Core Skills Analysis
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)
- Developed spatial reasoning and engineering skills through constructing Lego models, understanding how pieces fit and support each other.
- Explored technology concepts by using stop motion animation, learning about frame-by-frame visualization and timing.
- Demonstrated collaboration and research skills by crowd sourcing information to inform the building process, enhancing inquiry and synthesis abilities.
- Cultivated creativity and storytelling by combining physical Lego builds with digital animation to convey narratives or ideas.
Communication & Media Literacy
- Practiced digital communication by creating and editing stop motion videos, understanding media production elements.
- Learned to seek and evaluate information collaboratively via crowd sourcing, developing critical thinking and judgment skills.
- Gained experience in visual storytelling by planning how the Lego build and animation visually represent the gathered information.
- Improved organizational skills needed to coordinate a multi-step project involving building, filming, and researching.
Tips
To deepen the understanding and skills gained from Lego building, stop motion, and crowd sourcing, encourage the student to experiment with different themes or stories for their animations to expand creative thinking. Integrate lessons on basic animation principles such as persistence of vision and pacing to build a stronger grasp of technology behind stop motion. Promote a guided research project where the student not only gathers information but also evaluates sources for credibility, strengthening critical research skills. Additionally, consider group projects to enhance collaboration, or digital presentations to develop public speaking and media literacy alongside technical skills.
Book Recommendations
Learning Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7: Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.G.A.A.1: Understand area, perimeter, and volume through practical building activities.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.5: Include multimedia components in presentations to clarify information.
- ISTE Standards for Students 6: Creative Communicator - Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.
- NGSS MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution.
Try This Next
- Design a storyboard worksheet for planning stop motion films, including scene breakdowns and timing notes.
- Create a quiz to test understanding of basic animation concepts such as frames per second and sequencing.
- Develop a drawing task where students sketch their Lego build ideas before building, emphasizing design skills.
- Organize a research log template to track sources and information during crowd sourcing for the build.
Growth Beyond Academics
This activity fosters independence and problem-solving as the student navigates building and animating independently while also encouraging social skills through collaborative crowd sourcing. It likely builds patience and persistence due to the meticulous process of stop motion filming. The cross-disciplinary nature may boost confidence as the student integrates different skills and sees a tangible animated outcome.