"Unspoken Expressions: Art & Tech Unveil!"

8th Grade

Project
4 weeks

"Unspoken Expressions: Art & Tech Unveil!"

Hieu Nguyen

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to provide 8th-grade students with an opportunity to explore and express the unspoken aspects of their identities through art and technology. By engaging in creative activities such as designing digital avatars, writing personal narratives, and producing podcasts, students will develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their peers. This project aims to foster a supportive community where students can share their stories, learn new skills, and celebrate the diverse voices within their classroom and beyond.

Learning goals

Students will explore and express the unspoken aspects of their identities through art and technology, developing skills in digital design, audio recording, and storytelling. They will collaborate to create a class blog, a podcast series, and a mural, fostering communication, creativity, and teamwork. By engaging with community partners and participating in workshops, students will enhance their self-expression and deepen their understanding of diverse perspectives. The project will culminate in a multimedia presentation and live events, encouraging reflection and dialogue about the hidden dimensions of identity.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.5: Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Products

Students will create a collaborative class blog featuring articles, reflections, and multimedia content that explore the unspoken aspects of their identities. They will produce a 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series' that includes audio stories and interviews, culminating in a live listening party. Additionally, students will design virtual avatars and a collaborative mural, both representing hidden facets of their identities, with the mural displayed in a local community center. A class anthology of written pieces from the workshops will also be published, showcasing their self-expressive narratives.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Digital Masks' day, where students create virtual avatars that embody the aspects of their identities they rarely share. Using art and coding software, students will design and animate these avatars, setting the stage for exploring self-expression through technology. This engaging start will spark curiosity and set a collaborative tone for the project, encouraging students to delve into the unspoken elements of their identities.

Exhibition

Students will host a live listening party for the 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series,' where they will present their audio stories and interviews with community members. This event will include a panel discussion, allowing students to engage with the audience and discuss the themes of identity and self-expression explored in their projects. The exhibition will also feature the collaborative mural, displayed at a local community center, providing a visual representation of the unspoken aspects of the students' identities.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Project Kickoff and Essential Question Introduction - Introduce the project and discuss the Essential Question: 'In what ways can we use art and technology to express the unspoken aspects of our identities and experiences?' to set the stage for exploration (15 min) Digital Masks: Concept Development - Students brainstorm and sketch ideas for their virtual avatars, focusing on aspects of their identities they rarely share (30 min)	Digital Masks: Design Workshop - Using art and coding software, students begin to design and create their virtual avatars, learning basic digital design skills (45 min)	Design Critique and Feedback Session - Students share their avatar designs with peers and provide constructive feedback, using the 'Feedback Wall' to post notes of encouragement and suggestions (20 min) Digital Masks: Refinement - Students refine their avatar designs based on peer feedback, enhancing their digital art skills (25 min)	Community Partner Introduction - Welcome a local author or poet who will lead a series of writing workshops, explaining the importance of storytelling in expressing hidden identities (15 min) Writing Workshop: Personal Narrative Drafting - Students begin drafting personal narratives that reveal hidden aspects of their identities, guided by the author or poet (30 min)	Audio Storytelling Basics - Introduce students to audio recording and editing techniques, focusing on podcast production skills necessary for the 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series' (20 min) Interview Techniques - Teach students effective interviewing techniques, preparing them for capturing community stories (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Finalized digital avatar designs representing hidden aspects of students' identities. 2. Written reflection on the avatar creation process to be published on the class blog.
Preparation	1. Ensure access to art and coding software (e.g., Tinkercad, Scratch, or similar) for avatar design. 2. Arrange for devices (laptops or tablets) for each student to use throughout the project. 3. Prepare a platform for the class blog (e.g., Google Sites or WordPress) and set up initial access and templates. 4. Create a feedback protocol for peer review sessions to guide constructive and supportive critique. 5. Organize an introductory presentation or resource material on digital art and basic coding skills.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Podcast Storyboarding - Students outline their podcast episodes, detailing the stories they wish to share and identifying key themes related to unspoken identities (20 min) Interview Practice - Role-play interviews with peers to refine questioning techniques, focusing on eliciting meaningful responses about hidden aspects of identities (25 min)	Sound Design Exploration - Introduce students to sound design concepts, experimenting with audio effects to enhance their podcast storytelling (20 min) Podcast Recording Session - Begin recording podcast episodes, applying interview techniques and sound design strategies to capture compelling stories (25 min)	Editing Workshop - Teach students basic audio editing skills to refine podcast recordings, ensuring clarity and impact in their storytelling (25 min) Feedback and Revision - Students exchange podcasts with peers for constructive feedback, using the 'Feedback Wall' for additional input on narrative and technical aspects (20 min)	Writing Workshop: Revision and Polishing - Guided by the author or poet, students revise and polish their personal narratives, preparing them for inclusion in the class anthology (25 min) Blog Publishing Introduction - Introduce students to the class blog platform, demonstrating how to publish articles and reflections related to their projects (20 min)	Class Blog Collaboration - Students work in teams to draft and publish blog entries, reflecting on their podcast experiences and personal narratives (25 min) Community Partner Podcast Recording - Record a podcast episode featuring the local author or poet, capturing insights on storytelling and self-expression (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Draft versions of personal narratives for the class anthology. 2. First set of articles and reflections posted to the class blog. 3. Initial audio recordings of personal narratives for the podcast series.
Preparation	1. Coordinate with the local author or poet to schedule and plan the writing workshops. 2. Ensure availability of writing materials and digital devices for drafting articles and reflections. 3. Set up recording equipment and software for podcast creation, including microphones and computers. 4. Develop guidelines and provide resources for crafting interview questions for podcast sessions. 5. Prepare art and coding software for avatar refinement, and set up the 'Feedback Wall' in the classroom.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Podcast Planning Session - Students outline their podcast episodes, deciding on themes, interviewees, and segment formats for the 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series' (45 min)	Audio Recording Workshop - Students learn advanced audio recording techniques and practice capturing high-quality sound for their podcast episodes (25 min) Interview Practice - Students pair up to conduct mock interviews, honing their questioning and listening skills (20 min)	Community Engagement - Students conduct interviews with community members, recording stories that highlight hidden aspects of identity (45 min)	Podcast Editing Basics - Students are introduced to audio editing software, learning how to cut, splice, and enhance their recordings for clarity and impact (25 min) Editing Practice - Students begin editing their recorded interviews, applying learned techniques to create a cohesive podcast segment (20 min)	Peer Review Session - Students share their edited podcast segments with classmates, providing and receiving feedback for improvement (20 min) Podcast Refinement - Students make revisions to their segments based on peer feedback, preparing them for final production (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed audio interviews and stories for the 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series' ready for editing and publication. 2. Drafts of personal narratives written during the author/poet workshop.
Preparation	1. Arrange for audio recording equipment and software for students to use during podcast production. 2. Coordinate with the local author or poet to conduct writing workshops focused on self-expression and storytelling. 3. Prepare guidelines and rubrics for students to use during their audio recording sessions and narrative writing.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Podcast Final Edits - Students make final edits to their podcast episodes, ensuring all technical and narrative elements are polished and ready for publication (25 min) Mural Creation: Sketching - Begin the collaborative mural project by sketching designs that represent the unspoken aspects of identities, using ideas developed throughout the project (20 min)	Mural Creation: Painting and Digital Integration - Students work together to paint and incorporate digital elements into the mural, applying both traditional and digital art techniques (45 min)	Podcast Series Publication - Publish the 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series' to the class blog, ensuring all episodes are accessible for the upcoming listening party (20 min) Blog Reflection Writing - Students write reflective blog posts about their experiences creating their podcast and mural, focusing on personal growth and insights (25 min)	Listening Party Preparation - Arrange the classroom for the live listening party, setting up audio equipment and preparing to share podcast episodes with the audience (15 min) Panel Discussion Planning - Students plan the panel discussion, preparing questions and topics related to identity and self-expression to engage the audience (30 min)	Live Listening Party and Panel Discussion - Host the listening party featuring the 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series,' followed by a panel discussion with students and community members (30 min) Final Reflection and Celebration - Students present their multimedia presentations, showcasing their learning journey and celebrating the diverse voices within the class (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Finalized 'Hidden Voices Podcast Series'. 2. Multimedia reflections compiled and ready to present. 3. Successful execution of the live listening party and panel discussion.
Preparation	1. Ensure all podcast episodes are recorded and edited, with necessary sound equipment available for the listening party. 2. Coordinate with the local community center for mural display and event setup. 3. Arrange seating and audio-visual equipment for the live listening party and panel discussion. 4. Gather feedback forms for audience members to provide constructive insights on student presentations.