The goal of this project is to create a Public Service Announcment (P.S.A.).
A Public Service Announcement (P.S.A.). is educational TV commercial.
Students will use a non-linear editing program (such as Windows Movie Maker).
Note: The best projects will be published to YouTube!
The topic of the P.S.A. will be global climate change.
The P.S.A. must include sections on...
- Evidence of global climate change
- How you are causing of global climate change
- Solutions, ways you can slow your contributions to global climate change
The video should be a series of pictures and words that describe and illustrate each of these.
Images can be found by searching using Google's image search. Turn on "Strict Filtering" first.
When you get results, switch "Large". These will look best in your video.
Tip: Don't pick images bigger than 800kb or you will use up all your storage space!
First, create a new folder, with a standard filename, in your home directory.
Example: 20080226climatechange2wissneraaron
This is your project folder. You will be handing in this entire folder.
As you save each image, rename it with a good name, such as: 3120 Evidence Melting Glaciers.
Save about seven (7) images for each of the three sections.
Insert Pictures
When you are done finding images, "Import Pictures" into MovieMaker and put them in the storyboard.
Save the MovieMaker project in your project folder using a standard filename.
You will probably need five titles to split up your PSA.
You could use the following titles:
- Climate Change!
- Evidence!
- Causes!
- Solutions!
- You can make a difference!
Make each title about one second long.
You should NOT put your name on any titles. There are no "credits" on PSAs.
Each image needs an "Ease In" and "Ease Out" effect. You could try alternating them.
Insert transitions between whichever slides you want. Most people put trasitions in between each section.
Adjust the transitions to the speed you want. Use timeline view, and zoom all the way in to adjust them.
Now, adjust the length of your clips so they add up to EXACTLY 60 seconds. (not 59 or 61)
Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need: CHECKLIST.
Save the video to computer using a standard filename into your project folder.
Use high-quality video (small).
Raise your hand to show your teacher when it is all ready to play.
Insert titles ON the images. Use "Subtitle" animation. You can change that later if you want.
- The titles should describe what the picture is showing, for example: stronger hurricanes.
- The words should be big, colorful, and very easy to read.
- They should be visible long enough to read them out loud two times.
- The image should still be clearly visible behind the words.
Make sure the titles appear ONLY while that image is visible.
Add music to the movie. Any school appropriate song may be used.
Storage to bring in music
- CD - store bought or burned, something that would play in a regular CD player
- Flash Drive - with wav, mp3, wma or asf files
- Digital Music Player - We've had zero luck with iPods, and Zune's are tough to get working.
File formats that work in MovieMaker
- wav
- mp3
- wma
- asf
Ask your teacher how to get the music files into your project folder.
The law of the U.S.A. says that it is OK to use up to 30 seconds of any song, and publish it, as long as its for educational purposes. If you want yours considered for the internet you CAN NOT use more than 30 seconds from any song.
Adjust the volume level for each clip, so they are all equal in loudness.
Use "Fade Out" at the end.
Check all of the "Point Deductions" and "Reminders" below.
The best of projects will be published to the Internet for others to see, and to learn from.
Now you are going to save it TWO ways, using these three steps:
Step 1Go to File -> Save Project As
Make sure you are in your project folder, example: 20080226climatechange2wissneraaron... (not "My Videos")
Save it with a short file name like this...: 2h4wa10
- 2 = trimester
- h = just because
- 4 = hour
- wa = backwards initials
- 10 = computer number
Step 2
In MovieMaker, open the "3. Finish Movie" list (if it is closed) and then click: Save to My Computer
- Using the same short file name, example: 2h4wa10
- Set it to your project folder
- High Quality Video (small) - 320 x 240 variable bit rate.
- Raise your hand when you are done so your teacher can see it.
Step 3
You are going to copy and paste the entire project folder into the "Hand In" folder.
- Start -> My Documents, then right-click on your project folder and copy
- Click on the UP button, then...
- My Computer -> Classes -> Computer Lab -> Hand In -> (your class) -> (climatechange folder)
- Then, right-click and paste. It will take a few seconds, depending on how much is in your project folder.
Titles...
- On EVERY picuture
- BIG
- Few Words
- Title Caps
- Accurate
- Great Contrasting Color
- Should Be Able to Read TWICE
- May extend onto two of the same pictures, ex. "Melting Glaciers" on two melting glacier pictures
- Correct Spelling
- Have someone else check your spelling, or open Word, and type in the phrases
Copyright © 2008 Aaron Wissner - Free to use for all nonprofit educational purposes.