Many Common Core State Standards-aligned (CCSS-aligned) lessons still rely on essays, worksheets, or tests, most likely because they need to include space for inquiry. Video projects, however, offer a unique and relevant way for students to demonstrate their understanding, practice communication skills, and apply knowledge authentically.
Plus, when teachers use platforms like WeVideo, they can reduce the burden of measuring understanding and providing feedback without sacrificing standards alignment.
Let’s explore how to align a video project to the CCSS lesson plan format, and expand what we’ve learned to the subject you teach.
What makes a video project “standards-aligned”?
A strong project will focus on building one or a few common core skills from the 4 Cs and literacy. These skills include:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Technological and media literacy
Additionally, your project should require students to show evidence-based thinking to help them demonstrate proficiency. To determine whether students fully grasp the concept, building a rubric illustrating what and how you will measure and award full points is essential.
Another important facet to consider is the way CCSS lesson plans and subjects build on each other from previous units and years of study. By targeting the 4 Cs, lessons learned through the video project become transferable. Students build skills that transcend their grade level or the subjects.
These five video project formats align directly to Common Core skills and can be adapted to build CCSS lesson plans for subjects of all types.
Project 1: The evidence-based argument video
In this project, students create a short video to present and defend a claim using evidence. You can allow students to either choose their own topic, or assign them something specific. Then, ask them to develop their claim and provide their reasoning for it in video format.
Aligned skills:
- Critical thinking: Argument writing (claims, evidence, reasoning)
- Media literacy: Evaluating sources
- Creativity: Persuasion
Example applications:
- ELA: Literary analysis
- Math: Evaluating statistical claims
Project 2: The “teach it” explainer video
In this project, it’s the students’ turn to play teacher. Students teach a concept as if they are the instructor by breaking down how it works, step-by step. You can also require them to use visuals or demonstrations to show their deep understanding and drive a clearer narrative.
Aligned skills:
- Communication: explanatory writing, organizing ideas clearly, and audience awareness
Example applications:
- Math: Solving a type of problem
- ELA: Breaking down a theme or concept
Project 3: The research and synthesis documentary
Ask students to research a topic and create a short documentary-style video. In this assignment, students must use the information they find to create a cohesive narrative about the subject, and they must cite their sources in their final video.
Provide guidance on how many scholarly sources you expect them to use, or, if they are researching on the internet, how new and/or reputable a source must be.
Aligned skills:
- Critical thinking: Research and source evaluation
- Media literacy: Synthesizing multiple sources
- Communication: Informational writing
Example applications:
- Math: Historical events or important figures in mathematics
- ELA: Author or context study
Project 4: The process or problem-solution walkthrough
Students must play detective in this group project. Have students team up to solve a mystery or problem of some sort, then create a video explaining how they came to that conclusion. Require each person to submit a certain amount of footage (say 30 seconds) to make sure every student has an opportunity to use their voice.
Aligned skills:
- Critical thinking: Logical reasoning
- Communication: Precision and clarity
- Collaboration: Group problem solving
Example applications:
- Math: Multi-step problem solving
- ELA: Guess-the-outcome story analysis based on context clues
Project 5: The reflection and metacognition video
This project actually works for any subject. Students simply reflect on their learning process and outcomes in a confessional-style video. They can reference specific work or evidence, even providing examples on screen, and discuss any challenges or growth that took place over the course of the unit or semester.
Aligned skills:
- Communication: Speaking and listening
- Critical thinking: Self-assessment
- Creativity: Use of evidence to reflect on learning
Example applications (for any subject):
- End-of-unit reflection
- Project-based learning wrap-ups
- Portfolio artifacts
CCSS lesson plan implementation tips for any classroom
In any learning format, the key with each of these ideas is to provide a clear structure that ladders up to the specific standards you want to meet. Providing examples from yourself or past units (once you have them) can also help students understand what an exemplary project looks like in practice.
And for your own efficiency during grading, it can also help to keep video length short and focused, or adapt these projects to work for a group.
Regardless, CCSS lesson plans don’t have to feel templated or boring. Academic rigor and engagement aren’t mutually exclusive (in fact, quite the opposite).
Start building CCSS lesson plans that organically build students’ skills and confidence with interactive video projects that put learners in the driver’s seat. Test WeVideo’s interactive video creation tools and see how easy it can be.