Half the Class Loves Video Camp. The Other Half Hates It. What Should I Do?

[jaysoon17]

I did a stop motion video project this week for my two week camp, and all the kids really enjoyed it. I had plans for a music video project for next week, and half of the kids love the idea. The other half (other group) is dreading it. They showed it in their faces, and a couple told me that they don't want to do it. I told them if they really hated it that much, then I would think of something else to do. The other half all nodded their heads.

Has anybody ever been in this situation? What did you do? I'm thinking of making the video project optional for the kids who want to do it and rewarding them with a pizza party on the last day. I'll use my backup plans for the last week of winter classes.

[SpaceRook]

Usually I don't give much credence to what kids think of a lesson idea before I teach it.  If it's not a game or a video, they won't want to do it.

BUT if you are asking them to perform in a video, I think their concerns are valid.  Lots of people (like me) hate being in front of a camera.  Can you give them some related activity?  Like set design or script writing? 

[dannyshaw7]

The other group could help produce. Someone could do the editing, the Presentation of the video, someone to film it etc.

[Lububbles]

Diversify the roles. some can help with design, some do camera work, other could perform

[kwangjuman]

Be a teacher and make the decision for them. They don't want to do what you seemingly worked hard preparing, then they can sit in the corner playing with themselves well the rest of the students enjoy the activity. It's just a camp so don't think too hard about it, most of them don't want to be there and are going to be brats no matter what you do.

[pistons88]

How about having the students do a puppet show in front of the class and then you could videotape them? You could have the students do a puppet show on a fairy tale or a story. Maybe have the students make characters from construction paper and use chopsticks as popsicle sticks. That way they are making a video in front of class but are not visible.

[jaysoon17]

@pistons88 I didn't mention that my kids are middle school kids. I think my middle school students are a tad bit too old for a puppet show  . I have two days left of winter camp, and the students who wanted to do the video have been coming in an hour early for the past two days, so everything is working out fine. It's mainly the students from the summer camp who wanted to do the video. I hope everything turns out well.

@kwangjuman I almost always push through with my lessons during the regular semester, but my winter class is a strictly on a volunteer basis. They come in if they feel like it and don't come in if they feel bored by the class, so I need to make sure that they actually enjoy the class. I'm glad I made four weeks of lesson plans for this two week camp.

[lasoro70]

Be a teacher and make the decision for them. They don't want to do what you seemingly worked hard preparing, then they can sit in the corner playing with themselves well the rest of the students enjoy the activity. It's just a camp so don't think too hard about it, most of them don't want to be there and are going to be brats no matter what you do.

Based on your suggestion and comments, it sounds like you've had some bad past experiences here. Sorry to hear that.