Sadly, the current educational climate is one that is centered around standardized testing, even in early education. Because of this, teachers or administrators who want to add filmmaking to their early education curriculum may be met with push back. Use this blog post to demonstrate the benefits filmmaking has for young minds.
1. Improve School Performance
Dr. James Catterall, a researcher from UCLA, conducted a longitudinal study that found that young children, especially at-risk youth, who are exposed to the dramatic arts are less likely to drop out of school and more likely to participate in community service. Exercising the right brain has been shown to improve academics in several studies and filmmaking is a great way to accomplish this. If you want children to continue their education, teach them to make movies.
2. Cultivate Creativity
Every step of the filmmaking process involves higher levels of creativity. Our young children live in a world that attempts to socialize them. Walk in a straight line, quiet in the classroom, sit still, etc. When young children walk into filmmaking class, they are free to explore their creative minds. Odyssey of the Mind is one organization that promotes creative problem solving as a means to explore the true potential of a child's mind. Filmmaking is a way to make this level of creative curriculum available to every child in the classroom.
3. Practice Patience
When a child is first introduced to filmmaking, they likely have no idea how complex their favorite show or movie is to create. Through the process of filmmaking, children learn patience. They must complete each step before proceeding to the next and they may not see the results of their hard work for months. Teaching patience to young children allows them to carry this important skill throughout their remaining school years and into life.
4. Improve Communication
Every aspect of filmmaking exposes children to new vocabulary and new styles of communication. Children are forced to explore colloquialisms, tone, and non-verbal communication. Allowing children to write their own scripts, create their own sets, and film their own angles encourages them to explore communication in a whole new and exciting way.
5. Something for Everyone
Filmmaking has a place for everyone. Adding filmmaking to your curriculum is a great way to urge young students to learn about themselves and their comfort zones. Some children enjoy the spotlight and will gravitate towards the leading role in the film. Others will hone their skills behind the camera, discovering new shots and lighting angles. The end product is a film in which every child can participate and of which they are proud.
Are you considering adding filmmaking to your early education curriculum? If so, the iOgrapher Cinematic Filmmaker Kit is an affordable addition to the classroom.
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