Making a Movie

Kids don’t seem to mind that the movies don't "move". Make the "movie screen" is sturdy enough to hold up under frequent use.

Objectives

Children 5 and up can draw a simple picture FM III
children between 4 and 5 can cut with scissors on a straight line FM II
and they can also glue pictures onto paper FM II
Children between 3 and 4 can tell a story Lang. IIIA
and children under 2 can scribble FM II

Materials

Medium sized box with rectangle cut from the bottom of box for movie screen. Cut holes below screen for dials. Large pieces of paper from paper roll; felt pens; crayons; magazines for cutting out pictures; scissors; glue.

Procedures

1. Settle children around a table that has move-making materials on it. Movie screen might be on table nearby for easy viewing by those at the work table. Explain to the children that they can be movie-makers and make their own movies. Demonstrate by turning the screen on, putting a picture on the screen, and telling a story about the picture.

2. Have each child take large pieces of paper and draw a movie. Have magazines available for those children who wish to choose pictures, cut them out, and glue them to papers for their movies.

3. As the children finish making their pictures, one child at a time can put their picture(s) on the movie screen, push the dials, and tell the others the story--describe what is happening, name objects in their pictures. Teachers can help with language and imagination by asking who, what, why and how questions. Help each child sequence (order) his story by asking what happened first, next, last. Younger children might simply name what they have drawn. Encourage questions and comments to the "producer" from the audience.