I may have officially ruined movies for you and your friends for the foreseeable future.
We've started our film unit, and after teaching the kids the basic movie terms and camera angles (ask about bird's eye view angles, and POV shots!), we've started applying our knowledge to film.
Today, after analyzing the passage from the text and assessing how JK Rowling established the mood in the pixie scene (page 101-103 in Chamber of Secrets, if you'd like to take a look for yourself!), we watched the film clip. Over and over and over again.
We took note of the camera angles and the way they contributed to the frantic and energetic mood of the scene. Kids were shouting out things like "low angle, wide shot, establishing shot, POV!" and we noticed some incredible things about minor camera angles. Have you ever noticed how the camera bobs up and down when they hang Neville on the chandelier? Did you realize that the rapid cut scenes occur when they're trying to show that the chaos is happening simultaneously? How did you feel when the dragon skeleton started falling on you while the scene was being shot from a low angle-wide show - POV?
I'm growing some future film-makers here, and I'm loving every minute of it. I can't wait to see how all of these mini-lessons and thoughts culminate in a few weeks when we actually create short films!
I received grant money from BREF to purchase video cameras for my classroom; once we complete the Harry Potter unit, we will read a short fairy tale that was also written by JK Rowling. Then in groups, the kids will write screen play adaptations of the story. They will design sets and costumes and establish the mood of their piece...which they will film and edit! THEN we get to have a film festival and celebrate their accomplishments. I hope you'll all be able to join us when we have this Film Festival! It will most likely be in conjunction with our History Museum (yes, that's still happening, too!), so look for more information on that!
Until then...grin and bear it as your student starts analyzing every camera angle and lighting decision made by the film director of the next movie you sit down to watch!