School project, documentary. Advice needed? Also editing software and such

[N.Bailey]

My kids (8th grade) have an upcoming project. The project has to be based on something that's made a difference in history. Hitler wasn't allowed! I guess they're trying to stay positive? My kids didn't want to do Hitler, but someone did.

My kids wanted to do The Boston Tea Party, but I'd seen online that the museum in Boston is closed for renovation until sometime in '06, so that's out. I'm kinda glad too because I don't feel like traveling that far.

Now that I have a bit of a say in the matter, I was thinking about the Battle of Gettysburg or the Gettysburg Address, or perhaps the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. It's not too far to travel to Philly and DC, but Gettysburg would be the closest. It's the least appealing to the kids though. To date, they've not begun to study the Civil War. I'm shocked at that because it's all we covered in 7th and 8th when I was in school.

Here is the problem. My kids can get a video camera at school and a laptop. I'm not sure what programs are on the laptop. I have absolutely NO experience editing video either. Does anyone know how to add sound and or music to video after it's been shot? Is there a program I can get for my desktop to make it easier? I'm sure we'll shoot well over an hour's worth of footage, but then need to narrow it to 10 minutes. How do I know if I have a video capture card? Is that pretty standard today, or would I have had to have specifically ordered one of those? Do I need a special program to burn this documentary to DVD once I get to that point? I'm not sure they'll even have a DVD player, but I am definitely having the kids find out.

I'm in central Pennsylvania, do any of you have any other suggestions of historic ideas of something we could do that's not too far away? The project isn't due until December, but I think we need to start getting our ducks in a row for this one.

Thanks for any help you can offer. Oh, and btw, they're working as a team on this.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well don't now if your kids are girls, but that is my interest. Women's sufferage movement, Alice Paul & Lucy Burns.

 

[Papa Deuce]

www.muvee.com

It doesn't get ANY easier.

 

[Cindy B]

You can do Valley Forge Park. Its not Gettysburg, but very interesting and free. Its a beautiful park, and great places/things to see.

Theres a visitors center in there with artifacts, and if you time it right the foliage is gorgeous as well.

 

[mickey65]

You could do something like Greg Brady did with his home movie about the pilgrams

 

[N.Bailey]

Well don't now if your kids are girls, but that is my interest. Women's sufferage movement, Alice Paul & Lucy Burns.

Thanks for the suggetion, but I have a boy and a girl. I don't think my son would be too interested in doing the Women's movement. Actually, they wanted to Walt Disney! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

 

[N.Bailey]

www.muvee.com

It doesn't get ANY easier.

I liked this program and will consider it. Do you know how to tell if you've got a video capture card? I'm thinking the laptops must have them if that's what they're giving the kids. I have Windows XP media and can hook cable up. I'm just not sure that means I have this card though.

While it would probably be a lot of work, we probably could record voice in an audio format (MP3 if I can figure it out and wav if I can't). It would take a lot of work to get the timing down pat though, but not impossible. The kids aren't allowed to be in the video, but they'd need to talk. We could also put titles up and just use music, that could work too.

 

[N.Bailey]

You can do Valley Forge Park. Its not Gettysburg, but very interesting and free. Its a beautiful park, and great places/things to see.

Theres a visitors center in there with artifacts, and if you time it right the foliage is gorgeous as well.

I thought of Valley Forge a bit ago. I grew up in and around the Lancaster area, so I've got a general knowledge of that area.

 

[kendall]

Moving away from the civil war theme, here are some ideas - thinking of people and products that have impacted our culture ...
Milton Hershey -Hershey's Chocolate
Crayola Crayon - located in Easton, PA
Martin Guitar - Nazareth, PA
Bethlehem Steel (now gone...) - Bethlehem, PA (you could use Billy Joel's song Allentown for the sound track)

Good luck!

 

[N.Bailey]

You could do something like Greg Brady did with his home movie about the pilgrams

Didn't the Brady's have to make those costumes? If you'd know me, you'd know why the is so appropriate!

I have thought about going to some re-enactments though.

 

[N.Bailey]

Moving away from the civil war theme, here are some ideas - thinking of people and products that have impacted our culture ...
Milton Hershey -Hershey's Chocolate
Crayola Crayon - located in Easton, PA
Martin Guitar - Nazareth, PA
Bethlehem Steel (now gone...) - Bethlehem, PA (you could use Billy Joel's song Allentown for the sound track)

Good luck!

They'd suggested Milton Hershey when I told them Walt Disney was out of the question because we wouldn't be there before December.

I like the Bethlehem Steel though. That's pretty original!

One little girl is conducting an interview with a person who served in the military with Elvis Presley. I thought that was pretty original too. In her case, she's allowed to be in her documentary.

Lots of great ideas!

 

[kendall]

A couple more come to mind...

Jim Thorpe - Jim Thorpe, PA
Appalachian Trail -various entry points
Harry Houdini - Houdini Museum - Scranton, PA
coal mine industry - Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, PA


I grew up in eastern PA in the Pocono Mountains, so it is fun to remember and think about all these places again!

 

[golfgal]

What about something to do with NASA, the race to the moon, etc.? Do you have to actually go and shoot footage or can you use footage that is already taken-you could use the Earth to the Moon series or information from Kennedy Space Center.

Some other ideas could be using an invention that shaped history. Two that really come to mind are the invention of antibiotics and the computer, two things have have had a HUGE impact on our lives.

 

[Judy from Boise]

If you have a friend who owns an Apple computer, all of what you are talking about is very easy ! We bought an iMac this summer on the advice of these boards, and we are LOVING it ! My DD is consumed with making movies, slide shows, CD's etc.

 

[N.Bailey]

What about something to do with NASA, the race to the moon, etc.? Do you have to actually go and shoot footage or can you use footage that is already taken-you could use the Earth to the Moon series or information from Kennedy Space Center.

Some other ideas could be using an invention that shaped history. Two that really come to mind are the invention of antibiotics and the computer, two things have have had a HUGE impact on our lives.

The material for this project has to be their own. A term paper was an option I guess, but my kids chose not to do that. If they did the paper, they had to do those individually and their grade wouldn't be as high I guess UNLESS the report blows the teacher away. An option for kids who can't travel I guess though?

If you have a friend who owns an Apple computer, all of what you are talking about is very easy ! We bought an iMac this summer on the advice of these boards, and we are LOVING it ! My DD is consumed with making movies, slide shows, CD's etc.

I've heard many good things about the Apple computers. I don't know a single person locally who has one though.

 

[N.Bailey]

We've talked about it some more today and my kids are kinda sold on visiting Philly. My daughter liked the idea of following the Declaration or Constitution from Philly to DC, but I might have talked her into doing Philly as the birthplace of America? Adding Betsy Ross's home, and the presentation of the flag at Independence Hall. We could cover the Liberty Bell and Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson along with the Constitution, and the Declaration all in one. It's a lot to cover in 10 minutes though! That's what they're studying though and that's where their interest lies right now. I could also satisfy my craving for a Philly cheesesteak! LOL

I would be interested in more of the technical aspects of it all if anyone is knowledgeable though?