ANIMATION
PROJECT
Activities Sheet,
Assessment Criteria
Teacher's Notes
MYP Year 2
UNIT 1
“Natural Phenomenon” ANIMATION
PROJECT
How does the world around us work?
How do natural phenomena occur?
Computer Technology
[Information] [Materials]
Title: “Natural Phenomenon” Animation
How does the world around us work?
How do natural phenomena occur?
Introduction
· A natural phenomenon is something that occurs in nature such as a volcano, hurricane, tsunami, gravity, snow, a baby rabbit being born, a rainbow, or a tadpole turning into a frog. Depending on who or what you are, a natural phenomenon can be destructive, necessary, amazing, beautiful, …
· A computerized animation is a good way to teach people, especially young people and visual learners, about how a phenomenon occurs in nature.
· An animation is easier to create if it is well planned and broken down into smaller, more manageable steps. We will follow “the Design Cycle” in creating our animations.
· The question is, “How do natural phenomena occur?”
Challenge
1. Choose a natural phenomenon
Investigate your chosen phenomenon AND find out what can be done with computer animation software.
2. Carefully plan your animation on paper before starting. Keep a journal of how the project is going; especially remarking on changes to your original plan.
3. Working independently, demonstrate how the phenomenon occurs and communicate some interesting facts about the phenomenon by creating a computerized animation
4. Evaluate your own work (in writing!)
Resources
Information
· IT information: Animation (Flash) software manuals, Animation software (Flash) Help menu, Teacher demos, Peer demos
· Other information for researching the phenomenon: Internet research, Interview(s), books, magazines, etc.
Tools
· Animation software (Flash)
Lesson 1: Drawing with Flash
Lesson 2: Animation with Flash Introduction
Then Follow these steps:
PART A. INVESTIGATE (Lesson 3)
1. FLASH TOOLS: Find out what the animation package (Flash) is capable of and
write them out in a list.
COMPUTERIZED ANIMATIONS: Brainstorm a list of what Flash animations can be used for.
2. NATURAL PHENOMENON: Brainstorm a list of natural phenomena that would be the most interesting for you to animate. List at least five ideas.
3. HOW IT OCCURS: Pick one natural phenomenon and further investigate:
a) how it occurs AND
b) some interesting facts about the phenomenon. If you can not finish in class, do the rest for homework.
4. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Continue your research, writing notes. Be sure to write down all Bibliographic information (example: for a website, write down the title, URL (address), author, date page updated, and date you accessed the website). Fill in the blanks using www.easybib.com and easybib will automatically professionally format the bibliography information for you. If you can’t find bibliography information such as author or the last date the site was updated, then maybe it is not a reliable site! It’s important to judge the reliability of each of your sources before deciding whether or not to use them.
CHECKLIST
PART A. INVESTIGATION
ALL of the following items must be included to gain 8/8 marks(see Assessment on page 9)
q Title at top: Part A. the Investigation + subtitles for each section
q A point form list of what Flash can do
q A point form list of what animations can be used for
q Brainstorming of ideas you could choose for a natural phenomenon animation
q The name of your chosen natural phenomenon
q How it occurs (point form)
q Some interesting facts (point form)
q A list of sources properly acknowledged using easybib.com or similar
PART B. PLAN (Lesson 4)
Using the information gathered during the investigation, break the phenomenon into smaller steps to show how it occurs and draw a plan for your animation. Include:
· drawings,
· written explanations of drawings,
· how interesting facts will be communicated,
· clearly labelled drawings showing the animation tools you’ll be using,
· indicate how long you expect each step will take to animate, and
· decide on the names of layers (and clearly indicate what will be included on each layer)
ANIMATION TOOLS:
Make a clear note of the animation tools you will need to utilize for each part. Try to incorporate more than 10 animation tools.
(At least 9 or 10 of these skills must be demonstrated in order to gain full marks)
Some Animation Tools That Can Be Included:
1. At least five Layers
2. Something that is consistent (still) for a portion of the movie (or the whole movie)
3. A Motion Tween with Movement of an object in a straight line
4. A Motion Tween with a Rotation
5. A Motion Tween with a change of Scale of an object
6. A Motion Tween with a vertical or horizontal Flip
7. A Motion Tween with a change of colour of an object
8. Change tint, fade in/out (alpha), change hue, etc)
9. Movement in a curved path using a Motion Guide
10. A Shape Tween
11. A Flash sound from the Library
12. An Imported sound or music
13. A Button
14. Other
Plan to use Flash’s drawing tools such as different paint brushes, pencils, paint bucket tools, and gradients to include good Arts skills, for example:
· Include shading,
· Include good use of colour, hues, whitespace
· Include perspective
Effort should be made to try to make all movements relatively fluid
CHECKLIST
Part B. The PLAN
ALL of the following items must be included to gain 8/8 marks
(see Assessment on page 10)
q Title at top: Part B. the Plan
q Drawings
q Written explanations of drawings
q Show how ‘interesting facts’ will be communicated
q animation tools you will need to use
q How long you expect each step will take to animate
q what will be drawn on each layer
PART C. CREATE (Lessons 5, 6, 7)
IN CT CLASS AND FOR HOMEWORK:
1. Using the information from your investigation, and following your plan, CREATE the animation using the animation package (Flash).
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH CLASS (AND anytime you have made a major change to your plan):
2. JOURNAL ENTRY: Write a word-processed journal entry. Ideas that you could include:
· what you accomplished OR learned last class and for homework,
any changes you made to your original plan (and why you made the changes).
¨ Any limits (of the software, your time, or your skills) that have prevented you from following your plan
¨ Any new ideas you’ve had while creating the animation. Mention what gave you the idea
· any successes you’ve had, especially something you figured out on your own
· any difficulties you’ve run into (and how you solved them).
· your plans for next class (and any work you plan to do at home)
· how you feel about the project now, and/or
· anything else that’s relevant
note:
The final creation must be in two formats: .fla and .swf
The final creation must be saved on ___drive and/or submit on CD.
CHECKLIST
Part C. The ANIMATION
ALL of the following items must be included to gain 8/8 marks (see Skills expected on page 4, and Assessment on page 12)
q Title at top: Part C. the Animation
q Name of animation (.fla version and .swf version) and path (example: h:\\yourloginname\CT2003\NP-tornado-yourname.fla)
q All Journal entries
q The animation tools evaluation chart
PART D. EVALUATE (Lesson 8)
Evaluate your animation.
Some things to include:
1. An analysis (your opinion) of the effectiveness and quality of your animation. Include:
§ Does it clearly illustrate the phenomenon? (why/why not?… Your positive and negative opinions about how well the animation communicates how the natural phenomenon occurs and the interesting facts)
· A description of any artistic qualities of the animation
· An explanation of whether or not you think you made the best use of the Flash tools.
· The ‘Subject Area Links’ and ‘Areas of Interaction’ used for your project (carefully fill in the chart on page 16)
2. A summary of the changes you made to your original plan and why they were made. Check your Journal to help you complete this part of the evaluation.
3. Further improvements that could be made if you had more time and expertise
4. If you could start this animation all over again (Parts A, B, C, D), how would you do it differently?
CHECKLIST
Part D. The EVALUATION
ALL of the following items must be included to gain 8/8 marks
(see Skills expected on page 4, and Assessment on page 13)
q Title at top: Part D. the Evaluation
q Does it clearly illustrate the phenomenon?
q Artistic qualities
q Did I make the best of the Flash tools?
q The list of subject area links and areas of interaction
q Changes you made to your plan and why they were made
q If you could start all over again, how would you do it differently?
PART E. PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT & INDEPENDENCE
If you display enthusiasm, motivation, take initiative, work well both in class and outside of class while adhering to deadlines, you will achieve full marks for this criteria.
(This is the only section for which you are not required to write anything!)
TITLE PAGE
When submitting the final project, please include a title page with the following text clearly arranged on the page:
· Year 8 Computer Technology Unit 1
· Natural Phenomenon Animation
· the name of your natural phenomenon
· the file name and path of your animation
(example: H:\\CT2003\NP\tornado-yourname.fla)
· your name, your homeroom
· final submission date
MYP COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY - YEAR 2
ANIMATION PROJECT
CLASSWORK, HOMEWORK, & DUE DATES
LESSON / CLASSWORK / HOMEWORK(write this in your diary!) /
HOMEWORK DUE
(fill in the due dates below)1 / Drawing skills in Flash / Create a simple Flash drawing of an animal, alien or person. / Submit drawing on H: drive at beginning of class of Lesson 2.
Due Date: ______
2 / Practicing Flash animation skills 1 / Be able to demonstrate all skills learned so far. Arrange for extra help if needed. / Beginning of class of Lesson 3.
Due Date: ______
3 / -The Design Cycle: Investigation Stage
-Practicing Flash animation skills 2 / 1. Be able to demonstrate all skills learned so far. Arrange for extra help if needed.
2. Write Animation Project Part A - Investigate / Submit Part A. Investigation at the Beginning of class of Lesson 4.
Due Date: ______
4 / Design Cycle: Planning Stage / 1. Update your Investigation
2. Write Animation Project Part B – Plan / - Re-submit Part A. Investigation for remarking (optional)
- Submit Part B. Plan at the Beginning of class of Lesson 5.
Due Date: ______
5 / Begin creating Animation Project / Work on Animation Project for approx. 40 minutes / Show your teacher your progress so far (at least 1 hour in total on the project so far)
Due Date: ______
6 / -Write Journal Entry #1
-Continue creating Animation Project / Work on Animation Project for approx. 40 minutes / Show your teacher your progress so far
Due Date: ______
7 / -Write Journal Entry #2
-Complete final touches of Animation Project / Work on Animation Project for approx. 40 minutes / Part C. Solution must be completed
Due Date: ______
8 / -Write Journal Entry #3
-Title page
-Evaluation / 1. Complete Animation Project (take 40 minutes)
2. Complete Part D – Evaluation AND title page / Submit Part C. Solution (on H: drive) and Part D. Evaluation the beginning of Lesson 9.
Due Date: ______
9 / -Write Journal Entry #4
-Finishing touches on all aspects of the Animation Project / SUBMIT entire Animation Project in your folder including:
-title page and
-Parts A, B, C, and D and
-Animation Project Assessment sheets
-Journal entries / Submit Animation Project at the End of Class Today
Due Date: ______
ASSESSMENT
A. Investigate [8 marks]
B. Plan the animation [8 marks]
C. Create the animation according to the plan [8 marks]
D. Evaluate your animation [8 marks]
E. Personal Engagement and Independence (Effort) [4 marks]
36 marks
Criterion A: Investigate Animation Creation AND the TopicInvestigation is an essential step in the design cycle. In order for this step to be assessed, students must produce documented evidence of topic research and analysis. The following will be assessed:
1. Knowledge and ability in identifying the IT skills needed
2. Analysis of the problem
3. Using and acknowledging sources
Level of Achievement / Task Specific Descriptor
0 / ¨ Failure to address the actual task set.
¨ The student has not handed in an investigation
¨ The student has not reached a standard described by any of the descriptors given below
1-2 / ¨ Little knowledge and ability in identifying the computer animation tools needed
¨ Hardly any attempt of analysis of the problem
¨ Lists few sources, some of which may be irrelevant
3-4 / ¨ Some knowledge and ability in identifying the computer animation tools needed
¨ Signs of analysis of the problem
¨ Adequately acknowledges sources
5-6 / ¨ Good knowledge and ability in identifying most of the computer animation tools needed
¨ Some analysis of the problem
¨ Effectively acknowledges sources
7-8 / ¨ Excellent knowledge and ability in identifying the computer animation tools needed
¨ High degree of analysis of the problem (how it occurs, interesting facts)
¨ Consistently and clearly acknowledges sources in a Bibliography
/ Self Assessment Level Achieved Final Level Achieved