Multi-Media Writing Workshop

Multi-media Writing Workshop

Picture two little chipmunks tumbling over each other in their enthusiasm and excitement in playing and learning about life. That sums up how 6-year old Zak and his best buddy 8 year old Jared reacted as they waited for their families to arrive for their presentation of our Multi-Media Writing Workshop’s culminating activity: a dinner theater.
I based the writing phase on Nancy Atwell’s Writing Workshop as written about in the book :”In The Middle” and THE Elliot Wigginton’s “Sometimes A Shining Moment: The FOXFIRE EXPERIENCE”. The multi-media phase was my own blend based on my many years as an elementary teacher and what the students would like to do.
When the boys arrived at my home after school, 8-weeks ago, we started out with milk and cookies and brain-stormed about what we’d be doing in the weeks ahead. They were full of questions, ideas, and couldn’t wait to begin. So, begin we did.
Our first task was researching a variety of topics and ideas by walking around my home. Each had a clipboard to note things that caught his eye, jotting down questions, and basically gathering information. They were learning to observe with a critical eye and to query what was in their environment.
We listened to several dramatized stories from old radio programs, such as Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds: and Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell Tale Heart” to get the feel of what could be done.
The boys discussed and decided on several characters that they would both use in their own story. They created a story from their long-hand notes using the agreed upon characters. They dictated their stories as I typed it on a word processor. Then they learned and used computer skills to check the Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, and Spelling (COPS) of their manuscript; as well as making sure there was a beginning, middle, and end to each story.
In turning the manuscript into a play script, Sack’s story became Scene One and Jared’s story became Scene Two. Scene Three was a collaborative effort. They learned the importance of dialogue, action, and setting as they worked together.
The characters began to take shape as the boys fashioned papier-mâché puppet heads; learned how to thread a needle, use a sewing machine, and design fabric bodies to fit their hands.
Making a puppet stage from a chest freezer packing box proved to encompass measuring thrice/cutting once; painting, decorating, and figuring out how to hang scenery backdrops. The actual back-drops were designed to reflect the scene, reducing the number of words needed to explain the setting. The boys composed music to fit the action of their play and taped it. In the process of composing and taping music to coordinate with the play’s action, they learned how to synchronize action and music, use of the recording and play-back machine, adjusting volume, bass/treble, and placement of the machine so it would be in easy reach during the performance. We made a video tape of the dress rehearsal to put in their evidence books, and as a review/re-work/evaluation tool.
During each phase and task, photographs were taken to chronicle their progress. The photos were entered into an evidence book.
The video tape could have been the end activity, but the boys chose to put on an evening dinner theater. They designed and produced invitation to their families and mailed them. Remembering where to put the address, return address and stamp was important to be sure the invitation got to the right people.
Our dinner consisted of one of the Dad’s bringing in subs and sodas, then, we went into our “theater”.
The lights dimmed and the spot-light shone on the completed puppet stage. The prelude music swelled to announce the beginning of the play. The curtain opened. The action began.
The audience showed their appreciation with waves of applause and curtain calls. It was a wonderful way to spend time during the winter months learning, playing, and bonding, while honing skills that will be used for a life-time.
NOTE: more information on resources, activities, and guidelines can be found at www.katechamberlin.com.
Copyright © 2010 by Kate Chamberlin. All Rights Reserved.