Animated Swing Scenes with Stop Motion Studio

Second grade artists learned to take their art to the next level with this digital extension of their Swing Scenes.  Learn all about how they created these whimsical self-portraits here!

Second grade artists used this project to become young animators - and they LOVED seeing their art literally come to life.  For this animation we used Stop Motion Studio.  They have a free and paid version.  I have had success teaching students to animate from Kindergarten through upper elementary with this app - it is very user friendly!

After much trial and error, I figured out how to have each students box set up for them like a mini movie set.  This required ALOT of prep!

First I attached a wire to each swing that ran through the back of the box.  This would allow each animator to move their swing to one of 3 positions.

Next, I created a set for each swing scene.  We needed to be able to hide the student animator standing behind the box and block out the background environment around the box. The box is also taped to the base paper so that it can't be moved.  Finally, I also tape the base paper to the table so that can't move!  We took many precautionary steps so that all students could be successful!

Best case scenario is to have the tables set up before the class walks in the door. However, there are days that I have back to back classes and this isn't possible. 

In the cases where I can't have the tables set, I pre-tape the boxes as in the picture above and then set up the iPads and iPad stands on trays to quickly distribute.

Students worked in pairs and each student had one of two jobs, director or animator.  

The director controls the iPad, and the animator is in charge of moving the swing.

Before any animating took place - all students took an oath: 

"I will not move my box, I will not pick up my iPad"

(disclaimer: even though we took that oath - their were definitely boxes and iPads moved!)

The director now opens up the Stop Motion App, and sets up their iPad and iPad stand. Once their camera was centered in the correct position, the used the 2 strips of take to secure their iPad stand. Again a good precaution!

Ok, students were now ready to animate.

We took the first pictures step by step as a group. 

These movies are made up of a rotation of 3 swing positions.  First step, animators marked position 1 by making making sharpie mark on their wire when the swing is in position 1 or the base position. After marking position 1, the director takes 1 picture. Animators now move the swing to position 2 by pushing the wire into the box about 1-2 inches and again marking the wire with sharpie. Once swings where in position, the director takes 1 picture.  The same process for position 3.  Then animators come back down following these steps for position 2 and then back to 1. 

                                 

After completing this cycle as a group, I let student teams go on and finish by themselves. 

They needed to repeat the process 2 more times.  At the end, movies will be made up of approximately 14-16 pictures.  

These young animators were so excited to see their movies finished!  

Take a look at each classes' finished animations.  

Mrs. Begin and Mrs. Frey's Class

Mrs. Kennedy's Class

Mrs. LeVangie's Class

Mrs. Mulligan's Class

Mrs. Polom's Class

Do these movies bring you as much joy as they do me?!

Artovation Circuit Challenge

5th grade Artovation students have just finished a new challenge.

How can you integrate lights into a work of art using simple paper circuits?

I designed this challenge to use Chibitronics circuit kits and a WHOLE lot of creative thinking!
Do you know about Chibitronics yet?  If not, you have to check them out.  Not only do they have all the materials you need to create a successful project but they have tons of tutorials and project examples.

Artovators started out by learning about how circuits work and the different styles of circuits available to them for this project.  They did an internet search using the key words such as Chibitronics, paper circuits and art, and LED lights and art to generate ideas for their project. They recorded all of their ideas on a planning sheet and then had a conference with me to talk through their ideas.  I was overwhelmed with their ideas and creativity. Students brought so many different approaches, 2D and 3D, to their conferences, it was so exciting to see where they wanted to go with their project.

This was a true student driven and student choice project.

Once they got the ok, they were ready to get to work!

First step, make a strong piece of art.  We discussed the importance of have strong craftsmanship for this project in order to best show off the lights.  Some students created larger sketches before moving onto their final project and some moved right into final paper.  This process was totally up to them!

 

Now comes the hard part.

Once their artwork was finished students needed to create a circuit template based on the type of circuit they were using in their work.  They could use one already designed by Chibitronics or they needed to design their own.  If it worked, I encouraged them to use a Chibitronics template, like the one below.  Click here to find many more options!

However, those templates often didn't fit their art work designs.
After much trial and error, here is our template design process

1. Lay a paper, roughly the size of the artwork, overtop of your artwork and mark where you want the lights to go with a small pencil dot.

2. Place/Trace the battery ports.

3. Draw the circuit tape lines from the batteries to each light dot.  Make sure lines are 1/4 in apart.

4. Place circuit tape on pencil lines.

4. Hook up the battery 

5. Place LED stickers on template

Voila!

The best of this process is hearing all of the oohs and ahhs and each student gets their circuit to work.

Don't get me wrong, there was ALOT of trial and error and trouble shooting, 

but we managing to get each student's circuit working!

Students then attached their circuit to the back of their work see the 

magic of creating a LED enhanced work of art!

First Annual Middleton STEAM Carnival!

Early this year I found myself engaged in a conversation with one of the most creative teachers I know, Barbara Deeley (4th grade teacher). We had just learned about STEAM Carnivals taking place in schools around the country and asked eachother, "would it be crazy to try to do this ourselves?"

Well, we do look a little crazy!

6 months later we had recruited a group a teachers who were 

crazy enough to take a chance and join us.

And like that, the first ever Middleton STEAM Carnival was born!

We started out by researching fun but achievable STEAM challenges.  We found so many it was hard to limit ourselves.  With the help of our fellow teachers, we selected a group of activities that teams of teachers were excited about taking on.

Check out our line up!

The week of the Carnival arrived and we worked tirelessly to tie up all the loose ends.  Supplies were gathered and organized, student volunteers were recruited, sample projects made,  

and festive decorations drawn and created by eager student artists.

As the night approached, I was excited but also worried.  What if no one came?  I convinced myself that however small the turn out was it would be ok.  After all, it was our first time.  

If fifty people showed up that would be good.

I was not prepared for the turn out we had.  Throughout the night family after family came into the gymnasium.  Each booth had a stream of participants visit and work through the challenges.  

It was so much fun and there was such energy in the room.

I loved seeing families learn from each different station and share in our excitement.

In the end we had close to 300 visitors!  I think we can safely call this a success.

The special WHMN News segment on the STEAM Carnival
gives you a peek on what the night was all about!

Hope to see you next year - we look forward to this being an annual event!

Did you attend this year's STEAM Carnival?  

What was your favorite booth?

Let it Glow: A Week of STEAM Exploration!

This past week at Fuller Meadow student's embarked on a week of glow in the dark STEAM art.
It was an incredible week and our young artists were engaged and enthralled!

Each grade level had a specially designed art lesson featuring glow in the dark paint
and a special science connection.

Kindergarten: Magnetic Attraction

Young kinder artists experimented with magnets and explored how they can both repel and attract.  After trying out a set of magnets they got to work using magnetic attraction to create marble paintings.  Kinders loved using their magnetic marbles to create works of art
and loved watching their art glow!

1st Grade: Bioluminescent Sea Life

1st grade artists kicked off their art in the dark by learning about bioluminescense
and how scientists are creating the ability to glow in things like plants and trees. 
Check out the video we watched to learn all about this incredible science.

Following this Ted Ed talk, students got to work on their own glowing bioluminescent sea creatures.

This lesson was inspired by artist Michelle Guieu. She has created some incredible work!

  First graders used images from iPads to observe and capture their creatures in pencil.

1st graders then used fluorescent stickers to bring their sea creatures to life!

2nd Grade: Centrifugal Force

2nd graders explored this concept through the magic of spin art - and the LOVED it!

They explored how centrifugal force works by examining amusement park rides, cooking techniques, and a spin on an experiment I saw on Mr. Wizard's World.

We then used these examples to make predictions on what would happen if 

we put paint in the center of a salad spinner..... 

2nd grade artists learned that the paint will be forced away from the center of the spinner.  

Put that together with glow in the dark paint and you get an amazing splatter of art!

These Fuller Meadow Artists' had so much fun this week. 

It will definitely be an annual event!

Geometric String Art Installation

I am so excited to share the amazing project my 4th Grade Howe Manning Artovators
have been creating.  This post is a long one, but it's worth it!

I first learned of this project a few years ago when I stumbled across an outdoor string art design 

by A Zen Librarian, Todd Burleson. I knew I had to do something similar!

4th grade Artovators started learning about geometric string art earlier in the year and created their own individual string art pieces.  Check out this link to learn more about what they did.

As they wrapped up their individual string art, I started talking to the students about installations. 

We watched a mini documentary to learn about installation artist Megan Mosholder's process.

Then the big reveal...

I told them that we were going to create our own installation on the grounds of Howe Manning!

I wanted them to have as much ownership in the process as possible.

First, each Artovator answered a 3 question survey to vote for their favorite grid and design.

Finally it was time to create our design, a circle grid with a spectrum design in 4 colors. 

The whole process would need to be spread out over 6 classes.

The first 2 classes (Weeks and Brown) were responsible for laying out the circle grid.  

This required us to find the center of the work site and build a circle around it with a 24 ft. circumference.  We created a makeshift compass from that center point and 

used it to measure steaks every 2 feet all the way around.

Following the grid set up, each of the remaining 4 classes added a new color to create a spectrum design from 4 different directions.

Mrs. Church's Class:

Mrs. Deeley's Class:

After the first 2 colors, it got much trickier - We needed major teamwork to get the job done!

Mrs. Jones' Class:

and finally, Mr. Husson's Class:

The entire 4th grade was so excited to show the school their project. 

We even tried to raise excitement and find ways for the rest of the school to get involved!

We couldn't have done it without all of the wonderful parent volunteers and teachers who helped out.  I especially want to thank our Technology Curriculum Coordinator, Dierdre Baker,
 who worked with us everyday to document the entire process.  

Check out the video she put together to see the 4th grade Artovators in action!