The Research Experience for Teachers Program /

Subject Area: Beginning Visual Arts, Intermediate Visual Arts, Math

Computer Science Tools:Scratch 2 (available for free at

Activity Title: Perspective & Animation in Art with Scratch

Grade Level:9-12

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Recommended Group Size:1

Summary:Students will use Scratch2 to explore the concepts of perspective and animation.

Computer Science Connection:Scratch2 programming

Keywords:perspective, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, vanishing point, horizon

Pre-Requisite Knowledge:Basic knowledge of and/or experience with Scratch. If students have not used Scratch previously, there is a very brief introduction on the Scratch homepage.

Once inside Scratch (If using online version, click on the “Create” button.) there are great step-by-step helps on the right-hand side of both the online and offline versions. (See illustrations on the next page)

If time permits, there are many good tutorials online in various locations including some of the other modules on the RET site. A series of video lessons taken from SchoolTubecan be found here - . While potentially time consuming, the tutorial is arranged in sections so students can go to specific topic-based sessions.

Educational Standard(s):

  • (NC) B.V.3.2–Use a variety of media, including 2-D, 3-D, and digital to produce art.
  • (NC) B.V.2.1– Understand the role of planning in solving artistic problems.
  • (NC) B.CX.2.4– Analyze the role of art in creating digital images, technological products, and design.
  • (NC) I.V.2.1 – Generate innovative solutions to artistic problems.

Learning Objectives: After this lesson students will be able to:

  • Define perspective in art
  • Analyze Scratch2 example to see how coding can make sprites appear larger and smaller and animate to keep artistic perspective
  • Use Scratch2 programming to create a simple animation with perspective

Materials List:

  • Computer
  • Internet access
  • Scratch2 (online or installed on individual computers)
  • Perspective & Animation Example (attached to this module in zip file and also available at .
  • Perspective & Animation Lab Activity

Introduction:

As with many other fields, art has been greatly impacted by computers and the digital age. Graphic artists were among the first to embrace technological advancements in the form of desktop publishing. Then came the ever-expanding area of computer gaming and 3-D animation, and now virtual reality has added a whole new component to the field. Math and science have merged with art to create things like fractals. While there will always be fine art and artists, computer art has opened up a world of possibilities, the end of which is nowhere in sight.

Before the Activity:

  1. Download Scratch2 from if you want to install it on individual student computers. If you would rather use it online, make sure that the site is not blocked by school filters. If you have an older version downloaded onto student computers, you will want to upgrade it to Scratch 2 because the versions are different and there might be confusion when following the instructions.
  2. Make sure students have basic knowledge of Scratcheither from a previous lesson or from self-guided tutorials. (See above links.)
  3. Before students begin, have a discussion and/or demonstration of perspective. This can cover as much or as little as the teacher wants to cover but should include a basic definition of perspective. Much of the history begins with the Renaissance and the field has expanded to include refinements such as linear perspective, aerial perspective, one point-, two point-, and three point-perspective, and so on.
  4. Teachers should also discuss animation, perhaps delving into its history and evolution as well.

Procedure:

  1. Open thePerspective & Animation Example program in Scratch. This can be done as a whole class or individually.
  2. Students then work individually to complete the Perspective & Animation in Scratch Lab Activity.

Assessment:

Each student will turn in completed Perspective & Animation in Scratch Lab Activity.

Reference(s):

  • Some helpful resources on perspective can be found at the following sites: