Editing Emotions Lesson Plan

Level: Grades 5-9

Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education MediaSmarts

Duration: 2-3 hours

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & CREATE: A Digital Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

Overview

In this lesson, students learn about the history of film editing and how shot composition, juxtaposition of images and the use of rhythm and repetition in film editing can affect the emotional impact of a film. Students begin by watching a video on the basics of film editing and answering questions to aid their comprehension. They then view and analyze a slideshow demonstrating basic ways in which the "building blocks" of film editing can affect a film's emotional impact, and discuss how this can affect a film's rating. Finally, students create their own film and/or storyboard, using the editing techniques they've learned to produce different emotional effects with the same collection of shots.

Learning Outcomes

Students will :

  • Learn about the history and practice of film editing
  • Understand how film editing can affect the emotional impact of a film
  • Learn about film ratings
  • Understand how the emotional impact of a film affects its rating
  • Learn about and practice storyboarding
  • Practice film editing
  • Create and share a media product.

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit