High School Chemistry, Ecology, and Physical Science: iMovie, iPhoto, and iTunes
Energize Chemistry With
Electrical Energy Infomercials
This project is designed to allow students to explore different ways
of generating electricity. They then transform their research into an
infomercial made with iMovie. This approach allows students to
combine facts with creativity as music, scripts, photography, and
video are combined with a traditional chemistry topic.
Project Description
Students work in pairs or small groups to research a method of generating electricity.
Students use the Internet and other resources to collect facts, statistics, images, music,
and video clips about their method. They import images into iPhoto and audio into
iTunes. They use their research to identify three advantages and three disadvantages of
that method of generating electricity, and then make a recommendation on expanding
or eliminating that technology in the future. They check their research and write a
script and storyboard for a three- to five-minute infomercial about the electrical
generation technique they researched.
After their script and storyboard are approved, each student group creates an iMovie
project for their infomercial. They can use a digital video camera to shoot their own
video clips or use a digital camera to take photos. They combine the media they
collected, record narration, and add titles, transitions, and other elements.
The whole class views the finished movies. Students have become expert at one
method of generating electricity and have learned some general information about
several others. Students then evaluate all of the information presented to create a
report recommending how a community in their state should generate electricity in
the future.
Outcomes
After completing this project, students will be able to:
• Explain what electricity is and how it is produced using one specific technique.
• Present three advantages and three disadvantages of their chosen technology.
• Make a recommendation on expanding or reducing the use of their technology in
the future.
• Use the results of their own and other groups’ research to make a recommendation
about meeting the power needs of a community.
©2003 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. For classroom use only.
Energize Chemistry With Electrical Energy Infomercials
Technology Skills
After completing this project, students will be able to:
• Use the Internet to research a topic and save information and media.
• Use iTunes to import audio to use in an iMovie project.
• Use iPhoto to import, edit, and organize images to use in an iMovie project.
• Use iMovie to create a three- to five-minute infomercial.
Assessment Suggestions
• The iMovie projects can be assessed by the classroom teacher for content and
quality. They can also be judged by an independent team of teachers to present an
award for the best overall project for each class.
• The report can be a take home test, comprised of a position paper written by the
students in which they recommend how a community in their state can meet their
own power needs using a combination of the techniques presented in class.
Students can use their own research as well as the information they learned from
other student projects.
• Intermediate assignments can include documented research and the completed
script and storyboard.
Tools and Resources
Internet
iLife How-To Guides: http://www.apple.com/education/ilife/howto/
Tools
Macintosh computers, digital video camera (optional), digital camera (optional),
Internet connection, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes
Special thanks to Bill Grosser, Chemistry instructor, for contributing this project.
©2003 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. For classroom use only.
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