Video+Resource+Writing

Strategy Name**: Video Research **(Technology Strategy) **
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 * Strategy Description**: This strategy uses United Streaming video as a source of research for content area writing.


 * Description/Name of the class in which you used the strategy**: First Grade Writing

I wanted my students to get some research and facts on their chosen animals, but I didn’t want their reading abilities or levels to inhibit the types of literature and facts they would encounter. Many of the nonfiction literature at their level was dry, repetitive text that didn’t give actual facts about the animal and its habitat.
 * Rationale**:


 * Procedure**:
 * The students chose from a list of animals that they would like to research and write about.
 * I downloaded videos off of united streaming for each of the animals chosen.
 * Students watched their videos independently, and then wrote down 3-5 facts they learned from the video.
 * Students implemented these facts into their paragraph writing.


 * Diverse Learners:**
 * I was really impressed with the vocabulary some of my struggling students used. I don’t feel they would have utilized or encountered the vocabulary had they read content literacy at their level.
 * My visual learners used what they say through the video to fuel their research, and my auditory learners latched onto the content based vocabulary fed to them. All of my students loved being able to watch a video about their favorite animal, and it fueled their motivation and purpose for writing. I had a few students that got too side tracked by the video and couldn’t focus on specific facts. If their background knowledge on the animal was limited, some of the vocab words didn’t stick.


 * Potential Issues:**
 * I would give them more time and multiple times to view the video. One time might not give them enough comprehension.
 * Be sure to prep them on how to summarize the video and not just copy down word for word what the narrator says.

Videos speak to all ages, and United Streaming is a limitless tool. I could see this working for all grade levels and content areas. Upper level students may have more sources, but it would be a great resource or visual aide.
 * Implementation Suggestions:**


 * Resources:**
 * www.unitedstreaming.com
 * Seaton, O. (personal communication, April, 2005) ||