Creating Book Trailers with iMovie

Since implementing our iPads in the classroom we have been busy experimenting with how they can help us create exciting and individualised content. The iPads have actually given us more time to work on things when we have a spare minute without running around looking for a spare MacBook or iPad.

So, one thing I've been wanting to do for quite a while is to create Book Trailers for a book we've been reading in class. We have been reading Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce and the children have loved every part of it. A truly wonderfully book that comes highly recommended and can be used to access so many parts of the curriculum.

I gave the children the task of creating a book trailer based around the story of Damian and the money he finds in his hermitage.  The book has been turned into a movie - you can watch the trailer - here We actually used the movie trailer to help us structure our book trailers.

The children were incredibly enthused about this project and it was a great way to end a superb terms work based around this great story.  

The iPads were dished out and the planning stage began. The children watched some of the book trailers from The World Book Day website to find out what makes a good one. - Watch some here 

This is something we tend to do with every piece of work we complete; look what is already out there and make a list of key features to help guide us when create our own unique work.

The children used the storyboard on iMovie to help them plan their trailer and when they had a clear plan of what they needed to film, off they went.

Now, here is where the 1:1 iPads come into their own. I could actually have an entire class doing this all at once! Something I've never been able to do before. 

I've created short films and trailers before with children, but the process becomes a long one with some children often left out at certain points in the creation process as we'd not got enough hardware.

It was great to see so many children activity involved in creating something on their own, but within a small group. They were using the whole school to film their trailers - outside and inside the classroom. Because the storyboard gave them the structure, they were able to know what shots they required instantly, without going back into the classroom for a hand written plan.  

What I loved was watching them edit on the go, watching back clips of films and then reshooting or clipping parts.  Another pleasing thing I observed was how they were sharing video clips via email to different members of the group to save time and to share good clips.

The children were also sharing their videos using Edmodo to get next steps from their whole class. I could see them building on other peoples work as well. "Oh I like that, let's do that!"  

The children have spent two days creating their book trailers and some are almost ready, but I really want them to make sure that the final trailer has a clear story running through it. Again, we've been using technology to create something that looks good, quickly and efficiently, but ultimately it must still engage the watcher.

This is something we must always remember when using technology, it all looks impressive, but if the final outcome doesn't work, then there was not much point in using it.

Both my books are on sale on Amazon Kindle, Google Books and Kobo for digital download. 

Amazon - Pause, Rewind My Teacher: A Flipped Approach to Learning

Amazon - Technology is a tool to be used not an outcome

The books detail all my work to date around flipped classrooms primary schools.  

I've also been invited to present at The Digital Education Show in London on Tuesday 30th June alongside some great names like Sir Ken Robinson, Sugata Mitra and many others - Find out more.