Artifact 1

Stock Characters in Theatre is an activity for teachers to use with third through fifth graders that explores why stock characters are used in the media and how to overcome stereotypes.

Context - This project was created at Appalachian State University during the spring semester of 2001. This web page was created using Netscape Composer. I created this artifact as a part of my Media, Literacy, Technology Class, This web page provides teachers with instructions to an activity that deals with stereotypes in the media.

Impact - Children at this age are very impressionable and are greatly influenced by the media. This activity gives teachers an opportunity to talk about stereotypes and the dangers of their influence. We hope to use the NC Standard Course of Study as a guideline to the goals of the activity. As teachers we hope to use this project to pull from many different sources to accomplish not stereotyping others in the classroom and society. This activity can be used by teachers to involve students in theatre, healthy living, and developing computer skills.

Alignment - Through this activity, students will be asked to analyze the information they are given by sharing their first impressions of the pictures. They will then be asked to communicate their results in the form of a scene or story that will be shared with their classmates and perhaps other classes (Tech Comp 4A). Using the movie Jack, and the pictures from the magazines, technology will be integrated into the teaching of this activity. Student expression will occur using technology through the video taping of the scenes and the picture taking of silly classmates. Several different forms of media and technology will be used to support the learner. Their use of video and technology will be assessed during the project and with the final outcome (Tech Comp 4C). Competency 6A is met because a permission slip will be sent home to make sure that every parent is aware that their child is being video taped in class. The teacher would discuss with the students the need for the permission slips. When the students are analyzing the pictures and the video of Jack, the students are asked to explain what the ads really appeal to. it uses not only magazine clippings but also video to help the students reach a better understanding of how common stereo types are present in media. Magazine clippings were chosen to be used because none of the students would know anything about the people in the clippings. The point that people are not always what they appear can then be made (INTASC #6)