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Pupils and teacher recording an animation on an iPad
Learning

Creating Trashion with Blackness Primary School

A stop motion animation adventure into fashion

Earlier this year, DCA Centrespace was transformed into a classroom and animation studio for a special workshop with Blackness Primary School.

We welcomed 59 pupils from two P7 classes for a day of learning animation skills from Andrew Low, our resident film and animation specialist. This followed on from the classes’ experience of attending Discovery Film Festival, and saw the pupils explore stop motion animation. 

Inspired by a project they'd been working on with V&A Dundee called Schoolseum, the pupils created several catwalk scenes using clothes and sets made from recycled materials. Each team worked together to devise their idea, storyboard it, create the characters and settings, and to take on roles such as director, producer, camera person, grip and runner. 

They named the project Trashion, putting the focus on the recycled materials used and the fashion created with them. Their finished animations were shown on a big screen in V&A Dundee in March for the pupils and their friends and family to see. And now you can watch them here...

Published

Mon 1 Jun

Written By

DCA Learning

Trashion

3m35s
I was very impressed at the creativity of the pupils and the resources and set up you provided really gave them the opportunity to express themselves.  My pupils gained a fantastic first-hand insight into how modern stop motion movies are made and got the chance to do it themselves. The wealth of resources and well organised setup allowed my pupils to get stuck in and create some fabulous movies.  The workshop at the DCA was marvellous in applying collaborating and listening and talking skills while honing their technical abilities on new software. These skills will be assessed, in addition to others, by the end of our “Schoolseum” project at the V&A Dundee. The movies will also form as part of the pupils’ wider portfolio which they will display as part of their “Trashion” catwalk show.
Matthew Pound P7 teacher Blackness Primary
Storyboard worksheet with drawing of a piece of rubbish out
Blackness Primary School
Pupil making a stop motion animation using a paper set
Blackness Primary Shchool
DCA staff member helping pupils to create a stop motion anumation
Blackness Primary Shchool
School pupils making an animation using paper
Blackness Primary Shchool
School pupils making an End credit for their animation
Blackness Primary Shchool
Child using an iPad to make an animation
Blackness Primary Shchool
The children displayed their animations on a big screen which played throughout their exhibition which they curated and there were lots of comments about the uniqueness and value of the stop motions they made! The experience was highly engaging and motivating for pupils, including those who don’t always thrive in classroom settings. It encouraged resilience, as pupils refined their work through trial and error, and gave them a real sense of achievement seeing a finished product. It also supported digital literacy in a meaningful, creative context. Very positive experience and Andrew and Mairi were really knowledgeable and relaxed - I think this helped the children feel relaxed and able to be creative and flow as opposed to working to such deadlines and pressured.
Gemma Riley P7 teacher Blackness Primary
Handwritten feedback card: I liked how we moved the character in small parts. I learnt that simple is best
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten feedback card: Today at the DCA was amazing, I loved the animation project but the things I learned today was it's not easy and takes lots of time and effort but overall super great
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten feedback card: I had a very fn time animating and collaborating with others
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten feedback card: I really enjoyed brain storming and making the movies. I learned how to make longer animation and how they are created
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten feedback card: I love the animation with drawings of a girl and a dog
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten feedback card: It was so much fun. The staff were very good and kind. We got to use proper set backgrounds. Thank you
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten feedback card: I liked how it was learning and having fun at the same time. I learned that it takes so long to make a movie
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten comment card: I enjoyed the part where we made our models and that we got to use iPads
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Handwritten comment card: I really enjoyed it, my favourite part was creating the animations. It was fantastic.
Blackness Primary School Pupil Feedback
Pupils and teacher recording an animation on an iPad

Linking to the Curriculum

This project is an example of how working with DCA can enhance and enrich Curriculum for Excellence delivery through Project Based Learning (PBL). These filmmaking activities were designed to link in with the new Draft Curriculum for Film and Screen Education Scotland (find out more here). They also build pupils’ knowledge and engagement across Literacy, Numeracy, Digital/ICT, Expressive Art, Design, STEM and develop key skills, such as:

  • Focusing: The ability to concentrate on a task, maintain interest, and minimise distractions.
  • Communicating: Openly sharing information and effectively articulating thoughts and ideas.
  • Feeling: Seeing things from other people's perspectives, understanding emotions and motivations (empathy).
  • Collaborating: Building and maintaining relationships and working cohesively to achieve shared goals.
  • Curiosity: The desire to learn, explore, and ask questions to increase understanding of an opportunity or problem.
  • Creativity: The ability to imagine and produce original ideas or alternative solutions.
  • Critical Thinking: Analysing and evaluating information objectively to make reasoned judgments or solve complex problems.

 

Film and Screen Education as part of the Scottish Curriculum means the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the creative, critical and cultural components of Film and Screen making as well as supporting understanding of how Film and Screen engages, represents and reflects the self and the community. Film and Screen Education in schools is delivered as an expressive art, focused on practical engagement in the making of Film and Screen products. Expressive arts education in Scotland comprises opportunities for learners to create, present and evaluate their work, to demonstrate knowledge and understanding through practical engagement.
Screen Scotland Draft Curriculum for Film and Screen Education Scotland

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Families at tables in Gallery 1 using art materials to make together

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