The 5th Grade News Program

Students will work together in groups to plan and then produce a news style program. On the first day that teacher will explain the idea to the students in order to generate enthusiasm for the project. The teacher will then show some recorded parts of a morning news program such as "Good Morning America" in order to determine what should be included in our news broadcast. After viewing the program the class will braintorm segments that we should include in the project. The classes will be divided into teams of 3 or 4 students. Each group will be given a part of a news broadcast to produce. These different segments will include school news, local news, state news, national news, world news, sports, weather and special news. Each group will decide what things should be in their segment. After their idea has been approved my the teachers they will begin to plan.
1) First using a storyboard template the group will decide what they are going to do and assign roles for each member of their group - camera person, reporter, etc. These roles will vary depending on what segment they are responsible for.
2) After the basics have been decided the group will then write a script. After a rough draft is written it will be checked for grammar and spelling and then the students will type their script on the computer using Microsoft Word. Upon completion the script will be submitted for approval to the Executive Producer (a teacher).
3) When their scripts have been improved the students will begin rehearsing the segments and practicing in front of the camera.
4) Together the class will develop ideas for a set for the news program and make appropriate backgrounds etc, for the broadcast itself.
5) When the "news desk" and other scenes are ready and the students feel confident, taping will take place. The camera person for each group will use a Flip video camera on a tripod to record the segment.
6) The raw video will then be downloaded onto a computer and the students will use Windows Movie Maker to edit their segment as desired.
7) All segments will be combined to create the Samsel Upper Elementary News Program and will be shown to students and parents through our school webpage.