The extracurricular program developed was intended for a group of 6-8 girls to consistently attend over the course of 7 weeks. As it turned out, a few girls dropped in and out. I studied 11 girls, 6 from the CBBC program located at Everett Middle School and 5 from the YWCA program located at Horace Mann Academic Middle School. Per their request, the CBBC program was 10 weeks long, rather than 7. The girls' ages ranged from 11 to 14. The YWCA supported program conducted at Horace Mann found an older population of students than CBBC program at Everett. At Everett, 5 of the girls were 11 and in the 6th grade, 1 girl was 12 and in the 7th grade. One girl being older proved to be relevant. The significance of the age difference will be clearly illustrated in the excerpts from Chapter 3 where the discussion of several classes are presented. At Horace Mann, girls from 6th, 7th and 8th grade dropped in and out. The attrition was strongest for a group of 5 girls' aged 13 and 14, all were 8th graders. My intention is to ultimately teach a course for middle school aged girls that explores their "sense of self."

        The following is an outline of the media literacy curriculum that was developed for the after-school programs that I taught and through which research was conducted.

"Breakin' It Down" Extracurricular Media Literacy Course Outline

Objective: Throughout the course students will focus on media criticism, i.e. deconstructing music videos and will choreograph narrative.

Introduction: Title: You and Music Video

Concept: Determine students' current interests in popular music, artists and music videos.

Materials: Pad of paper and pen, TV, VCR, tapes of music videos

Techniques: Critical thinking, dialogue

Lesson One: Title: Media Literacy Applied to Music Video

Concept: Students will evaluate and deconstruct contemporary music videos

Materials: TV, VCR, tapes of music videos

Techniques: Critical thinking, dialogue

Lesson Two: Title: Storyboarding a Music Video

Concept: Students will choose music and create a storyboard.

Materials: Large sheets of butcher paper, writing utensils, a CD player.

Techniques: Storyboarding, storytelling

Lesson Three: Title: Introduction to Video Camera

Concept: Students will learn the basics of how to use a video camera.

Materials: Video camera, blank tapes

Techniques: Using camera

Lesson Four: Title: Creating Choreography for a Music Video

Concept: Students will create dance steps or narrative set to chosen music

Materials: CD player

Techniques: Dancing, developing choreography, cooperating

Work Class: There will be a work class for students to finish project, practice and perform a dress rehearsal.

Closure Class: The students will perform their story and be videotaped