IN THE CLASSROOM
Here are some lessons and ideas to use in your classroom!!
MAKE YOUR OWN RADIO SHOW!
For: All
The Generic Radio Workshop
- A library of old time radio scripts.
Using the library as a reference, have small groups of students pick a radio show they would like to perform.
• Appoint actors and Foley artists in each group - actors may have more than one role, as this is common in radio shows.
• Rehearse.
o Foley Artists must find objects around the room to simulate the sounds needed for the show.
o Actors must remember to work on different voices for their different characters.
• Have the groups perform but sitting behind the rest of the classroom. That way students must really use they’re hearing in order to visualize the story being told.
**OPTIONAL**
Have students also create at least one commercial (lesson plan below) and find the appropriate time in the show to break for the commercial they’ve created.
JINGLES!!
For: All
- Get into pairs or small groups
- Pick an ordinary item in your classroom
- Create a Product Name for that item
- Create a small jingle to use for advertising your item. Make sure to note what sounds would be in this commercial if it was for the radio and not television.
Use the following videos as inspiration for your own jingle!
Youtube Jingles:
- Mentos
- Klondike
- Fanta
- Folgers
- Safelite
MOVIE SOUND EFFECTS
For: All
Movie Sound Effects
- A Lesson Plan for using ordinary items to create interesting sound effects.
FANTASY RADIO SHOW
For: All
On October 30th, 1938 Orson Welles performed “The War of the Worlds” as a Halloween Radio Show Special. Thousands of people that heard the show thought that it was real and it started a panic throughout New Jersey. Throughout time fiction has driven, awed, frightened, and inspired us. In groups create an outline of a fictional story surrounding a factual event of the 1940’s.
MEDIA AND PUBLIC OPINION
For: High School
War in Media, Radio’s Victory
- A short recap of the role media played in the 1940’s
- Split the class into two groups
• Group One
o Create a radio show from the 1940’s explaining why the Japanese Internment Camps are a necessary action for the American People.
• Group Two
o Create a radio show from today discussing the United States’ deployment from the Middle East.
- Perform each show for the other group pretending that you are an audience from that time period (either the 1940’s or today). Truly consider the point of view of those who were listening to this broadcast and whether or not you believe what you hear if you were in their shoes.
Rate the group from one to ten on the following for:
1 being the lowest grade and 10 the highest
□ Trustworthy: How much did you believe what you were hearing from the radio?
□ Morality: Did you feel the speaker was on the right side?
□ Pride: Does this broadcast make you feel proud to be an American?
□ Agreement: Did this broadcast sway you in to agree with its opinion?
As yourself, how do you feel the broadcast used the following? Reflect in a sentence or two.
□ Manipulation of language - Did they use phrases or words to help sway you in their opinion.
□ Persona - What type of person did you feel was speaking to you in the broadcast? How did this affect your opinions on the matter?
PLAYING THE PART
For: All
Many times radio shows will have very few actors with each actor playing many roles. This is the case in It’s a Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play where only five actors enact a play which contains over 30 characters. Take the below section of dialogue and try to manipulate your voice to create the different characters.
Ozzie: A middle aged ordinary man
Harriet: His loving wife
HARRIET:
Where've you been, dear?
OZZIE:
Oh, just downtown.
HARRIET:
Oh? What were you doing?
OZZIE:
Talking to the back of a blue serge suit. I saw a real-life romance happen today, Harriet. Valentine's Day is certainly inspiring.
HARRIET:
Were you looking for something special? Something unusual, maybe?
OZZIE:
For Valentine's Day? Oh, perhaps I'm old fashioned, but to my way of thinking Valentine's Day is the day for a simple romantic gift. Candy. Or flowers, perhaps.
HARRIET:
You can't fool me. In the first place, I know how clever and original you are. And in the second place, Thorny told me.
OZZIE:
Thorny? Oh, yes. I think I do recall kidding him a little. Oh by the way, he bought Catherine a beautiful box of candy. I bet she'll be delighted with it. You know they had some very unusual ones this year. Red boxes shaped like hearts.
HARRIET:
You're very unconvincing, dear. I don't know what you bought me, but I know it isn't candy. Golly, with this buildup, it must be terrific. Oh, look at the time, I have some work I have to...
OZZIE:
Harriet...
HARRIET:
You going to help me with the dishes?
OZZIE:
Oh, sure I'll be glad to help you. What do you think I bought you for Valentine's Day?
HARRIET:
I can't imagine. Honest, it'll be a complete surprise.
OZZIE:
Just give a guess. Tell me what you think.
HARRIET:
Why I couldn't begin to.
OZZIE:
Harriet, please. Guess what you think I bought you for Valentine's Day, and give me the size.
MAKE THE VOICE
For: All
Get into groups of 2 or 3. Each person in the group pick one of the above pictures and create a voice and name for that character. Then, using your characters, read the scene below to the class. Decide how the characters know each other and the situation they are in based off the lines and the relationships you have given them.
A: Hi
B: Hello
C: What are you doing here
A: What do you mean
B: Why does it matter
C: It matters to me
A: No it doesnt
B: Why
C: Maybe it does
A: You can leave
B: I’m staying
C: Fine
A: Wait
B: What
C: Are you going to say something
A: No
B: No
C: Ok then bye
A: I’m sorry
B: It’s ok
C: No it’s not
A: Stay
B: Please
C: It’s over