Name
Curated design: Slowmation
Topic
Animation
Learning time
9 hours
Designed time
7 hours and 45 minutes
Size of class
25
Description
A Slowmation (slow animation) is a simplified way for students to design and make a narrated stop-motion animation that is played slowly at 2 frames per second to explain a concept. Used for students of all ages from primary up,
Aims
For students to learn about and create Slowmation (narrated stop frame animation).
Outcomes
Construct
Editor
diana
Edit
Preparation
105 minutes)
  • Read Watch Listen
    30
    25
    1
    Watch the demo of what animation is, with examples of 'slowmations' (see attached resource), emphasising that the smaller the movements the better and that an animation is like a moving cartoon. Explanation includes “principles of animation” - animation is made up of a sequence of small movements; the smaller the movements the better the illusion of movement.
  • Produce
    15
    1
    0
    Make a flip book by drawing an image in different positions on separate sheets of “post it notes”, e.g. having a different position of a stick man or object on each page.
  • Read Watch Listen
    30
    25
    0
    Watch how the teacher creates a “peoplemation” by taking photos of students making small dance movements.
  • Discuss
    30
    25
    0
    Join the class discussion to choose a topic and brainstorm examples of storytelling techniques.
Notes:
Resources linked: 0
Investigating a concept
30 minutes)
  • Investigate
    30
    3
    0
    In your group, agree what topic you will represent in your slowmation. Start investigating it using the class resources. Select the resources that are most useful and make notes on how you will explain your topic, and what kinds of pictures you will need. Plan how you will do the slowmation - using diagrams, making models, making cut outs, using drawing software (the teacher will supply your cameras, tripods, and computers).
Notes:
The purpose of this phase is for the students to understand enough of a concept in order to represent it in their animation. Students can learn about the concept by direct instruction or personal research or a combination of teacher-student interactions.
Resources linked: 0
Storyboarding
75 minutes)
  • Read Watch Listen
    15
    25
    0
    Listen to the teacher explain how to break down a topic into something simple enough to animate.
  • Collaborate
    30
    3
    0
    In your group, use the storyboarding/chunking sheets and begin storyboarding by chunking your topic or story, referring to your notes and the . Start writing the narration to accompany each chunk or part of the storyboard, as you go. Agree who will do what to complete the chunking and storyboarding for homework.
  • Practice
    30
    1
    0
    Complete your part of the storyboard and narration for homework.
Notes:
The purpose of this phase is to break down the concept into its constituent parts or key ideas and place them in a sensible order using the procedure of storyboarding. It is advisable for the students to also write their narration, because the narration and storyboarding inform each other.
Resources linked: 0
Construction See Instructions for taking photos and using SAM Animation (PDF, 141 KB).
95 minutes)
  • Discuss
    5
    3
    0
    With your group, discuss with the teacher how your chunking sheet and/or storyboards are progressing to see if there are ways of doing it better.
  • Collaborate
    90
    0
    In your group, make the model of your topic. Bring your own resources or use those in the classroom (plastic models, cardboard cut outs, play dough, photos from a book). Do the filming by using the cardboard project sheet taped flat to the floor (to resist movement) and a camera on a tripod looking down or taped to the back of a chair to keep it still. Make sure the camera is set at low resolution or low picture quality otherwise the animation will be too big. Take the photos in order. Download the photos onto a separate folder on your computer desktop
Notes:
The purpose of this phase is to make or use existing models and take the photos of the models while they are being moved manually.
Resources linked: 0
Reconstruction
160 minutes)
  • Produce
    90
    1
    With the teacher's help, download your photos onto a computer. Follow the instructions for SAM animation (see resource attached). Use the software according to the instructions provided. Add real-life photos next to the models, which should be copyright free from Wikipedia. Lengthen the time exposure of individual photos for important static images. Record the narration.
  • Discuss
    60
    25
    0
    Look at other students' slowmations and see if you understand the topic they are explaining. Add your comments to the class discussion board for each one you look at. Join the class discussions about the concept.
  • Produce
    10
    0
    Upload your slowmation to the class website.
Notes:
The purpose of this phase is for the student to reconstruct or bring together their ideas in new ways with different sign systems (visual, narrative, linguistic) to represent their understanding of the whole concept. This occurs in multiple ways by uploading the photos into the animation software program, creating the animation, editing it and recording the narration.
Resources linked: 0

Learning Experience

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