Panther Flipbooks

Large Flipbooks

Big Idea: Continue to build confidence and understanding in the concepts of animation to lead them into microworlds programming

Dates: Wednesday, November 16th

Groups Participating: Panther teens

Attendance: Gabe, myself and 5 or 6 different teens coming in and out, including some highschoolers.

Software: None

Hardware: None

Materials: lots of index cards (40 per student), clothspins, and fine point sharpies (black ones and all colors if possible)

Directions: Each student gets 40 cards or more, two clothspins, and choice of markers. By drawing a simple character or shape at the bottom end of each notecard, but changing its position or shape slightly on each, the character becomes animated when put in order, clothespinned on the opposite end, and quickly flipped from one to the next. With the one set of cards, four different stories can be created by using the backside of the cards.

Associated Concepts: A further more complicated in creating animation. It definately displays patience as a key trait for any animator.

Best Part: By making my flipbook about a little circle getting killed in various gory ways, I captured a few high-schoolers' interest. Also, Marcus pulled off a great basketball flipbook, and Lianthia's story about a a girl's ball bouncing in the road and the girl following into traffic ended tragically, but as far as animation skills, brilliantly. Although some of the highschoolers didn't participate, they expressed interest enough to where I simply gave them cards and clothspins to take home to do. Though I'll never know, I'm pretty sure they took it seriously and probably gave it a shot.

Worst Part: When the teens lose patience with activities that do not have immediate outcomes and lose interest. The after school venue is a tough place to sell activities that take time and effort.

Improvements: Again, theme based challenges would be an added incentive for creation. Such as, "Create a flipbook that shows your...
-worst injury
-best family vacation
-favorite hobby
-proudest moment
-favorite sports team/player
-favorite holiday
-favorite natural catastrophe
-favorite movie scene

The idea of animation progressed with this activity, in a fun, casual manner. Next blog I'll get into our evening with our Zoetropes, and then move into the world of microworlds.

Myles