My students need technology to film their theatrical work. They can learn from watching performances, create portfolios for scholarships and share their work with family.
Anticipation, nervous silence, movement, action, surprise, delight, accolades, reflection, pride. I would suggest that these things happen daily. Our students' lives are rich with storm and stress and they either go through it building skills or not. We prefer they build skills.
In the life of a middle school student, there are two types of drama: unprepared and guided.
Unprepared drama comes at kids fast and furious. Social media does not tell kids that someone is about to post something upsetting, it only alerts them that someone has posted something. That is unprepared drama. It is arguably the most intrusive and confusing part of the middle school experience and as adults we know that the impact of unprepared and poorly handled drama from our middle school years can last well into our adult life. Counter to that, guided drama is instructed, coached, rehearsed and performed to the delight of those on the stage and those in the house. When we guide our students in our drama class they learn. What they learn is deeper than lines and blocking. They learn emotions. They learn to listen and watch and they learn regulation. There may be no greater outlet for the storm and stress of middle school life than drama class.
My Project
The high-storage video camera will allow our student actors to film their work-in-progress performances; capturing scenes, monologues, and even entire plays for self assessment. By viewing a simple recording of themselves, students can think critically about their stage presence, composition, vocal technique, and pacing to improve their work. Advanced students will be able to film their showcase performances for audition portfolios and scholarship opportunities.
The DSLR camera will enable our drama students to partner with counseling staff to create and edit high quality short films for our monthly school-wide Advisory lessons. Advisory is the heart of our school's social/emotional learning and anti-bullying curriculum. We know student engagement in Advisory is highest when we have materials created by and featuring our own students. Having a DSLR camera to make Advisory films will impact the social climate of our school and give access to a professional film-making resource.
Your support will improve our students' lives.
As they strut and fret their hours in our building they will be expanding not only their educational experience in drama class but also their emotional capacity in our Advisory curriculum.
Your support will ensure our students leave with lasting evidence of achievement in theater arts as well as "real-life" vocational skills by using professional equipment in an academic setting.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Manzo and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
