Classroom Activity One

Like most kids, I hated going to school. I think I can relate to what a lot of kids go through on a day to day basis in high school. Socially, I didn’t have much of a hard time, being a “Varsity Jock,” but I got made fun of just like any other kid. I also had all the same pier pressure, if not more. I was a good kid. I still, to this day, have never gotten drunk, high or even tried a cigarette. These things don’t bother me in any way, I just made up my mind that I would never smoke, and I might drink when I’m of age.
Some kids don’t have the will power to do what I’ve done. They have to fit in, and this is the only way that they know how to. I not only want to teach, but I also want to help. I want to help kids get through one of the most difficult times of their life, high school.
My lesson would have two parts and would span over a couple weeks and be no longer than two months. I would first have my students write a paper about a time where someone they know or knew did something to “fit in.” After I review their paper, I will split the class into teams of 3-5 students that have related topics. Then, I’d have each team make a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on what their character should have done instead of trying to fit in. A PSA is a commercial that focus on “good messages.” Stay in school, don’t do drugs, use protection, get tested for STD’s and HIV Aids, would be examples of PSA’s. Large networks like NBC and ABC are required to run a certain number of these ads a month.
This would be a lesson for kids in a broadcast arts magnet program, or a school that used Mac computers and would fund a video production elective or set of electives. There would need to be at least 3 cameras, 5 computers, video editing software and other various items.