Lesson: Documentary making

This lesson plan is designed to help students learn the skills required to create compelling, in-depth and informative news documentaries.

It’s based on the article ‘How to make a documentary‘, which we recommend trainers read before adapting the lesson outline below for your own purposes.

Learning objective

Students will identify and apply the essential steps for making a documentary, including research, narration style, and three-act structure. They will evaluate different narration styles and select the most effective one for their documentary project.

• Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will understand the essential steps for creating a documentary and choose the best narration style for their film.
• Standards: Students will learn the skills needed to build in-depth and information documentaries.

Learning activities

Warm-up

Show students a short clip from a well-known documentary. Ask them to jot down what they notice about the storytelling elements, such as the use of interviews, narration, or observational footage. Then, prompt them to share their observations with a partner. After a few minutes, facilitate a brief class discussion, highlighting key elements that make documentaries engaging. This primes students for exploring the essential steps in documentary filmmaking.

Direct instruction

• Introduce documentary research: Explain the importance of finding a compelling story idea. Discuss how personal interest and unique characters enhance storytelling. Guide students to explore online resources, libraries, and documentaries to identify potential topics. Encourage them to note what excites them and why.
• Explore narration styles: Present the four main narration styles: interview-led, presenter-led, observational-led, and narrator-led. Use examples from well-known documentaries to illustrate each style. Discuss the pros and cons of each, emphasizing that documentaries often blend multiple styles. Encourage students to consider which style(s) might best suit their chosen topic.
• Explain the three-act structure: Describe the three-act structure: Setup, Development, and Climax & Resolution. Use a familiar documentary as a case study to identify these acts. Discuss how this structure helps organize the narrative and maintain viewer engagement. Encourage students to outline their documentary ideas using this structure, focusing on key events and character development.

Guided practice

Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a collaborative activity to deepen their understanding of documentary narration styles.

• Think: Ask students to individually choose a topic for a documentary and think about which narration style(s) would best suit their topic. Encourage them to consider the pros and cons of each style.
• Pair: Have students pair up and share their chosen topics and narration styles. Encourage them to discuss why they selected those styles and how they plan to implement them in their documentary.
• Share: Facilitate a class discussion where pairs share their ideas. Highlight diverse approaches and encourage students to provide constructive feedback to their peers.
• Reflect: Ask students to reflect on the feedback received and consider any adjustments they might make to their narration style choice.
• Document: Have students document their final choice of narration style and a brief rationale in their project notes, preparing them for the next steps in their documentary creation process.

Independent practice

• Storyboard creation: Instruct students to create a storyboard for their documentary using their chosen narration style and three-act structure. Encourage them to sketch key scenes, noting the type of shots and narration style for each. This will help them visualise their documentary’s flow and ensure alignment with their narrative goals.
• Research and outline: Direct students to conduct further research on their chosen topic, gathering information and potential interview subjects. Have them outline their documentary, detailing the main points and supporting evidence for each act. This will reinforce their understanding of the documentary’s structure and content.
• Peer review: Pair students to exchange storyboards and outlines. Ask them to provide feedback on clarity, coherence, and the effectiveness of the chosen narration style. Encourage constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.
• Revise and finalise: Allow students time to revise their storyboards and outlines based on peer feedback. Ensure they finalise their plans, preparing them for the next phase of documentary production.

Assignment

Ask these questions:

1. What is one key element of the three-act structure in documentary filmmaking?
2. Which narration style do you think would be most effective for your documentary topic and why?
3. What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?

Suggested answers:

• Suggested answer to Question 1: The three-act structure includes Setup, Development, and Climax & Resolution.
• Suggested answer to Question 2: Answers will vary; students should justify their choice based on their topic and the pros and cons discussed in class.

Teacher resources

Differentiation guide

• Advanced learners: Encourage them to explore complex topics or themes for their documentaries. Suggest they experiment with blending multiple narration styles to create a unique storytelling approach. Challenge them to incorporate advanced editing techniques or sound design elements in their projects.
• Striving learners: Provide additional support by offering examples of simpler documentary topics. Break down the narration styles into more digestible parts, using clear examples. Pair them with peers for collaborative brainstorming sessions. Offer templates or graphic organisers to help them structure their storyboards and outlines effectively.
• Recommended reading: This lesson plan is based on the article ‘How to make a documentary‘, which we recommend trainers read before adapting the lesson outline below for your own purposes.

Notable definitions

• Documentary research: The process of gathering information and insights about a potential documentary topic, including exploring personal interests, unique characters, and existing resources to develop a compelling story idea.
• Narration style: The method by which a documentary’s story is told, including interview-led, presenter-led, observational-led, and narrator-led styles, each offering different ways to engage the audience and convey the film’s message.
• Three-act structure: A storytelling framework used in documentaries, consisting of three parts: Setup (introduction of characters and conflict), Development (exploration of conflict and subplots), and Climax & Resolution (resolution of conflict and conclusion of the story).

Required materials

• Computers: For research, writing, and editing.
• Storyboard templates: To help students visualise their documentary structure.
• Notebooks or digital note-taking tools: For documenting ideas and feedback.
• Access to documentary clips: For examples of narration styles and structures.
• Art supplies: For creating storyboards (e.g., colored pencils, markers).
• Internet access: For research and accessing online resources.
• Projector and screen: To display documentary clips and examples.

Lesson summary

• Warm-up
• Direct instruction
• Guided practice
• Independent practice
• Assignment

The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.