Butterfly Animation
TITLE: MONO-PRINT BUTTERFLIES Author: Zachary Baggett Year: 2016 Artform: Visual Art Grade: 2 Duration: 45 Min session
OVERVIEW Learners will explore symmetry in nature, mimicry and camouflage by observing varying butterfly species and creating butterfly mono-prints.
SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES Paper with weight of 80 Black water color paint Assorted crayons fine tip paint brushes Projector/doc camera optional: books or video about butterflies Images showing eye spots on butterfly wings Images of varying species of butterfly
FINE ART STANDARDS USOE Standard 2 Students will understand, evaluate, and articulate how works of art convey meaning for the observer as well as the creator (Standards 2.V.R.1–3). Standard 2.V.R.1: Perceive and describe aesthetic characteristics of one’s natural world
INTEGRATED STANDARDS Life Science. Students will gain an understanding of Life Science through the study of changes in organisms over time and the nature of living things. Objective 1 Tell how external features affect an animals’ ability to survive in its environment.
OBJECTIVES Learners will identify characteristics of butterflies that help them to survive. Learners will utilize princples of design such as balance Students will utilize symmetry in a artmaking process
TEACHING AND TIMELINE
INTRODUCTION
(5 Min) Welcome Class. Display a video intro from Nova, Life of the Monarch Butterfly episode. As students to share something new they learned about butterflies. Discuss migration (Monarch's migrate). Discuss metamorphosis. View and Discuss wing patterns and introduce symmetry.
DEMONSTRATION
(2 Min) Using document camera, fold paper in half hamburger way and have students do the same. Verify adherance. (8 Min) Demonstrate how to create half of a head, thorax, and abdomen using black water color paint, by making half oval shapes that touch the center fold. Stop after making each mark, fold paper over to copy the shape to the opposite side. Emphasize, one mark at a time. Circulate class and provide individual instruction. (15 Min) Add one antenna. Fold paper to copy a second antenna. Have students do the same. Continue making one mark or stroke at a time, have students do the same. Make the top line of the upper wing. Make the curved line of the lower part of the upper wind. Etc. Check for understanding after each step. (10 Min) Discuss mimicry. Show "eye spots" on butterlies. See if students can make inferences about why butterflies might have spots that look like owl eyes. Show how to make marks on one wing of butterfly. Fold paper after each mark to copy onto the other side of the page. Have students design their butterlfies based on species displayed on overhead. WORK PERIOD Integrated with demonstration for this lesson.
CLOSURE/SUMMARY (5 Min) If there is time, have students color butterflies using crayons, and using symmetry. Pick up paints while students color. If time is out, continue into next lesson.
Session 2: Stop Motion Animation
Utilizing stop motion application and Ipad show how to create a stop motion animation. On Ipad app store locate Stop Motion Studio by Cateater, LLC. It has an image of a film projector in a blue square as the icon. It is a free application. Download and install the application from the app store.
Open the application and play with it to figure out how to create a video for yourself first.
Demonstration
Set up camera in a still and stable position. Set up a backdrop. I used blue butcher paper, which I lay down flat on the floor. I place the ipad on a table, with the camera facing down toward the butcher paper on the ground. I stabilize the ipad to make sure it wont fall. The camera eye needs to be over the edge of the table to capture the images played out on the butcher paper. Demonstrate for student hot to take a picture by pushing the red button. Then in between shots move the cut out butterflies less than an inch. Then take a picture. Repeat until the butterfly has moved all the way out of the picture plane (visible area on the camera). Have students take turns being the camera person to push the button and the mover person. You can also fold the butterfly paper slightly in between shots to make it look the wings are flapping. Emphasize patience. Students always want to take a picture before the hands of other students have moved out of the way of the picture. Make sure that all students have a turn capturing their butterfly as it moves across the picture plane. This will likely take the duration of the period, but you may have time to demonstrate the finalized movie by the end of the class. The video can be saved in several formats or uploaded directly to a youtube channel.
