Today is the day!: Which is better -- the Book, the AudioBook, or the Movie?

Reading Standards for Literature/Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

The CCSS tell us that students should be able to compare and contrast a written piece to the same piece in a new medium. In particular, they should be able to critique it based on techniques that are unique to the medium.

Grade 7

7. Compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, or camera focus and angles in a film).

Grade 8

7. Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.

The American Film Institute has a whole series of videos about those techniques. Their focus is on how students can create meaning using the same techniques film makers use.

Lights! Camera! Education from the American Film Institute

The balance of this blog post provides you with many resources. However, before we go on, I encourage you to consider prior blog posts about students being able to strategically use technology to effectively communicate. In the list of resources below, you’ll also see student-created movie trailers and podcasts related to books they’ve read.

NOTE: Before you use movies in your classroom, be sure to check on the associated copyright law.

· http://www.movlic.com/k12/faq.html#4

· http://www.teachwithmovies.org/copyright.html

· http://www.wlu.edu/x36055.xml

A list of movies based on books is available at:

· http://als.lib.wi.us/bookmovies.html

· http://www.mymcpl.org/books-movies-music/based-book

Of course, you could pull out filmstrips, VHS tapes, and DVDs; however, most movie trailers are available online. Many movie clips are also available. Check your sources, since not all of them were legally uploaded. Also, check with sites that your school subscribes to.

Some other online sources include:

· Movie Trailers

o http://www.movieinsider.com/movies/trailers/2012/

· Movie Trailers created by students

o http://teachertube.com/search_result.php?query=the+westing+game&type=videos&search-type=videos&head_curriculum=0&head_content_area=0&head_subject=0&head_category=0&head_skill=0

· Student Reviews of the Hobbit - from TeacherTube

o http://tinyurl.com/8gtk2nj

· Movies and Audio Books Available on Kindle/iPad/iPhone

o http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline

o http://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks

· Scarlet Letter videos on YouTube

o http://tinyurl.com/9lnl2ds