explore how new material covered in their notes may or may not be a factor in the screenwriter’s or filmmaker’s process. A discussion question set follows. Students will practice their higher order cognitive skills in evaluation by completing the Film Critic’s Scorecard for each film.

Activity 3 – Hands-On Activity
Innovative activities in every lesson engage students in fun, challenging tasks, such as deconstructing movie posters, experimenting with dialogue, inventing taglines, creating publicity strategies, writing film “treatments,” and many others.

Activity 4 – Unleash the WriteGeist
These 10-15 minute blocks in every lesson are set aside for students to write/work on their individual screenplays. These writing blocks immediately follow activities to help students quickly capitalize on what they’ve learned and encourage them to apply new information and techniques to their final products.

Activity 5 – Journal Jumpstart
Designed primarily to extend writing time, the “jumpstart” specifically directs students to attend to a fine point of screenwriting covered in the day’s lesson.

YouTube link to award winning teen videos

Sample Lesson

Pricing

I hope this is informative and accessible to all!