The Teachers' Animation Toolkit

Including animation in your classroom can: • improve literacy and numeracy • develop critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills • enhance teamwork and negotiation • encourage creativity This toolkit, together with an extensive companion website, will give you the confidence to use animation in your classroom. From teaching basic flip-book animation right through to producing an animated film, there are drawing templates for the less confident artists and tried-and-tested schemes of work, plus advice on how to use animation equipment and what technology and software is available. This practical, cross-curricular resource is particularly suitable for use with students aged 11-16, although many of the activities can be adapted for older or younger students. It can be used in Art, Media Studies, ICT and many other subjects to engage learners of all styles and abilities.

Table of Contents:
Introduction What is the Teachers' Animation Toolkit? Research Techniques Why Use Animation in the Classroom? Using the Toolkit Part One: Getting Started 1.1 Animation History Worksheet: Sketching a History of Animation 1.2 Beginners' Exercises Handout: The Easiest Animation Handout: Create a Flip Book Worksheet: Make a Spinning Card (Thaumatrope) Handout: How to Make a Spinning Card (Thaumatrope) Worksheet: Make a Spindle Viewer (Phenakistoscope) Handout: How to Make a Spindle Viewer (Phenakistoscope) Worksheet: Making an Animation Wheel (Zoetrope) Worksheet: Breathe Life into Teddy Worksheet: Twist'em, Bend'em, Squash'em Worksheet: Expressive Lines and Characters Worksheet: Getting the Basics of Movement Part Two: Cineliteracy 2.1 The Language of Film and Animation Worksheet: The Grammar of Film Language Worksheet: Deconstructing a Media Text Worksheet: Freeze Frame Worksheet: Studying a Title Sequence Worksheet: Who Makes Animations? Worksheet: Pitching an Idea Handout: Writing a Treatment 2.2 Exploring Genre Worksheet: Exploring Genre Handout: Genres Worksheet: Genre Translation Worksheet: Genre and Character Design 2.3 Music and Animation Worksheet: Music and Imagery in Peter and the Wolf Worksheet: Understanding Leitmotiv in Peter and the Wolf Worksheet: Compose a 15-second Leitmotiv 2.4 Storytelling Worksheet: Story Writing Worksheet: Analysing Story Structure Worksheet: Storytelling with a Video Camera Worksheet: Script Writing for Animation Handout: The Headless Smuggler Script Example Worksheet: Storyboarding Worksheet: Storyboarding and Animated Haiku Part Three: Animation Styles 3.1 Pixilation Worksheet: Animated Portraits Worksheet: Animation in the Landscape Worksheet: Talking Objects 3.2 Plasticine Model Animation Worksheet: Metamorphosis Worksheet: Two Characters 3.3 Cut Out Animation Worksheet: Cut-Out Figures 3.4 Shadow Puppetry Worksheet: Shadow Puppet Animation 3.5 Drawn Animation Worksheet: Simple Movement Cycles Worksheet: Drawing Key Frames and Inbetweens Worksheet: Lip Sync Worksheet: Digital Drawn Animation 3.6 Machinima Worksheet: Making Machinima in Second Life Worksheet: Using Crazy Talk Worksheet: Using Moviestorm for Machinima Part Four: Schemes of Work 4.1 Tell Me a Story 4.2. TV Adverts 4.3: Music Videos Part Five: Resources 5.1 Animation Equipment Setting Up an Animation Rostrum 5.2 Recording and Editing Sound Equipment Options PC-Based Audio Editing with Audacity 5.3 Stop-Motion Animation Software Dragon Stop Motion Using Dragon Stop Motion in the Classroom Other PC-Based Solutions Other Mac-Based Solutions 5.4 Video and Animation Editing Editing Software: PC Solutions Editing Software: Mac Solutions Editing with Windows Movie Maker 5.5 Producing Your Own Animated Film Planning a Project The Stages of Pre-Production Production Post-Production Marketing and Distribution Funding a Project 5.6 Reference Books on Animation Recommended Animators Templates Glossary of Terms

About the Author :
Britta Pollmüller is Director of Media Projects East and Lecturer in Animation and Games Art and Design. Martin Sercombe is founding director of Media Projects East in the UK. Martin has made a wide range of documentaries, artist's films and animations.

Review :
'This new book for teachers is grounded in two things: firstly, a belief in the inherent power of animation activities to transform the experience of learning across the curriculum and, secondly, a sense of the form itself, its history and development. Its authors clearly care about the medium and have provided a range of resources and support for teachers and learners to get started.' John Potter, Programme Leader, Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media, The London Knowledge Lab, University of London, UK 'The Teachers' Animation Toolkit is an imaginative and invaluable resource, rich with exercises and information. It shows that animation can be a vital component in any child's education, enhancing skills and knowledge in all subject areas, while remaining creative and fun. From Disney to Desktop, it enables children to embrace a still undervalued form, so they might become the film-makers and animators of the future...' Paul Wells, Director of the Animation Academy, Loughborough University, UK