Motion Picture

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During this hands-on activity, learners are briefly exposed to moviemaking and animation, when they create their own thaumatropes. Participants draw two different images which appear as one, when an optical-illusion is performed. Learners tap into their creative sides by drawing different images (i.e. bird/bird cage, fish/fishbowl, sailboat/ocean) for the activity. Leaders can use this activity to introduce the concept of "persistence of vision".

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 11
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English, Spanish

Materials List (per group of students)

  • tape
  • rubber bands
  • hole punch or pencil
  • 3" x 5" index cards
  • markers or crayons

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Human Senses and Perception
      • Vision
      • Perception
  • Physical Sciences
    • Vibration and Waves
      • Light and Optics
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Performing Arts
  • Photography and Film/Video
  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Foreign language versions of this resource:

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • WGBH

Source Collection

  • Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, WGBH Educational Foundation, 2009

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation, 0813513
  • Public television viewers