River Terrace fifth graders recently wrote, directed and filmed their own documentaries which premiered on March 18. The 11 “Kidumentaries” were screened in the Grosvenor Auditorium at the National Geographic headquarters before an audience of media and educational professionals.

Student films focused on how-to or autobiography, with many combining elements of both. While explaining birdhouse construction, for example, Angel Rouse tells viewers how she and her friend Kayla frequently undertake such projects as weekend activities. Teaching liturgical movement, Timia Stagg-Simmons explains how she learned the dance. “The Life & Times of Michael McShay” is the most purely autobiographical, while many students – such as “Pet Detectives” Nicholas Brown and Keyshawn Willilams -- include a bit about themselves to draw viewers into their subject.

Chemical reactions and cooking are the focus of “Crazy Chemistry,” by Vance Allen and Cyre Collins; “Breakfast Divas,” by Yhumi' Burns and Emoni Price; and “Sweet Tooth,” by LynShawn Ebron and Shavonne Fraley. Movement is the subject of “Hot Hands,” by Henry Brown and Deymony Smith; “The LoShaye Step,” by LoShaye Davis; “Double Dutch Queens,” by Destiny Cotton and Tiffiany Terry; and “Wheelbarrow Workout” by Ar'Manni Pretlow.

A few students found performing nerve-wracking. Some struggled with content: frying bacon in the alloted time, teaching double dutch, creating a new step. But many say that preparing – from selecting a topic to sequencing the scenes – was the greatest challenge. Filming, students agree, was the easy part.

“I was amazed at their self-confidence in directing and using the cameras,” says Mark Green of National Geographic Channels International, who collaborated on the filmmaking pilot with the local nonprofit Live It Learn It (LILI) and River Terrace Elementary School. “We are delighted to be part of this initiative,” enabling students “to share their unique perspectives of the world around them.”

Kidumentary Collaboration
Now in its third year, LILI partners with 17 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.

For LILI's first year at River Terrace, fifth grade teacher Shamayne Coles selected visits to Frederick Douglass' home, the Spy Museum and a Jacob Lawrence exhibit at the Phillips Collection. In addition, River Terrace was selected for the brand new Kidumentaries project.

National Geographic Channel staff helped create and teach the filmmaking curriculum. But Green says LILI conceived the idea and helped with lesson design and teaching. In addition, he notes, learning sometimes developed organically. LILI's Erica Harper added a lesson on contracts, for example, before distributing cameras, so that agreeing to rules – don't run with the camera or put it in liquid, e.g. -- became the center of a wider, interdisciplinary life lesson.

Coles, in her first year at River Terrace, found Kidumentaries “inspiring and educational.” It enhanced essential skills, like narrative organization. Moreover, projects like this, “relating concepts to students' everyday lives,” keep students focused and help them perform better, she explains. “It changed student mind-frames.”

The opportunities LILI and National Geographic Channel brought to River Terrace, adds Principal Shannon Foster, “will impact these children for the rest of their lives.”

A community Kidumenatry showing was scheduled for late April at River Terrace, 420 34th St., NE., 202-724-4589. Visit www.LiveItLearnIt.org or call 202-546-6223 for more information.