How can we protect the reef and sea creatures?
- 20 Jul 2016
What
How can we protect the reef and sea creatures? is a creative animation project that used science-based knowledge to stimulate community awareness about the health of the ocean and its sea creatures.
Students from Hermit Park State School and Belgian Gardens State School in Townsville, worked with artists from La Luna Youth Arts to develop animations aimed at educating and convincing the wider community to protect the ocean and endangered species.
The students took creative risks as they worked in groups to create story boards, characters and animation scenes. The students used cameras, tripods and SD cards, building the animation by taking photos, manipulating characters, writing and recording narratives, sequencing images in Movie Maker, using green screen technology. The students and teachers discovered new ways to integrate science, language and technology skills as they learnt to use new equipment.
The resulting five animations are being exhibited as a part of Emergence a science-art collaboration project with James Cook University in Townsville from February 2016 and then touring Cairns and Mackay.
When
July 2015 to December 2015
Where
Townsville and Brisbane, Queensland
Key stats
- 150 students
- 15 educators
- 3 artist
Arts Queensland contribution
$14,250 – Artist in Residence program
Link
Outcomes
- The schools reported that students and educators experienced increased collaboration and partnerships skills, creative technology skills and student engagement. All of the partners have indicated an interest in working together again on future projects.
- The use of animation as a way to illustrate knowledge and understanding of science learning allowed for a number of students to articulate their learning in new and improved ways, particularly students who think creatively, work well in teams or struggle with literacy. The project also brought opportunities for social skills learning as students had to work in groups for long periods of time.
- Teachers developed new skills in cross curricular learning as well as in animation and green screen skills. The artists illustrated a new approach to creative teaching and learning and the teachers are keen on developing collaborative opportunities in the future.
- The schools collaborated with La Luna Youth Arts to produce this project. Working for a long period of time with an external agency was new to the schools and new processes were formed.
Learnings and reflections
La Luna and the artists found the enthusiasm of the teachers in the project was amazing and their commitment was behind the success of the project. The artists also found that they had to simplify some aspects of the project to ensure that it was within the capabilities of the younger students.
If further activities are undertaken in the future, La Luna would consider extending the timeframes of the project to allow the students to work at a more organic pace.
The teachers involved in the project had not facilitated an arts-led program which articulated science facts before.
Other student feedback included that it was difficult at first to make a creative work based on science facts and that drawing, clay manipulation, photography, using Movie Maker and the green screen plug-in were identified as their most valuable learning experiences.
Students also expressed an interest in continuing their own video making activities out of school hours.
Contact for further information
A pdf version (PDF) (318.16 KB) of the case study is available.
Image of case study main page: The Dangeours Life of Jess the Turtle. Image courtesy La Luna Youth Arts.
Feature image at top of this page: Bob's Not so Great Adventure. Image courtesy La Luna Youth Arts.