7th Grade Cell Movie
Mr. Roberge’s 7th grade science classes created presentations about cells. Each student or pair of students in a class was given one of many topics to research and asked to prepare a presentation on that part. They were taught how to create or locate exactly the right image and to understand and consider all copyright laws. They learned how to draw in Acorn (see link below), how to create motion and “builds” in Keynote (see link below), and how to write a script and record their voice over the project. Finally, the individual parts were saved as Quicktime movies and assembled in iMovie as a whole class project that covers all the aspects of the cell. This movie represents parts from across 5 classes, a good representation of what our kids created. It is not perfect, there are some mispronunciations and some technical glitches, but we are very proud of what they have accomplished.
There is a strong focus in the 7th grade curriculum on understanding copyright law and what individuals may and may not do with images, music, and information they do not own. Images for this project were either created by the students in Acorn or in Keynote, or they were found online with a creative commons license that allows students to use them in their projects. Another major focus on this project was to eliminate the use of unnecessary text-based information (referred to in educational circles as PowerPointlessness) on each slide, and to use the recording, the images with labels, and the ability to build in features and move visual elements to help the viewer understand the content. Students were also coached in and graded on pacing and inflection for their voice over, and although we feel it could still be better in some cases, we are very pleased with the gains most students made in understanding how to use their voice to enhance their project.
This project covered many standards which students are required to meet in science, in language arts, and in technology. The are:
Science:
A1. Students describe and apply principles of systems in man made things, natural things and processes.
a – explain how individual parts working together can do more than each individual part.
b – Explain how the output of one part becomes input of another.
E3
a- Describe the basic functions of organisms carried out within cells including the extracting of energy for food and the elimination of wastes.
d- Explain that all living things are composed of cells.
Language Arts
E2 Speaking
Adjust Speaking Strategies ( organize and present logically, adjust volume, tone, seek feedback, select appropriate media for audience)
C1 Research
Determine nature and extent of info needed
Locate and access info
Summarize and interpret information
Use information ethically and legally
Technology ( the National Educational Technology Standards for Students)
Creativity and Innovation
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
Communication and Collaboration
a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
Research and Information Fluency
b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
Critical Thinking
b. Plan and Manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
Digital Citizenship
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
Technology Information and Concepts
b. select and use applications effectively and productively.
d. transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.
This presentation was created by Laura Mank, an 8th grader at Rockland District Middle School. Comments are welcome. Haiti
Several groups of 8th grade students in Mr. Tonners Industrial Technology class struggled to build working models of catapults or trebuchets. They all found the project extremely challenging, and most groups experienced only limited success with their design. One group, however, built a working model that really works! Watch the movie below to meet the engineers and see their catapult in action.The Catapult
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