Marisa Strippoli Zimmerman – Project #3
Digiital Storytelling - PINOCCHIO
This lesson is designed to give Middle School students an opportunity to apply purposeful
language learning and technology. Creating a digital story in Italian is an effective way to
have their voices heard, work collaboratively and make a meaningful connection with their
peers.
THEME: This unit is about Pinocchio and the importance of truth and character. Many topics and
interdisciplinary connections can be generated for activities that may be done after reading
the story.
One area for exploration is Character Education. Middle school students are often
faced with many dilemmas such as lying and following rules.
Is lying ok?
Are white lies
acceptable in our culture? Do all parents lie to children to avoid the truth about Santa and
the Easter Bunny? Discussion and brainstorming will be done in class.
TASK: Students will engage in conversations and exchange their opinions and feelings regarding
each chapter.
The students will also demonstrate an understanding of the perspective of the
Italian culture though this activity stemming from the Pinocchio story.
They will understand and interpret the authentic text written by Carlo Collodi with a digital
story using the appropriate images. Students will present their final projects to the class.
GOALS: The unit integrates the following five goals, 1) Students will communicate in Italian 2)
Students will gain knowledge and understand the Italian culture. 3) Student will connect with
another discipline such as Character Education and acquire information in regards to lying,
responsibility and making choices. 4) Students will develop insight into the nature of the
Italian language and culture. 5) Students integrate their knowledge of technology with learned
language skills.
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT: Teacher and student will effectively use a storyboard prior to
creating a digital story. Students receive feedback from peers as they evaluate each
other’s work. Peer assessment is especially helpful when students are engaged in the
editing phase of the writing process. Peer editing fosters a non-threatening environment
and encourages students to develop monitoring skills.. Assessment for this unit will also
be based on In-Class review of their product created in the target language.
Students
will be given all assignments and requirements for the final project as well as a rubric
(see below) early in the unit to ensure that they understand what is expected of them and
stay on task.
Formative: Monitor use of target language in paired and group work and student participation
throughout the activity. Homework will be given for students to learn past tense verbs (passato
prossimo) often used in fairytales.
Summative: “Digital Storytelling” be given when the unit has ended to focus on their
achievement and the student’s development of oral proficiency and progress in attaining the
above goals. This will serve as their formal assessment after they have interpreted the story,
received feedback for their peers and presented it to the class via a digital story.
RESOURCES: www.pinocchio.it was an authentic, invaluable and comprehensive website for
information available in four languages. Library media center, laptops, art supplies,
www.flenj.org, www.njgov/education,
Technology
Integration
Targeted
Standard
s
Peer Evaluation Form – 8th grade Italian
Nome:
Data:
Is the purpose clear?
YES NO
Does it have a beginning, middle, and end?
YES NO
Can I understand it?
YES NO
One thing I like about this piece...
One thing I would change....
Laptop-WWW
access,
overhead
projector,
Epson
projector
1.1
1.2
1.3
2.2
2.1
3.2
Rubric for Final Project- Digital story
4
Pronunciation
Accurate throughout
Fluency
Smooth
Comprehensibility Easily understood
Vocabulary
Perfomance
Creativity
Extensive use of targeted
vocab.
Lively, enthusiastic, good
eye contact
Creative, original, well
illustrated
3
Understandable
Fairly smooth
Understood
Some use of target
vocab.
General enthusiasm
Some creativity, neat
2
Some errors
Unnatural
Difficult to
understand
Minimal use
1P
Poor pronunciation
Hesitant
incomprehensible
Little enthusiasm
Reads from cards, no eye
contact
No creativity, incomplete
Simple, lacking
creativity
Fails to use