Lights, Camera, Action: Creating Videos to Investigate Changes When Mixing Two or More Substances
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Total Duration:
Greater than 120 Minutes
Materials and Resources:
Experiment supplies for the investigations you want your students to complete
Safety glasses
Directions for each experiment you want a group to complete (Attached is a list of experiments and directions that you can choose from, or you can come up with your own experiments.)
Printed observation sheet/movie directions
Technology Resources Needed:
Tablets or devices that can be used to capture videos
A movie maker app that students can use on the table they recorded their investigation and described the data/evidence (This should already be downloaded on the device before beginning the lesson.)
How to Make a Paper Slide Video (2:22) - This will give students an idea of what type of movie they will be making, except they will also be including video of their experiment as well.
Background/Preparation:
Teacher Prep:
Decide which experiments you would like your students to complete and have the needed materials for those experiments. There is an attachment of suggested experiments, with directions, for students to complete. Be aware that some will require teacher supervision and all require safety glasses.
Ensure movie maker app is installed on all devices before the lesson.
Student Prep:
Students need to have the familiarity of the movie creator app on the tablets
Students need to have completed the 5th grade Alabama Science Course of Study Standard 3 prior to completing this lesson so that the students will already be used to describing different properties of objects.
Day 1:
Choose one of the following links to show at the beginning of the lesson:
Changes - A student-made movie to explain chemical and physical changes
Properties of Matter Rap - A student-made chemical and physical change rap that is to the Justin Bieber song, Boyfriend
If your students have never completed a Paper Slide Movie, then show the "How to Make a Paper Slide Video" (2:22). This will give students an idea of what type of movie they will be making, except they will also be including video of their experiment.
Review the grading rubric with students to explain what should be in their video.
Students will need to be placed into groups of 2, possibly 3, students. All students should get an opportunity to
complete some part of the experiment while being recorded,
record a section of the experiment, and
be a part of the video editing process.
Allow students to choose the experiment they would like to complete, or assign the students to an experiment. Give each student a printed copy of the applicable experiment directions, experiment observation sheet, movie directions, as well as a tablet to record their experiment.
Before beginning the experiment, students will write on the experiment directions (see attached files) to tell which student will complete which step in the experiment and which student will be recording. Students will also do the same for who will be making which paper slide. (This should be completed before starting experiments so that all students know what their job is before beginning.)
Remind students of lab safety rules and maintain that safety goggles must be worn at all times!
By the end of day 1, students should have completed the experiment, filming, and making the paper slides. (It would be better if they were finished with filming the slides as well.)
Day 2:
Choose from one of the following links to show as at the beginning of the lesson:
Changes - A student-made movie to explain chemical and physical changes
Properties of Matter Rap - A student-made chemical and physical change rap that is to the Justin Bieber song, Boyfriend
Students will get back with their experiment group from the previous day to edit their video clips into a movie. Students will use a free movie app downloaded on the device by the teacher.
The teacher will need to be familiar with the app that students will use to be able to troubleshoot student issues. A few main functions of the app that are crucial to making the video should be addressed with the students before they begin. A search for a tutorial video for the app being used might be helpful.
Review the grading rubric with students to explain what should be in their video.
Day 3: (Maybe instead of using a whole other day to complete this section, one or two student groups could present each day until all groups have shown their movies.)
Choose from one of the following links to show as at the beginning of the lesson:
Changes - A student-made movie to explain chemical and physical changes
Properties of Matter Rap - A student-made chemical and physical change rap that is to the Justin Bieber song, Boyfriend
Give students a copy of the Peer Review Movie handout. Students should fill out this form as the teacher plays the movies turned in by each student.
Pause each movie before students reveal if their experiment was a chemical or physical change. Then the teacher and students should discuss what they observed as a group.
Show the remainder of the movie after the discussion to check the group's outcome against the class discussion.
Assessment Strategies
Options:
Use the movie grading rubric attached as a project grade.
Use the day 3 Peer Review sheet that students fill out to use for an assessment.
Show other examples of chemical and physical change experiments. Have students fill out the Peer Review sheet as a grade with no discussion during showing the videos. (YouTube has several experiments to choose from.)
Acceleration:
Students can be as creative as they wish to be during their movie making process. Suggestions:
More advanced students may be able to complete a chemical change experiment and a physical change experiment to compare and contrast in their video.
Find copyright-free music to add to the background of the video. (This website is one of many that offers copyright-free music at no cost.)
Depending on the movie maker app you use, students could add video clip transitions and/or effects to make their video more creative.
Intervention:
Have strategically differentiated groups that include advanced and struggling students so that the advanced students can guide the struggling students throughout the project.
View the Special Education resources for
instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations
for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.