Awesome Green Screen Ideas!

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Using a green screen in the classroom or at home is a unique way to get kids excited about learning and immerse themselves into a situation. In the classroom it can be used as a learning tool and creative outlet for students.

Green screen activities can easily be integrated into science, history, language arts, and STEM courses; but don’t stop there, there are many green screen projects for kids and adults alike.

While at home, using a green screen with your child can be a fun way to interact and connect with your child while you create something new. However you choose to use a green screen, you are sure to learn some new tricks, and have a good time while doing it. Just remember, it won’t be perfect the first time, and that is okay. 

Where do you buy a green screen?

If you are like me and not DIY inclined there are a bunch of affordable green screen options available on Amazon.

Here are some of our favourites:

How to DIY a Green Screen? 

You just need a few things to get situated and ready for the project. The upfront cost on green screen fun is pretty low. First, you need a green screen (duh) and some kind of green screen software. While you can buy green screens online all over, any flat fabric that is stretched tight will do. In a pinch even bulletin board paper can work. You can choose cheap plastic table cloths or a big piece of fabric. Whatever you use, make sure to get out as many wrinkles and abnormalities as possible. 

While bright green is the standard color for green screens, it really doesn’t matter, as long your subjects do not wear anything with that color. While I prefer to stick with the classic green, I have seen a bright (think neon) blue work well too. 

When putting a green screen up, lighting is important. You don’t want your actors and props to cast shadows on the greenscreen, as this will change the color of the screen and make editing more difficult. 

Technology for Using a Green Screen

For software, there are tons of options. You want to first make sure you pick an option that will work with your existing technology. If you are using iPads, The Green Screen by Do Ink is an amazing option. This app costs $5 and is well worth it in my opinion. Your kids will pick up how to use it and be editing their own footage in no time. 

If you are going to be working on multiple types of devices, Chromavid is an effective option that is both Android and Apple friendly. Chromavid works on a subscription plan for $2.99/year, so it too is very budget friendly. 

Many teachers are using ChromeBooks in their classrooms. Kapwing is a green screen video editor that will give each user 7 minutes of video time for free. If you have a bit of a bigger budget I recommend WeVideo for use on ChromeBooks.

Lastly, you will need something to film with. While Chromebooks can film, I wouldn’t recommend them if you have another option. Most cell phone cameras are much higher resolution and will drastically increase the quality of your video. Any other camera that can shoot video will work as well. And remember, always shoot in landscape mode! 

Once you have decided on the tech, now comes the fun part. What are you going to have your kids do? Keep reading to learn about some fun choices to get started with.

Fun Green Screen Ideas To Try At Home or School

Travel with a Green Screen

With green screens, you can go anywhere in the world, and beyond! The limits of time, money, and physics are gone with a computer and green screen at  your disposal. 

• Have you always wanted to go to Greece, but can’t stomach the airfare? Travel anywhere in the world using a green screen. By placing the image of your destination behind you, you are now there!
  • Give a guided tour of a city
  • Tell about the culture of a foreign country
  • Speak another language in its land of origin
• Go Where you Wouldn’t Want To
  • While traveling to places such as the center of the Earth and Neptune aren’t practical in the flesh, you can do this with a green screen. 
  • You can shrink and enter the human body to explore the digestive system (yuck!). 
  • You can see what is in that dark cave without actually going into that place. 

Go Back In Time with a Green Screen

Have you ever dreamed of a real life time travel machine? Well now you have one. Use the power of the green screen to travel back (or forwards) in time. 

• Walk with the dinosaurs
  • Students can get very creative using extinct creatures. Have your kids create a storyline that uses animals from the past. 
• Interview a famous historical figure. 
  • Great for the secondary student, they can bring their love of history alive. Interview Isaac Newton, or Napoleon. Have their face or their location in the background and use voice over features to make it come to life. 
• Explore the ancient roman culture 
  • Is your favorite place a thing of the past? Ancient cultures that now lie in ruins can come to life using a greenscreen. Go into the Egyptian tombs or explore the culture of Mayans. 
• Predict what the future will be like
  • Create your own future and show your class or family what it would be like. Take a tour of the 2200 homes or what parks will be like in the year 3000. 

Storyboarding with a Green Screen 

Many kids will want to jump in and start playing without any structure. If you have time, let them; but then start to structure your use of the green screen by creating a storyboard before filming.

A storyboard has a few important parts that when planned out, will make the filming process go smoother and the final product much more elegant. 

1. Script

Plan out what you are going to say ahead of time. Have a plot and story structure so that your final product makes sense. 

2. Imagery 

Green screens can be used for still images or video in the background. You can have the video playing and the actor participating with the background. This takes some practice and always results in a few laughs.

3. Logistics 

It always helps to have your ducks in a row before you start filming. Who is the actor in this scene? Who is filming? Did we need a prop? Plan this out ahead of time like the real deal directors do. 

Here is a basic outline for storyboarding that I like to use. Read through these quick scenes and you can see how this image comes to life. 

	Actors	Props	Script	Setting
Scene 1 Filming: Chase	Christie	Microphone Ear plugs	We are live here today at the launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy The countdown is about to start.	Greenscreen: Video of rocket ready to launch
Scene 2 Filming:Cole	Alana	Dippin Dots Cup Spoon	This momentous occasion is brought to t you by Dippin Dots – the ice cream of space. Yummy!	Greenscreen: Dippin dots ad pops up
Scene 3 Filming:Chase	Christie	Microphone Ear plugs	And the countdown begins, here we go! 10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1.	Greenscreen: Video of rocket blasting off after gearing up – lots of smoke from base of rocket.

Final Thoughts About Green Screens

The great thing about using a green screen, is that you can make it as simple or as complex as you want. There is always room to grow, but anyone can start. Remember to have fun and don’t worry about it being a Hollywood production on your first try.