4th Grade Filmmakers Showcase Works

By City News Service

Film festivals are nothing new to the Coachella Valley, but an event Friday will feature short films produced by 31 fourth grade students from Amelia Earhart Elementary School in La Quinta.

Each student from teacher Ashley Hayball’s class was challenged to produce a short film about a book of their choice as part of the Earhart Book Festival.

“We have read hundreds of great books this year, and we were searching for a new and exciting way to showcase our love for stories,” Hayball said. “This is something that celebrates all the books we have read and enjoyed together throughout the year.”

The films were produced using Google Chromebook laptops and serves as an example of integrating technology into the classroom, a key objective of California Common Core standards, school officials said.

The 9:30 a.m. event is closed to the general public.