PEAI Project Fair 2020 // Grade 6
Honestly, I’m surprised we even had a PEAI Project Fair this year. Amidst a global pandemic, the idea of a coordinated, grade-wide project seemed an unlikely proposition at best. What would be feasible given that at least half the time preparing would spent outside the classroom? The Project Fair is typically a team-oriented affair, but given the social distancing restrictions, this did not seem appropriate.
After much deliberation with Linda, the Project Fair this year was themed around the YouTube #StayHomeandSaveLives campaign. Students were tasked with creating a short video that would encourage others to stay home. There were four components to the project:
Project Proposal. A proposal including the topic and theme of the video as well realistic and optimistic versions of it. Students were given the option of working individually or with a partner. Completed on Google Forms. https://forms.gle/g7RsF2m5fa6aKSGs6
Video Script. A script written as a screen play with location, action, audio notes. One minute of video equals about 200 words. Scripts were an essential for students to be able to show their work. Completed on Google Docs.
Storyboard. A visual outline of the video that arranges the scenes in chronological order. Storyboards were sketched out by hand with notes about shot types and camera movement.
Video. Individuals were tasked with creating a 3-5 minute video and partners an 8-10 minute video. Students were to be featured prominently in the videos including a one minute monologue.
Breakdown of topic choices:
#WithMe Topics
Students’ interpretations of this task were fascinating. Beginning with the project proposal back at the beginning of June, there were so many infinitely complex, ambiguous decisions that had to be made. Creative tasks like this are degrees more difficult than those rooted in logic—there just aren’t clear right and wrong choices. Something as simple as background music could take hours to decide upon. These multitude of decisions built upon one another and manifested intensely personal videos. The diversity of final submissions was strong.
The primary objective of the Project Fair is to provide participants with a task that is intellectually and creatively engaging. The fruits of their labor are showcased publicly and outstanding works recognized. This year, it reached a bit higher. At the time of this post, the PEAI Project Fair YouTube channel has over 6,000 minutes of watch time. If the students’ videos convinced just a person or two to stay home for an afternoon or evening, that is the cherry on top.
Stray thoughts:
Videos that featured the filmmakers prominently were most engaging.
It was really interesting to see students’ reactions to their peers’ videos. They engaged with them on a different wavelength than the teachers.
Several introverts un-introverted themselves and really shined on screen.
Kudos to students who went the extra mile and included bloopers at the end; they were pretty consistently great.
So many students have hidden talents that I was unaware of. The quality and originality of the art in particular was really impressive.
There were a lot of outstanding videos that deserve recognition. If you liked a peer’s video, give them a like or comment—it really means a lot.
-Brenden Lee Teacher