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Teacher Brenda Hallums and Ferebee-Hope student filmmakers
at National Geographic headquarters
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Young filmmakers at Ferebee-Hope Elementary School released 15 short documentaries on Dec. 10, 2009. Students in Ms. Hallums' sixth grade class wrote, directed and filmed Kidumentaries, premiering at National Geographic's Grosvenor Auditorium.
Students Robert Fletcher, Imani Knight and Angel Marshall introduced the project. The class learned to narrate, direct and that “to make a good movie you have to practice,” Fletcher said. Knight discussed the importance of family teamwork in biographical films. Marshall stressed dialogue and inspirational subjects.
Films took viewers into student homes and described experiences from the local SplashPark to Viet Nam. Autobiographies illustrated the power of reading, dance, music, cheer leading and sports, faith and family. Concern for the environment and maintaining positive living spaces were also strong themes. Biographies highlighted the inspiration of sisters, cousins, aunts and a grandfather. Several films mentioned young people's responsibility to inspire and support others.
Kidumentaries
Kidumentaries is a collaboration of the non-profit Live It Learn It (LILI) and National Geographic Channel (NGC). Now in its fifth year, LILI partners with 18 DC Public Schools to provide experiential learning in fourth through sixth grades. Three trips per year – chosen by teachers in consultation with LILI staff -- are “scaffolded” by pre- and post-trip lessons and assessments to help students and teachers make the most of the experiences.
National Geographic promotes “geo-literacy -- the ability to reason about the world to make personal, professional, and civic decisions.” NGC serves this mission through world-renowned video productions.
Ms. Hallums' classes have worked with LILI for four years. Her current sixth grade is the second class to participate in the new Kidumentaries project.
LILI conceived the idea, helped design lesson plans and assisted with teaching. NGC helped craft the filmmaking curriculum, and staff members taught camera and story-boarding techniques.
The six-week pilot program was launched last year at River Terrace Elementary in Ward 7. Fifth-grade filmmakers created how-tos or autobiographies (see May 2009 EOR). This year's three-month program focuses on biography. The second sixth-grade class at Ferebee-Hope will participate in the spring.
Principal Sharron Stroman says Kidumentaries epitomize her hopes for the school, bringing “opportunities that help to level the playing field.”
“Many Cooks”
The longer program allowed LILI to provide more support and gave students more time to develop ownership of their projects, says executive director Matthew Wheelock. In addition, more NGC staff members spent more time with students: Drew Jones, Katarina Price and others joined Madeleine Carter, Mark Green and Timothy Joyce, who participated last year.
Price found that biography proved a “great vehicle for kids to bring all their skills together...to use creativity and teamwork,” while Jones was impressed by the students' eagerness to learn and by the school's welcome. “It was great to be able to have an impact.”
Veteran teacher Brenda Hallums, in turn, notes that NGC's presence for a few weeks will have a far-reaching influence.
“Any time students are excited, learning sticks,” Hallums explains. In addition, she saw horizons change, as students added “editor” and “photographer” to a previously limited view of career choices, for example.
Film is a collaborative enterprise, LILI's Erika Harper said at the premier. And Kidumentaries provided an example where “too many cooks did not spoil the soup.” |
