TOPIC FOR THE LESSON: Camera Angles and Why They Matter Date: Week Seven, Days 2 & 3

Grade Level/Course: 11th Grade ELA

Unit: Literature into Film; Viewing Literature in the 21st Century

Lesson objectives (information, disposition, and skill objectives):

1. Students will understand the different techniques filmmakers use to achieve similar effects that authors do.
2. Students will know the different techniques and how to explain them and their desired effect.

Initiation/Opening Time
Throughout this unit, we’ve been looking at how word choice, syntax, and other decisions
drastically affect how we can see a character, setting, or overall story. But how do films do this? 2 -5 minutes
We cannot see the words of the script or the director’s notes on the film. What do films do to make
us feel the anxiety of the characters on screen? We’re going to be looking at some excerpts of some
of the films we’ve been watching in class, and some other famous examples to really show us what
they do; but first, we’re going to be learning some of the jargon of these moves.

Teacher’s Activities Students’ Activities Time

1. Explain the jigsaw for students: each group will 1. Listen

watch a short video from Studio Binder about
film angles (high, low, close up, and wide
angle), transitions, tracking, and color theory.
Hand out sheet where students will write the
key ideas to share with the class.
2. Break students into groups
3. Float around the room and help students as
necessary.
4. Do any conferences with students one-on-one
that need it for the class.
5. Clarify any of the information during
presentations that may not make sense to the
class as a whole.
5 minutes
2. Go to groups, and watch the assigned video. 7 minutes
During this time, jot down key ideas with the
question of “Why does this matter in telling a
story?”
3. After watching the video, do a little more 13 minutes
research with links provided about that certain
film topic. Look for any examples from class
movies or popular movies of the time. 20 minutes
4. Create a short (3-5) minute presentation about
why this film technique is important for
understanding choices directors and filmmakers
make.
5. NEXT DAY: Students present their Film
Technique to the class, and answer questions
from the students while addressing the
technique that’s been used in either popular
films or in the films watched in class.

Closure: Time
Now that we’ve had some chances to go over what these techniques do for film, we’re going to be 2-3 minutes
working on our final project for this unit, which is going to be using all these different aspects we’ve
talked and learned about. We’re going to be making our movie trailers!

Assessment Tools:
1. Guided Notes
2. Presentation to the class

Pre-Planning:
Materials/Resources (list):
Chromebooks/laptops/way of accessing videos & links
 Hand-out for guided notes
Videos for viewing

Instructional Strategies to be Used:

_X_Cooperative Learning __Simulations __Debate __Discussion __Inductive/Concept Formation __Questioning
_X_Direct Instruction/Lecture __Inquiry __Other (specify):

Multiple Intelligences:
__XVerbal/Linguistic __Musical/Rhythmic _X_Interpersonal
__Logical/Mathematical __Intrapersonal __Bodily/Kinesthetic
__Naturalist _X_Visual/Spatial

Reflections/Notes:

Adapted from Larson & Keiper, Instructional Strategies for Middle and High School