Post Authored by Josh Whiting

Aaron Kammerman, School Technology Specialist at Hartvigsen School and The Jones Center, has been busy these last few weeks creating instructional videos for his teachers, as well as encouraging his teachers to make videos for their students. He recently compiled this inspiring list of ideas and reasons for teachers to make videos, and we are excited to share it with you!

Yesterday, I created a selfie video for my teachers, praising them for their efforts and encouraging them to reach out to me for continued support.  In that video I made a passionate plea that they make MORE VIDEOS.  I explained that kids are not missing out on the CONTENT as much as they are missing the CONTACT.

But Aaron, what can I take a video about?

• You walking to the mailbox to get the mail, explaining at the level of your students all about mail;

• You eating breakfast

  • Explaining about nutrition OR

  • Talking about the different foods OR

  • Talking about your morning routine OR

• You playing with your dog and/or cat or other pet;

• You feeding your pet, talking about it

• You washing the dishes, talking about cleanliness;

• At a table, you can show and tell a bunch of objects from around your house

  • Objects that are round

  • That are blue

  • That bring comfort

  • That are tools

  • A collection of yours

  • That are smooth

  • That are tiny

  • That make noise

  • That have lights

  • That smell

• You can talk about chores and show a chore

  • Vacuuming

  • Washing a counter

  • Cleaning a window

  • Sweeping

  • Dusting

  • Straightening couch cushions

  • Folding laundry

  • Making a bed

• You preparing a simple lunch, explaining the steps

• You taking a walk in the yard and noticing different things

• You getting in the car and putting on your seatbelt talking about safety

• You examining the contents of something

  • A toolbox

  • A kitchen drawer

  • A pantry

  • A bookcase

  • A movie collection

  • A cookie jar

  • A toy box

• You examining and discovering how something works

  • A flashlight

  • A light switch

  • An alarm clock

  • A hose

  • A shower

• You reading a book

  • A story book

  • A picture book

  • An eyewitness book with lots of pictures to talk about

  • A novel, then stop and talk about the theme or subject or whatever comes to mind

• You checking on the weather then choosing an appropriate outfit for the day

• You writing the letters of the alphabet

• You filling out a job application

• You doing a simple art or craft project

  • Make some slime or salt dough

  • Paint

  • Origami

  • Paper airplanes

  • Lego construction

  • Draw

  • Cutting construction paper

• You fixing something

  • A loose hinge

  • A loose wall plate

  • Changing a lightbulb

  • Changing a toilet paper roll

  • Grease a squeaky hinge

  • Repair a broken lego construction

• Go on a scavenger hunt throughout your house (Mary Imhoff’s idea)

  • Search for things or a certain color

  • Or certain shape

  • Or a particular letter

  • Or things that are rough

  • Or things that make you happy

  • Or things that are scary

• Go on a bug hunt or worm hunt

• Gather a bunch of objects

  • Count them

  • Sort them

  • More or less

  • Bigger or smaller

• Recruit a volunteer to interview you and model an interview

• Do yoga

• Do exercises

• Just talk about you

  • When you were in school

  • About a favorite teacher

  • About a hobby you enjoy

  • About your daily routine at “Home school”

  • About (almost) anything

• Recruit a volunteer and do something together in a video

  • Play a simple game

    • Ping pong

    • Hopscotch

    • Tic-tac-toe

    • Jacks

    • Chutes and ladders

  • Play a clapping hand game

  • Play jump rope

  • Role model positive social interactions

  • Sing.  Yes.  SING!

  • Talk about your similarities and differences (hair, height, etc)

  • Play catch with a ball

  • Play hot potato

• Compare two different things in a detailed way

  • Philips versus straight head screwdriver

  • Wooden versus metal spoon

  • Hardback versus soft cover book

  • Bike versus scooter

  • Different types of cereal

  • Different type of trees, plants, or flowers

  • Different pets

  • Two different types of food

  • Broom versus a mop

  • Two different pieces of jewelry

  • Two different pieces of clothing

  • Two different automobiles

• Tell some jokes

• Draw and explain your family tree

• Do  a science experiment (Mary’s idea again)

  • Celery in food-colored water

  • Planting a seed

  • Growing mold

  • Ramps and balls

• Put on a fashion show for different types of weather

The possibilities are endless.  Channel your inner Mr. Rogers and talk in detail about what you are doing on camera.  Verbally explore out loud.  Verbally wonder and ask questions. Notice the common thing in all the suggestions above:  YOU.  If you see an idea on youtube, copy it and do it yourself—the kids will like it better with you as the subject.

You can find more video ideas and instructions on Aaron’s website for his teachers: https://sites.google.com/granitesd.org/aaronssite/home/creating-videos. In his videos he makes frequent offers to help, but if you are not a teacher at his school and would like help with any of these tools for creating videos please reach out to your STS or LMETS, who will be just as happy to help you as Aaron is to help his teachers.