Every Johanna Perrin sixth-grader recently gained first-hand experience in producing a newscast, the culmination of researching different storms and then creating a newscast to share facts.
JP Librarian Beth Puckett worked closely with sixth-grade science teachers Marta Frank and Janet King to revamp their storms project.
“We wanted students to be able to do a weather report like they might see on the news,” said Puckett.
Students worked in groups of four. Each team chose from the topics of hurricanes, tornadoes or blizzards. The students then researched their own separate subtopics including descriptions and causes, effects and emergency preparedness. They learned how to use reliable sources (databases, books, websites) and how to paraphrase their research and put information on note cards. They also learned how to cite their sources and to use the citation program NoodleTools.
As students neared the end of their research, they watched a sample weather broadcast created by several of the teachers in the school. They were able to use a rubric to “grade” their teachers. The teams then turned their note cards into their own team newscast and recorded their weather report using technology in front of a green screen.
“The JP Morning Show is broadcast into every classroom each morning, but most students have no idea where and how it is produced,” said Puckett. “Through this storms project, not only did every sixth-grade student learn all that is involved in research, but they also learned about script writing, using a green screen, and delivering information with inflection and enthusiasm.”
“They gained a greater understanding and appreciation for what it takes to create a newscast and now the mystery of the JP Morning Show has been revealed,” added Puckett.
Sixth-grader Cora Palanski is one of the students who gained further understanding of show production.
“It helped me understand how the students who produce the JP Morning Show do that, how they use a monitor for their script and use different backgrounds,” said Palanski.
The students’ enthusiasm for the project was evident and they were eager to share their thoughts about the project.
“This project was a lot of fun and different from other projects,” said Maddie Miles. “It was a good way to capture the facts and present them.”
“It was a lot of work but it was fun to do,” added Lola Pucci. “It was really fun practicing our scripts before we recorded.”
About the JP Studio
The studio was created during the 2016-17 school year. Librarian Beth Puckett wrote a grant for funding from the Monroe #1 BOCES School Library System and was able to repurpose an area in the library workroom to create a permanent studio for the school. The JP Morning Show’s morning announcement were already being broadcast in the school, but the space wasn’t ideal and the backdrop was simply cabinets. The grant helped the school enhance what it already had. The walls were painted with green-screen paint and microphones, studio lights, a second camera and a soundboard were added. They started using the Wirecast program more extensively. By the end of 2017, they started broadcasting from the new JP Studio.
Puckett’s vision for the studio was to not only use it every morning for the JP Morning Show, but for students and staff to have a recording space for school projects. During the 2017-18 school year, some eighth-graders were able to use the studio with their teacher to create final projects for their World War II research project. More plans to use the space are in the works.
