TV and Teaching

Characters from television programs seem very real to young students. Take advantage of their enthusiasm for these characters by using them in your language development and literacy lessons.

Purpose:

To invite students to use their favorite TV characters in writing, art, storytelling and roleplaying

Materials:

• Art and writing supplies
• Bulletin board, chart paper, and markers

Preparation:

• Set up a bulletin board entitled TV Time. You may want to make the board look like a TV screen or add dials or a remote control that the students can use to start their storytelling. In the center of the board, place one or two large sheets of chart paper.
• For younger students, you may wish to fold and staple several pieces of construction paper into a book format for each student’s storyboard.
  

Procedure:

1. Gather the students around the bulletin board. Ask them to share the titles of their favorite TV shows. Write these on the chart paper. Then, have the students discuss their favorite characters from each show, and add these names within the list of shows.
   
   
2. Distribute construction paper and art supplies or ready-made booklets. Ask students to draw pictures to illustrate a story in which they are part of their favorite TV program. Use simple questions to help focus them on the characters and storyline, such as:
   
   • How did you get into the story?
   • What characters are you with?
   • What happens first?
   • What happens next?
   • Is it exciting or funny?
   • How does the story end?
     
   
   
3. As children draw their storyboards, have them dictate their stories as you write them onto the correct pages in their booklets. Older children may write their own stories.
   
   
4. Once again, gather the children around the bulletin board. Have several students share their story ideas with the whole group, describing the characters and the action as if they were on TV. Then, place each book around the bulletin board TV screen to share at other times.

Optional:

1. For older students: If small groups of children like the same TV programs and characters, have them create group stories. Each child takes on a role within the program, interacting with the characters and the plot.
   
   
2. When it’s time to share, have the students roleplay their stories, acting out the characters and the events that occur together.
   

Resources:

• Helping the Preschool Child: Taking Charge of TV (pages 52–54) from the U.S. Department of Education illustrates ways to ensure that TV time is fun and educational.
  
  
• From Parent's Choice:
  
  • Media Management Tips provides easy rules for making the most of TV and video.
  • Television Award Winners lets you know what experts consider good-see TV for children.
    
    
• Commonsense Media discusses issues and offers advice on choosing age-appropriate programming.
  
  
• How TV Affects Your Child from KidsHealth lets you know what research shows about TV time and kids.
  
  
• Educational TV May Boost Intellectual Development, according to research presented by the Center for Media Literacy, but only if TV time is limited and supported by parents.
  
  

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