Short Narrative Video Clips

6th Grade ELA 2

Chris Howard & Nora Green

Problem Identified: Students wrote narrative as if it was a summary, not using details to build a vivid story

Hypothesis: If we coupled video clips with the accompanying text, students would use more sensory details in their writing to build a narrative.

Data Collection: After watching a video clip students drafted the scene, then color-coded their writing to determine which components (action, dialogue, thinking, and description) were used. In revision, they added details by adding missing components to make their writing more vivid.

Actionable Step: Here’s how to use this tech tool in your classroom tomorrow: Have students view any short narrative video clip and then act as the author to write the story in the clip.

Overall Findings/Impact: The majority of the students wrote with much more detail including action, thinking, description, and dialogue. Their writing increased in length from about ½ a page to well over a page.