Know What I Meme?
Integrating Digital Memes Into Your Content Area
A Meme...
A cultural item that is transmitted by repetition and replication that spreads in the manner of similar to the transmission of human genes.
How to Make a Meme
How to Create a Student Meme Project in 5 Easy Steps:
- Decide on a theme of the project that is related to a book they have read, a strand they have recently learned or a time period/historical figure. Specific: Presidential Parodies or Broad: Social Justice.
- Have students search for an image that will be the base of their meme. There are meme generators out there, but be careful. Many contain inappropriate themes. Use websites like photosforclass.com or search.creativecommons.org to find free to use images.
- Then, they can pull in that image into Google Draw. Here is a template for google draw and memes.
- Using Google Draw, they can add a unique caption to the image.
- Lastly, they need to share their image through google with the teacher. These can be emailed, shared or printed!
Meme Generator Links
- Check all links carefully. Some meme generators have inappropriate content. It is best to use google draw if you are worried about the generators.
- https://imgflip.com/memegenerator
- http://wigflip.com/automotivator/#
- More about memes in google draw.
Student Examples from Hunger Games
Various Creative Classroom Projects
History Project
Why Memes?
You might be wondering, "What are the educational benefits of assigning a meme?" That is a valid question. Looking at the finished product, you probably won't see the learning process that went into it. But if you observe your students while they are working on them, here's what you'll find:
• Students re-reading the text to find something they can parody or reference.
• Students asking one another questions, such as, "Which character said...?" and "Didn't this event take place at...?" and "Why didn't you use this picture? Doesn't it go better with that scene?"
• Students using technology to create the actual meme (some used meme generators online, while others found images and used programs on their MacBooks to add their own text, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fireworks, or Pages).
• Students editing their own work and peer editing one another's. (I stipulated that they needed correct spelling and usage, though some misspellings, like "Capitol" with an "a" instead of an "o" slipped through.)
• Students critiquing one another's finished product and offering suggestions, even explaining and justifying their choices.
• Students re-reading the text to find something they can parody or reference.
• Students asking one another questions, such as, "Which character said...?" and "Didn't this event take place at...?" and "Why didn't you use this picture? Doesn't it go better with that scene?"
• Students using technology to create the actual meme (some used meme generators online, while others found images and used programs on their MacBooks to add their own text, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fireworks, or Pages).
• Students editing their own work and peer editing one another's. (I stipulated that they needed correct spelling and usage, though some misspellings, like "Capitol" with an "a" instead of an "o" slipped through.)
• Students critiquing one another's finished product and offering suggestions, even explaining and justifying their choices.
From http://www.hungergameslessons.com/2013/03/meme-assignment-your-students-will-love.html