Oakland Life Academy - Ms. Matsui


	Teacher: Ms. Matsui Grade 11 Ms. Matsui is a teacher consultant with the Bay Area Writing Project.
	Students in Ms. Matsui's eleventh-grade Humanities classes focused on the question "What is it to be an American?" Participating students explored the immigrant experience from the point of view of different nationalities and different generations. They conducted research on relevant historical material and then created their own fictionalized first-person scripts, basing their treatments of characters and events on information gleaned from their research. Students collaborated in small groups and used their first-person vignettes to create voiceovers for short digital films. They next selected relevant imagery to illustrate and support the distinct voices and perspectives in their writing. Finally, they created titles, worked with transitions, and experimented with special effects to complete their projects. To view the digital documentaries, click an image below.


	An Immigration Story by Alejandra, Jessica, Illeana		Why We Left Mexico by Denise, Abby, Mayra		Uniting Cultures by Janet, Daisy, Minorum		A Change in Direction by Jose, Markita, Chyna		I Left My Soul in China by Kris, Jessica


	Immigrating to El Norte by Luis, Brandon, Kolepa		Los Tres United Brothers by Rodrigo, Danny, Juan		A Family's Reason for Immigrating by Stacey, Kenneth, Marisela		A Difficult Struggle by Janice, Jerry, Trung