Assessment
The assessment is based on expectations related to the student objectives. <P= align="left"See attached Rubric.
Learning Context/ Introduction
In this Learning Experience, middle school students create their own "stop action animation" movie using Microsoft Paint and Windows Movie Maker.
The objective of this experience is to develop a stop action animated movie to illustrate movement. The students will:
- draw related pictures
- sequence the pictures to create a story line
- add effects and transitions to show movement
- create an interesting stop action animation movie
Drawing is a basic form of communication, and is a unit I teach in eighth grade. We draw with various implements on several surfaces.
On the computer, drawing gives a student a digital medium in which to create. The computer becomes the pencil and paint and allows the student to create their image on an illuminated screen.
In addition, the computer can create a "moving drawing. A two-dimensional image has the ability to illustrate "implied" movement, but movement in art has two other categories. Real movement is called "kinetic" and allows for change in place or space, and "sympathetic" movement occurs when the viewer moves giving additional viewpoints. For example, the illusion of sympathetic movement will make the trees "whiz" past you when you are traveling forward in a car. The basic element of animation is kinetic, but sympathetic movement can be animated as well.
Animation artists show us that when related drawings are viewed in succession, a visual "kinetic" movement is created. Creating a short animated film allows my students to increase their skills in drawing, composition, sequencing, story telling, and creativity. To enhance their awareness of movement, the students were encouraged to use mathematical principles such as rotation, translation, dilation, and reflection.
Animation, created in Windows Movie Maker, is a fun way to play with movement and could be applied to any subject matter. Although this lesson is for an art class, it would fit well in any curriculum. Many different themes could be developed. Movies can be made by one group of students and reviewed for tests, or critiqued for grading by other students.
Prior knowledge may include drawing skills and practice with flipbooks.
Several short clips of how animation is created on film would be beneficial.
Studying the photographic work of Eadweard Muybridge would be helpful.
Duration
Classes are 42 minutes.
We used the lab seven to ten times within eight weeks.
See Procedure
Essential Question
How does movement enhance drawing?
Instructional/Environment Modifications
Windows XP Computer Lab
Procedure
This unit can be accomplished in two weeks. However, I designed the class work to extend over our eight-week course. The first three days are for orientation: what we are doing, how we are going to do it, and what benchmarks are required. The second three days are for reviewing and/or learning the programs. The following four days allow for working on the project.
Note: After the beginning stage, we used one day per week and the project remained fresh. This gives time for the students to work outside of class as wanted or needed. Some students love sound and will add music or a sound track to their movie. Sound tracks are not required, but students exceed expectations and add music. Also, I allow students to work alone or in small groups.
Day 1
Students are introduced to the concept of animation and Windows Movie Maker. Prior work in Windows Movie Maker is presented and discussed. An exemplary movie by a student will be shown; and some examples of deficient work will be analyzed to show pitfalls that can occur. See examples. Critical analysis by the students is important for this class.
Note: A Disney program clip explaining animation or a "behind the scenes" of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a sound idea if you have no student work to show. Flipbooks can be made or shown to show the "optimal proportion of image-movement-steps."
The students will come up with an idea for their movie..
Day 2
Storyboards are the first step after the concept is realized. A storyboard is series of simple pictures that show the changes of scene and action. Simple thumbnails sketches are allowed. The students begin to draw their storyboard idea. A storyboard handout is given to the students. (see storyboard handout). To focus students, the laws of movement are explained. Kinetic movement and sympathetic movement are illustrated. Terminology includes transition, translation, transformation, rotation and reflection. The students will complete their storyboard and incorporate additional movement into their storyboard as intended.
Day 3
Prior classes are reviewed and then we go to the computer room. Students continue to work on their storyboard. Working in Microsoft Paint is discussed (see Paint handout.) The students will work in Microsoft Paint to create the images sketched on their storyboard.
Day 4
The students will continue to develop pictures in Microsoft Paint. Creating a series of related pictures showing planned movement is a top priority. .
Day 5
There will be a demonstration of Windows Movie Maker to class (see Movie Maker handout.) Students continue to work. There is guided practice for the students during this period. The students will continue work on their projects.
Day 6
When student pictures are completed, they are imported into Windows Movie Maker. At this point students work independently. We schedule one day a week to go to the computer lab for the final four weeks of class. There is guided practice for the students during this period as they continue to work..
Day 7-10
Students have time to edit material and adjust animation as needed. The students will work independently with the teacher acting as troubleshooter.
Day 11
On the final day, there is a presentation of the movies to the class and the rubric is used for grading.
Creating_Pictures_in_Paint.docMovie_Making.docStoryboard.doc
Reflections and Feedback
The middle school mind is so "quirky" that the subject matter becomes an issue and may require the teacher to create limitations. We tackled simple topics at first, and then as the students saw examples of previous work, they felt challenged to create more developed work. The animations were shared with other teachers for fun and education.
See another example
A fine example
Student Work
The students create a short movie by drawing images in Microsoft Paint and importing into Windows Movie Maker.
See attached samples.
Exceeds StandardsMeets StandardsApproaches Standards
Related Resource
For student - Computer with Windows XP
For Teacher - Sample Movie and handouts
