90-second Newbery Films created by students; started by author James Kennedy

Kennedy, J. (2013, July 4). 25 successful 90-second Newbery videos. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://jameskennedy.com/2013/07/04/the-25-most-popular-90-second-newbery-videos-so-far/

Summary: These are 25 of the most popular student-created 90-second Newbery films.  James Kennedy created a contest for students to make films that cover the entire plot of a Newbery winner or honor book in approximately 90 seconds.  

Review:  These films are great to watch when teaching Newbery books.  They are fun and display creativity of a variety of genres.

Diversity: Some films include students of color. However, many of the Newbery books are white in general.

Suggestions for Teachers: Great to inspire students to do their own book projects. An engaging idea to foster reading the whole book, identifying key plot points, collaborating and creating.

1. Quantitative: N/A
2. Qualitative: Students with knowledge of the particular Newbery book will understand these films better. However, these students could be used as a pre-reading activity to build schema. They are mostly organized chronologically. Some films use the actual dialogue from the text itself. Depending on the book, the language could be contemporary or more from that period. Students will be able to make meaning with the visual context clues.

Content Areas: English, Drama

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.2
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3
Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Relevant links: James Kennedy

Subjects/Themes: English, Drama

Awards: N/A

Series Information: N/A

Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann

Luhrmann, B. (Director). (1996). Romeo + Juliet [Motion picture]. USA: 20th Century Fox.

Summary: This is a modern day adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic set in Venice Beach, CA.

Review:  This is a fantastic adaptation!  So engaging with the music, costumes.  Students love it.

Diversity: A predominantly White cast although Mercutio is Black and Tybalt is Latino.

Suggestions for Teachers: Great to use when teaching the play and also alongside Zeferelli's classic version.

1. Quantitative: N/A
2. Qualitative: Students with knowledge of the play will have a stronger understanding of this text. While the costumes and setting are largely contemporary, the language is Shakespeare's original. It is well-edited and students will make meaning based on the visual context clues.

Content Areas: English, Drama

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.2
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3
Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Relevant links: Wikipedia

Subjects/Themes: English, drama, Romeo and Juliet

Awards: See here.

Series Information: N/A

The Matrix film directed by The Wachowskis

Wachowski, L., & Wachowski, A. (Directors). (1999). The matrix [Motion picture]. US: Warner Bros.

Summary: Thomas Anderson leads a mundane life as an office worker by day and a hacker by night.  He meets Morpheus who convinces him that once he knows the truth, he will never want to return to his old life and will try to convince others to see the truth too.

Review:  While there are some violent scenes, this is an excellent film for high school students when grappling Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

Diversity: Talk about characters who do not fit the "norm". Here it is cool to be alternative. Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne are also men of color.

Suggestions for Teachers: Show clips of this film while teaching Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Read it with Malcolm X's "Learning to Read". What other texts talk about the truth being powerful?

Reading Level:

1. Quantitative: N/A
2. Qualitative: High interest and complex ideas. Students will be able to use this film to make meaning of Plato. Knowledge of computer hacking will help students make meaning. Overall, easy to follow.

Content Areas: English, Philosophy

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1
Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.2
Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3
Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Relevant links: Wikipedia, History Guide

Subjects/Themes: philosophy, Plato, English

Awards: See here.

Series Information: N/A

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries produced by Hank Green & Bernie Sue

Green, H., & Su, B. (Producers). (2012, April 9). My name is Lizzie Bennet [Show #1]. The Lizzie Bennet diaries. Podcast retrieved from http://www.pemberleydigital.com/the-lizzie-bennet-diaries/

Summary: This is a modern Pride and Prejudice with Lizzie Bennet a grad student in Mass Communications living at home with her parents. Mrs. Bennet is obsessed with marrying off all three of her daughters and is especially excited when millionaire and medical student Bing Lee moves into the neighborhood.

Review: A clever and engaging way to supplement teaching Jane Austen's masterpiece.

Diversity: In this vlog version, Charlotte is Asian and Bing Lee, Lizzie's love interest, is biracial.

Suggestions for Teachers: Each vlog is short and teachers could use clips to supplement reading assignments or for review.

Reading Level:

1. Quantitative: N/A
2. Qualitative: These videos are organized with Lizzie retelling various happenings in her household. She re-hashes these events by acting them out with her friend Charlotte. The story is organized chronologically. Vocabulary is largely contemporary and familiar. Students with knowledge of the plot of Pride and Prejudice will have greater interest and anticipation.

Content Areas: English

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2
Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3
Analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.7
Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e.g., recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version interprets the source text. (Include at least one play by Shakespeare and one play by an American dramatist.)

Relevant links: Teaching Books

Subjects/Themes: family, marriage, romance

Awards: 
2012 TV. com Best Web Series – Winner
2013 IAWTV Awards – Best Interactive Series – Winner
2013 Streamy Awards – Best Comedy Series – Nominee
2013 Streamy Awards – Best Actress in a Comedy – Ashley Clements – Nominee
2013 Streamy Awards – Best Actress in a Comedy – Julia Cho – Nominee
2013 Streamy Awards – Best Ensemble Cast – Nominee
2013 Streamy Awards – Best Writing – Bernie Su – Winner
2013 Streamy Awards – Best Interactive Series – Jay Bushman, Alexandra Edwards, Bernie Su– Winner
2013 Primetime Emmy Award – Original Interactive Program – Winner
2013 PGA Awards – Best Online Series – Nominee
2014 Streamy Awards – Best Drama Series – Winner
2014 Streamy Awards – Best Actor in a Drama – Daniel Vincent Gordh – Nominee
2014 Streamy Awards – Best Actress in a Drama – Ashley Clements – Winner

Series Information: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries series