Character+Counts+PSA

Middle schoolers can be mean. You’ve seen it, you’ve experienced it and you’ve maybe even done it. You know it is wrong. People get excluded, hurt, and their self-esteem is knocked down. In some cases, people are so hurt they take drastic measures. Just think back to the Ryan Halligan story; Ryan was so distraught as a result of the unkind treatment of others that he took his own life.
 * Character Counts: A Public Service Announcement about Promoting Kindness**

You know it’s wrong, but it is still happening every day in the hallways of our school, on the computer, and even on the weekends. It is time to make some changes! After all, character counts! As a middle school student your voice is powerful. Fellow students are more willing to listen to your voice than the voices of adults. Why not use this voice to promote kindness here within our school community?

You and a group of fellow advisees assigned by your advisor are charged with creating a public service announcement (PSA) about promoting kindness. Please take this charge seriously! Madame Nosbusch deems this task so important that she has reserved time during a couple of homeroom mornings to air the best productions to the Middle School student body.

Read the following criteria and get planning! First take a couple of minutes to watch and talk about the following PSA examples: from the [|AdCouncil] and [|MTV]
 * I.** **PSA EXAMPLES (Day 1: February 6th)**

· On your butcher block paper list 5 specific **kind-behaviors** that you witness middle school students doing each day. These should be behaviors that you’d like to see more of from your peers. · On your butcher block paper list 5 specific **unkind-behaviors** that you witness middle school students doing each day. These should be behaviors that you’d like to see less of from your peers. · Which one of the behaviors your group listed do you want to address in your PSA? If the chosen behavior is negative think of kind ways to counter act these behaviors. · Be ready to report to the large group with your choices.
 * II.** **BRAINSTORMING SESSION (Day 1: February 6th)**

· Who is your audience? Middle School students here at USM and across the nation. · What aspect of kindness will your PSA touch on? · What is your message? · Will your PSA be serious or comical? · Will you have a narrator or speaking actors? · Will you need props?
 * III.** **PSA CONTENT & PLANNING (Day 1 and Day 2: February 6th / 10th)**
 * Consider and answer the following questions:**


 * IV.** **Video Production Storyboard (Day 2: February 10th) -**First fill out your [|ShortFilmStoryboard.doc]. In each box draw a picture of each shot and underneath briefly explain what is happening in your shots. When finished, show your work to your advisor.


 * V.** **Script Writing (Day 2 and Day 3: February 10th/20th) –** Once your advisor approves your group’s Video Production Storyboard sheet you may start writing your script. When finished with your script, hand it in to your advisor who will either approve your work or make suggestions for improvements.


 * VI.** **Script Practice (Day 3 and Day 4: February 20th/26th) –** Before recording you need to memorize, practice, and polish your script.

Any production work that is not completed by the end of class on February 20th will have to be done ON YOUR OWN before Thursday, February 26th. Recess is a good time to get everybody together.
 * VII.** **Video Production (Day 4: February 26th) –** When fully prepared, ask your advisor for a FLIP camera and start recording.