Main Page

Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

Teacher Page

Introduction

Every teacher dreads the collective groan that comes with the announcement that it is time for a class to make study notes. I used to be that teacher. I would tell my students to think of study notes like broccoli saying, "You might not like them, but they are good for you." After a while I realized that there had to be a better way. I wanted my students to be excited about creating great study notes. I started thinking of new teaching techniques that I could use to spice things up for the students while still allowing me to achieving my educational goals.

The day that I came up with the Crazy Talk Timeline of Canada Project was the day that study notes stopped being viewed as broccoli by my students. The project was so popular that I would go as far as to say that, for my students, broccoli into chocolate cake.

The project idea developed beyond simple study notes and turned into a research project. The concept was that each student would create a crazy talk movie about one major event in Canadian history that we covered in class. Our goal was to post the completed shows on this site so that the students would have a complete timeline of movies that they could use when studying for tests.

When your students complete their projects, you can post them on youtube and send me the link. In this way, the list of events on the timeline will continue to grow.

Learners

I use this project with my Social Studies 10 classes. You can participate in this project with student of many different grade levels. The only limiting factor is that this project related to major events in Canadian history. If you use a grade other than Social Studies 10, you might have to alter some of the project expectations.

In order to complete the movie portion of this project, the students have to be able to work with computer software such as Crazy Talk and powerpoint. In addition, they should be comfortable with other mulitimedia software such as Adobe Premier or Moviemaker.

Curriculum Standards

Social Studies 10 BC IRP: Instructional Outcomes

Students will:

·research, analyse, and describe an important event in Canadian history that took place between 1815-1914

· demonstrate effective research skills, including accessing and assessing information by locating two secondary and one primary resources and then researching an important event from Canadian history

· demonstrate effective research skills by collecting data and organizing data into three note cards · demonstrate an ability to summarize main ideas relating to the event by using the research notes to develop a script for the "Crazy Talk" character · demonstrate effective research skills by citing sources

· apply critical thinking skills, by formulating and answering questions (which includes formulating some higher level thinking questions), summarizing, and drawing conclusions during the movie

· demonstrate effective oral and graphic communication skills in the form of a Windows Moviemaker movie that features a Crazy Talk character

· demonstrate effective graphic communication skills by developing an animated "Crazy Talk" character who will present the research information from an interesting point of view

These sections from the Social Studies 10 IRP pinpoint which important events in the history of Canada fall within the scope of the course:

Identity, Society and Culture in Canada from 1815-1914

1 the interactions between Aboriginals and Europeans

2 contributions to the development of Canada

3. the arts

4.immigrants and immigration

Governance: Canada from 1815 to 1914

1 describe the evolution of responsible government in Canada in terms of government structure and key contributing events

2 analyse political, economic, social, and geographical factors that led to Confederation and to the development of Canada’s provinces and territories

3 describe the events of the Red River and Northwest Rebellions

4 describe the structure and function of Canada’s federal, provincial, and local governments

Economy and Technology: Canada from 1815 to1914

1 assess the impact of Macdonald’s National Policy on Canada

2 analyse the influence of the following on Canada’s economy from 1815 to 1914:- resource development and decline- technological innovations

3 describe the development of British Columbia’s economy from 1815 to 1914

Environment: Canada from 1815 to 1914

1 describe the physiographic regions of Canada and the geological processes that formed these regions

2 analyse how geography influenced the economic development and settlement patterns in regions of Canada from 1815 to 1914

3 evaluate attitudes and practices in resource development in British Columbia from 1815 to 1914 and their impact on contemporary resource management

Process

In this Crazy Talk Timeline of Canada project, you do the following things:

1. Decide on an important event in Canadian history that you would like to research

2. Now it is time to find your resources so that you can start researching. Find two secondary sources and one primary source that relate to your topic.

3. Make notes on each of your sources. Since you have three sources, you will make three note cards. At the top of each notecard, record the information that you will need for your bibliography. Click here to see a sample note card.

Make sure that your notes contain the answers to the following questions about your event?

• Who was involved?
• What happened?
• Where did it happen?
• Why did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• How did this event affect the course of Canadian history?

4. Once you have completed your notes, you need to think of a creative way to present your information. For example, you could pretend to be a gun that took part in an important battle. Or you could be a rat who lived on one of the "coffin ships" that brought early settlers to the New World. Create an interesting character and then write about your historical event from their perspective.

5. Find a picture (in jpg format) that you would like to use for your character (or use one of the ones that are already made for you in the Crazy Talk Program) Use the CrazyTalk program to make your character come alive.

6. Using the CrazyTalk Program, record your voice reading the the script. Save your work and export it as a "wmv" file so that you can use it in moviemaker later on.

7. Find at least 5 pictures (in JPG format that relate to the information in your script). If you want to add words to your pictures you can do so by creating powerpoint slides. Make your slides and then save them in JPG format.

8. Open moviemaker. Import your CrazyTalk WMV file. Import your pictures or slides. Use Moviemaker to create a show.

Before you upload your movie, make sure that it is complete. You movie needs to have the following elements:

1. A main character with a well developed and appropriate personality

2. A script that contains accurate and detailed historical information about your event

3. A title

4. at least five pictures

5. At least one question and answer that relates to each of the following areas: who, what, where, when, why, how (some of the questions must be higher level thinking questions)

6. Bibliography (that includes pictures).

Click here is you need help on how to write a bibliography

9. Upload your video to youtube or teachertube

10. Send a link for your video to shawna@mapleleafpro.net

Resources

You will need access to a computer lab so that students can complete internet research on their topic. The computer will also need to be loaded with the following multimedia software components:

1. Crazy Talk

2. Powerpoint

3. Windows MovieMaker

Evaluation

In this webquest, the students will be graded on the following areas: note taking skills, bibliography, and movie. Click here to view rubrics.

Conclusion

Credits

Websites

Crazy Talk Software

YouTube

Photos

Canada Flag

Computer and Books

Made in Canada

Polar Bear Family