Teacher: Ms. Moitoza
Ninth Grade, First Period

Ms. Moitoza is a teacher consultant with the Bay Area Writing Project.

 
  Ms. Moitoza's ninth-grade English class wrote essays describing a neighborhood, explaining in particular what makes it distinctive. They used the writing process to consider how the character of a neighborhood affects the quality of people's lives, what it reveals about them, or what it reveals about society. In this essay the definition of a neighborhood could include a place where the student had lived in the past, or a special place or community where the student spends a lot of time (for example, at a job, at school, or in an extracurricular activity, such as a club or sport).

Students collaborated with a partner or worked in small groups and used their essays to create narrative voiceovers for short digital films. They took photos and found images to illustrate the character of their neighborhoods. Using their storyboards, they worked in class to assemble their films: matching visuals to the narrative, working with transitions, and experimenting with special effects and music to complete their projects.

To view the digital documentaries, click an image below.
 
   
         
  San Francisco
by Angel, Naomi
  Richmond
by Danny, Gabriel
  Middle College High
by Elizabeth, Denise
  Fairfield: Calm but Exciting
by Erika, Mary
  Contra Costa College
by Jasmin, Emerson
 
         
  Richmond
by Jessica, Lai
  Lake Chabot & Golden Gate Park
by Jason, Jorge
  Richmond
by Oscar
  Berkeley Marina
by Jose, Marcos
  Berkeley
by Scotty, Sam
 

                 
  Chinatown
by Kevin
                 

 

Neighborhood
Middle College High School
West Contra Costa Unified School District
San Pablo, California
Characterizing a

Video Viewing Requirements