Cross-curricular Extension Activity: Language and the Arts

Working in groups of three, produce a news clip for the first weather forecast from Mars. You may present your news clip "live" or you may produce a multimedia clip to be played on your classroom computer.

Planning Guide

  1. Get your facts straight! The first weather report from Mars will be a breaking news story. You must ensure that your news clip is accurate. Visit the Phoenix Mars Mission section of the Canadian Space Agency web site to conduct your research. What background information needs to be presented so Canadians will understand the significance of the event? Where will the weather forecast originate? Why? Research the weather conditions on Mars. Record your facts.
  2. Write your news clip script. Remember that this is a short news clip, not a full length documentary.
  3. Storyboard your news clip. What design elements will you need? Will you need graphics? Where will you find them? Will you need to design your own? What tools will you need to do so? Will you need sounds or music? Where will you find them? Will you need to create your own? How will you record them? For any audio or visual elements you are using be sure to read the copyright notice; are you allowed to use your chosen graphics or music for educational purposes? Decide how any sound or graphics you are using will be integrated with your script.
  4. Find/create your design elements.
  5. Produce the news clip. You may perform your weather report "live" or you may produce it as a slideshow on the computer. If you are producing a computerized slideshow you may wish to use any software applications your school has licensed, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, or you may find excellent free resources on the Internet, such as Microsoft Photo Story (a free download).
  6. "Broadcast" your news clip. As a class design a rubric to use in evaluating your news clips. Suggested criteria to include are accuracy, authenticity, effectiveness of multimedia elements, and clarity and precision of communication. Perform live or play your Martian Weather Report news clip for your classmates, who will evaluate your finished product using the rubric created by the class.