QUESTION: Films to Support K-5 ELA Instruction?

[Diane Boni]

In preparation for implementing the Common Core Standards in my district this fall, we are looking at what films might support good discussion and writing opportunities for our K-5 students. I would appreciate your help in learning about what films you are using in your schools and at what grade levels they're being used. We are grateful for any suggestions/recommendations you can provide.

 

Thank you so much for sharing!

Diane

[Frank W. Baker]

Diane, I don't teach formally, but I do conduct professional development around media/ film education. As an example, I have been using the first 8 minutes of the DIsney/Pixar film WALL E as a way to teach visual/film literacy.

The audience first meets Wall E as he goes about his job of collecting trash, compacting it and stacking it as tall skyscrapers. 

There is virtually no dialogue, so students must pay attention to it, and look for, and identify certain clues.  I use a series of index cards with guiding questions which direct students to things to listen and watch for.

It certainly helps students (and teachers) understand that film and filmmakers communicate in many ways: with tools and techniques which help create meaning. So there are camera angles, camera movement, music, lighting, sound effects, and more...all of which are represented in the opening scenes.

I also think the use of publicity stills from the film might also be helpful at the early ages to generate a discussion about plot, characters and their roles.  I hope this helps.

[Diane Boni]

Thank you so much for this recommendation, Frank. And thank you also for the suggestions about ways teachers might approach viewing the film with students and the link to the publicity stills. I look forward to sharing these ideas with my teaching colleagues.

Diane

[Marcy Prager]

Diane,

         If you are talking about showing films to k-5 to support ELA, I know in grade 5 many teachers teach Because of Winn Dixie as one of the Katie DiCamilla author series.  There is a film with the same title that students can see AFTER having read and discussed the book and compare/contrast with the film.  How did the filmmakers show the descriptive words that described Winn-Dixie's breakdown during thunderstorms?  What inner thoughts did Opal have in the book and how were they shown in the film?

          In second grade I taught a global Cinderella series and showed Yeh-Shen, the Chinese  Cinderella.  We used a Venn Diagram to show some of the differences and similiarities of what we visualized when reading and what they looked like in the film.  In the book, what words showed anger?  In a film, what actions and words show anger? Voice?  Tone? etc.

           There are many good "informative" films about cultures that complement grades that are studying different cultures. Students can write new facts and "reactions" to information as they see films to add their knowledge to what informative texts they have read.

         There are also great science films about different topics taught in grades k-5 that can complement/enrich the books you already have.  

         The school library should have lists of available films offered across the curriculum that can be utilized - Grade level teachers can pick what they would like to preview for their students that match a fiction/non-fiction book.

          Sometimes schools have licenses to educational films that can be downloaded on-line.  I think the Discovery Channel is one.  Brain Pop is another.  ELA is taught best when it integrates the science and social studies' informative texts using the ELA Common Core Standards.  The testing prompts to prepare for the annual tests in different grade levels should come right from the curriculum - books and films, to prepare children in an authentic manner.  

     I hope this is what you were looking for.

     

[Diane Boni]

Thank you so much for sharing this wealth of recommendations and ideas, Marcy. I appreciate your suggestions about ways to integrate science and social studies. We're already using Brain Pop, so it's nice to have the reinforcement!

[Ryan Goble]

You know Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a nice Interdisciplinary pic - the Film Foundation has some great curricula for that HERE. I would also consider doing the radio version of "War of the Worlds" if you're looking for a "classic" media that everyone can get excited about.

[Susan A Garr]

The Wild Thornberry's Movie is awesome for igniting debate and inquiry into human being's relationship to the natural world.  Great sound track too! 

[Diane Boni]

Thanks, Susan. I'll check that out.

[Diane Boni]

Thanks for suggestions and the resource link, Ryan.

[Joan Axthelm]

Hi Diane -

Here is a link to my Delicious page that I have tagged for elementary ESL videos: http://www.delicious.com/msaxthelm/video+elementary

In this collection you will find:

~ some pixar shorts on youtube that are great for a fiction analysis, but do not use any words.

~ some youtube videos of a few rube goldberg machines that give opportunities for retelling using time-order vocabulary. (First the ball hit the tube. Then the tube rolled down and fell into the bucket... etc.)

~ a "Nature by Numbers" video that explores the golden ratio, phi, and its connection to nature. Again, no words.

~ Some funny talking animal videos by the BBC that are available for upload so students can create their own dialog

~ a RadioLab video called "Words" that shows pictures of things that have the same or similar sounding words, but different meanings. A nice exploration for higher level language learners ready to tackle such complexities. (Though I do think there is "the finger" drawn on a blackboard in this one. I stop it before getting there.)

~ a "Say Something Nice" video that is cute and a prompt for practice of those skills.

Also, I have used "Shawn the Sheep" and "Oscar's Oasis" episodes for fiction analysis and retelling exercises. Both have no words, are really funny, and appropriate for kids.

I don't know exactly what kinds of uses you are interested in, but these have served me well in 6th grade and think they are appropriate for 4th and 5th, as well. I plan to use them, anyway! Some for even younger. Best that you screen everything, though!

I hope this is helpful.

Yours,

Joan

[Diane Boni]

Thank you, Joan, for sharing this great collection of media resources. Since we are looking for media for multiple purposes, these are certainly helpful! Thank you also for sharing how you've used these videos and for the tip about screening in advance.

Diane

[Joan Axthelm]

A pleasure. Please let me know if you use any of these and how they worked out!

[Ryan Goble]

Diane, BTW did you see my post for KIWI in the ELE ED Group - SHORT FILM: Kiwi!!!