Final Project: Presentation to Students

Session 1: Screenings of Iron Jawed Angels clip, youtube videos, Animoto video

Hello students,

Last class, we finished watching the PBS documentary One Woman One Vote (1996) about the women’s suffrage movement. As we discussed, a documentary is a kind of film that tells a true story. It is kind of like a non-fiction book. People at PBS put together lots of different of film footage and different people’s stories to make a film that shows us what happened. This documentary is one representation of the women’s suffrage movement, which means it is one account or version of this event. Other people can put together pictures, footage, and stories in a different way to make something different. Also, they can use different mediums. A medium is what we use to make a story like film or pictures. Today we are going to look at some different mediums and different representations of the women’s suffrage movement. As we watch, pay attention to how these representations of one story are the same and how they are different.

First, let's look at a clip from a movie called Iron Jawed Angels. This movie was made in 2004, and it aired on HBO. It is what we call historical fiction, which means that it is based on a true story but parts of it are made up.




Now, let's look at some examples of videos from youtube. These videos were made by regular people, not professional movie-makers!





Finally, here is a video I made using Animoto. It's very easy!


As a class, let’s discuss how these representations are alike and how they are different. What mediums are used? What kind of music are used? Does each one look modern or old-fashioned?


For homework, I would like you each to answer the following questions in a blog post:

Reflection Questions:
1. Using our class discussion today to help you, choose two of the four representations of the women’s suffrage movement that we watched in class and discuss how they are alike and different. You should include the following points:
• What is the medium (movie, pictures, documentary etc)?
• What kind of music is used?
• Does it look modern or old-fashioned?


You should write 1-2 paragraphs for this question.

2. Now think about these same two representations and compare and contrast how each made you feel. Did you feel sad? Did you feel proud? Did you feel empowered? (1-2 paragraphs)

3. Finally, think about all of the representations we watched in class today. Which one did you like the best? Please provide at least three reasons to support your answer.

Session 2: Using Microsoft Photo Story and Project Decisions

Hello students,


The past couple of days we have been talking a lot about women of the suffrage movement. I want to move on to another significant woman in history, Rosa Parks. This time, though, you are going to make the representation using a different medium, Microsoft Photo Story. With Microsoft Photo Story, we can tell a story using images, sound, and text.

Here is your task:
1. Form a group of 3.
2. Choose a version of the Rosa Parks story to use in your project. You can choose one of the following representations:
• Interview with Rosa Parks found on Democracy Now!
• Children’s books (Rosa by N. Giovanni and If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold)
• Film (The Rosa Parks Story (2003))

3. You will use this representation to make your own digital photo story using Microsoft Photo Story. After you choose which medium you want to use as your source, summarize the story that is told in your medium.
4. Today we will write our rough drafts of the text we will include in our photo stories. Tomorrow we will work on finding images, music, and/or narration to go with our text.
5. Tonight, I want you to email me a rough draft of the text you will include in your Microsoft Photo Story. Remember that this is a rough draft. You will be able to make changes tomorrow if you want!

Session 3: Microsoft Photo Story Creation and Presentation

Hello students,

Today we are going to put create our Microsoft Photo Stories! Check out this website to get specific directions about how to make your own Microsoft Photo Story.

At the end of this session, we will present our photo stories!


Now that we have finished presenting, please answer the following questions in a blog post for homework:
1. Choose one student presentation (not your own) that you enjoyed and give three reasons why you liked it. (1-2 paragraphs)
2. How did this project influence your understanding of history? Can there ever be a “true” account or representation of history? Why or why not? (2 paragraphs)
3. What did you like about this project? What would you have changed? (2 paragraphs)