Nice Family Homestead

Movie Making Week

Although this may seem a little ambitious, I think I will be able to pull together a small scale “movie” with the kids.

Materials needed:

• Video Camera
• Editing Software (I use iMovie on my macbook)
• Imagination
• Patience

Day 1:

• Talk about what it means to “act”.
• Practice acting exercises. Click Here for ideas.
• Watch a kids play on-line as an example of children acting on an amateur level.  Click Here for an example.
• Choose or write a script.  We will be acting out two of our favorite books.  “Where’s Mark?” by Jacquie Hann and “The Little Red Hen” by Byron Barton.
• Read through books and assign parts.

Day 2:

• Create Costumes & Practice Lines.
• “Where’s Mark?” costumes are just pajamas.
• “The Little Red Hen” costumes:
• Hen (make the mask red and wear red shirt and pants)
• Pig Mask with pink shirt and pants,
• Duck – Color white baseball hat yellow with orange brim and 2 black eyes – wear yellow shirt and black pants and orange knee socks
• Cat Mask – black outfit
• 3 stuffed animal chicks

Day 3: Filming

• Start filming!  Get creative and film lots of takes.  Set up scenes or record like a play.  

Day 4: Edit

• If you have younger kids, like me, this will mostly be work for you.  So while you are editing, here are some worksheets and ideas to keep the kids engaged:
• Make “Star” Posters: Cut out big yellow or gold stars.  Children write “The Little Red Hen starring (their name) As (name of character)” and decorate.
• Make cookies in the shape of a star
• Story Map Worksheets
• Free Printable Worksheets: http://www.kidzone.ws/

Day 5: Movie Viewing Party

• Order some fun supplies here
• Invite family or friends over to see the movie.
• Have kids dress up like movie stars
• Lay down a red carpet (paper or runner)
• Set up a “Snack Stand” and offer snacks like popcorn, candy, soda, soft pretzels
• After viewing the movie, have an award ceremony and give each actor a Star Trophy for various awards – Best Duck, Best Costume, etc.

Leave a comment below and let me know what books or scripts you will be acting out!

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