Launch Mystery
Launch Mystery
Students will investigate how short documentaries build understanding through focus, structure, and visual evidence, then refine a filmable topic into a one-sentence focus statement and working hypothesis. They will compare evidence-gathering methods, draft interview or narration plans, and use peer critique plus teacher approval to finalize a methodology plan before moving into full pre-production.
Days 3 - 7
Build Evidence
Build Evidence
Students will gather documentary evidence through intentional filming, interview or narration capture, and daily production logs while checking whether their footage actually answers their focus statement. They will review evidence quality against rubric criteria, identify gaps in coverage or audio, use peer feedback to strengthen their method, and revise their shot list or interview plan before moving into editing.
Days 13 - 17
Analyze & Showcase
Analyze & Showcase
Students will analyze their footage and edit decisions to build evidence-based documentaries that clearly answer their original focus, acknowledge limits in their evidence, revise through peer critique, and prepare polished films and filmmaker talking points for the final screening and YouTube publication.
Days 18 - 22
Showcase
Showcase
Students will present their finished documentary films to an authentic audience, explain how their storytelling choices helped viewers understand a real person, place, idea, or experience, and complete a concise filmmaker reflection using evidence from their own work.
Days 23 - 24
Launch
Days 1–2
Day 1
๐ฌ Premiere Preview Clue Hunt
Launch
45m
Day 2
๐ Topic Pitch Speed Round
Deliverable
45m
Launch Mystery
Days 3–7
Day 3
๐ฌ Documentary Clue Wall
Launch
45m
Day 4
๐งญ Focus Statement Tuning
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 5
๐ค Interview or Narration Blueprint
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 6
๐๏ธ Method Plan Peer Review
Deliverable
45m
Day 7
โ
Approved Film Method Check
Assessment
45m
Research & Plan
Days 8–12
Day 8
๐งญ Story Map for Real Evidence
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 9
๐ค Interview and Audio Setup Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Day 10
๐ฌ Shot List and Evidence Tracker
Project Work
45m
Day 11
๐๏ธ Permissions and Production Calendar
Deliverable
45m
Day 12
โ
Proposal Greenlight Conference
Assessment
45m
Build Evidence
Days 13–17
Day 13
๐ฌ Coverage and Sound Check
Knowledge/Skill Building
30m
๐น Evidence Capture Block
Project Work
45m
Day 14
๐ค Interview and Narration Takes
Project Work
45m
Day 15
๐งพ Midpoint Evidence Review
Assessment
45m
Day 16
Day 17
๐ Gap-Fill Reshoot Plan
Deliverable
45m
Analyze & Showcase
Days 18–22
Day 18
๐ฌ Evidence Map from Selects
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 19
๐ง Pacing and Meaning Moves
Knowledge/Skill Building
35m
Day 20
โ๏ธ Rough Cut Revision Sprint
Deliverable
45m
Day 21
๐ ๏ธ Final Cut and Upload Package
Project Work
60m
Day 22
๐ฅ Documentary Screening Checkpoint
Assessment
45m
Showcase
Days 23–24
Day 23
๐ฌ POL Documentary Screening
Assessment
45m
Day 24
๐ผ๏ธ Best Frame Reflection Board
Deliverable
45m
April 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
14
Day 1
Launch
๐ฌ Premiere Preview Clue Hunt
15
Day 2
๐ Topic Pitch Speed Round
16
Day 3
Launch Mystery
๐ฌ Documentary Clue Wall
20
Day 4
๐งญ Focus Statement Tuning
21
Day 5
๐ค Interview or Narration Blueprint
22
Day 6
๐๏ธ Method Plan Peer Review
23
Day 7
โ
Approved Film Method Check
27
Day 8
Research & Plan
๐งญ Story Map for Real Evidence
28
Day 9
๐ค Interview and Audio Setup Lab
29
Day 10
๐ฌ Shot List and Evidence Tracker
30
Day 11
๐๏ธ Permissions and Production Calendar
May 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4
Day 12
โ
Proposal Greenlight Conference
5
Day 13
Build Evidence
๐ฌ Coverage and Sound Check
๐น Evidence Capture Block
6
Day 14
๐ค Interview and Narration Takes
7
Day 15
๐งพ Midpoint Evidence Review
11
Day 16
12
Day 17
๐ Gap-Fill Reshoot Plan
13
Day 18
Analyze & Showcase
๐ฌ Evidence Map from Selects
14
Day 19
๐ง Pacing and Meaning Moves
18
Day 20
โ๏ธ Rough Cut Revision Sprint
19
Day 21
๐ ๏ธ Final Cut and Upload Package
20
Day 22
๐ฅ Documentary Screening Checkpoint
21
Day 23
Showcase
๐ฌ POL Documentary Screening
25
Day 24
๐ผ๏ธ Best Frame Reflection Board