It has turned out to be a wild rollercoaster of a school year, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing school closures and the transition to remote teaching and learning. However, there is still lots to celebrate this year and one way we like to commemorate our school year is by putting together a year-end video!
You might gather photos you’ve taken throughout the year or ask students to submit photos and videos to include. (Just make sure you’ve got appropriate permission forms signed before using photos and videos of your students.)
There are many different ways to organize your year-end video. Here are a few suggestions:
- Year in Review: photos from each month
- Interview: have each student answer a question like The best part of Grade ___ was …
- Highlight Reel: ask students to share their favourite memory from this year and include a related photo
- Reflection: consider asking students to share what they miss most about being in school or how the pandemic has changed their life
If you’re ready to pull together a fun video to celebrate your school year, check out our recommendations for the tools to get the job done.
Animoto
Animoto has beautiful templates that help you create a polished final product, with a free library of stock photos, videos, and music.
- Animoto is both web-based and app-based which makes it easy to upload photos and videos from your phone or tablet
- Videos can be downloaded or shared through a link.
- Animoto offers a free account for educators….learn more here!
iMovie
If you have an Apple device, you might already be aware that you have an easy and accessible movie-making tool that can be used by students and teachers alike. We use the iPad/iPhone app for quick and easy video creation. If you have a MacBook, you’ll also be able to use this tool.
- iMovie allows you to quickly import and edit photos and videos
- add simple text, music, and narration.
- movies can be saved to your device or uploaded to YouTube or cloud storage
WeVideo
If you’re looking for a tool that is a little more advanced, but still user-friendly, WeVideo is a great option. This is a paid, online video editor. If your school division does not have a subscription, you can check out the details of WeVideo’s 30 day free trial and pricing plans.
- includes stock images, video clips and music to use
- import your own photos and video clips or record in the app
- add titles, narration and music
- greenscreen features available
Whichever tool you choose, we hope you have fun creating something to celebrate your school year. If you have permission to share your video, we’d love to see it – send it our way on social media!
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