A Work-in-Progress
Developing a new unit on cartooning & animation; integrating my passions for art, invention and technology.
Introduction:
Cartooning: using pictures to tell a story.
We started with a portrait series:
The format:
Inspired by the surrealist game Exquisite Corpse, the first-graders folded paper into thirds. Instead of doing a whole-body mash-up, we started with a blank face template. Partnerships of three drew either the hair/hat, eyes/ears/nose, or mouth/moustache. We made layered cards/books with multiple faces…Exquisite Face or, as we like to call it…
Fractured Faces
Added googly-eyes:
The 4th and 5th graders made a rotating, mechanical version:
And a sliding version:
We played online, interactive versions:
from y-designs: http://y-designs.com/apps/mix-face/
and from Duckie Deck: http://duckiedeck.com/play/portrait
The more adventurous among us made origami Face Changers…
For step-by-step instructions:
http://www.origami-make.org/origami-face-changer.php
Alternatively:
http://www.arvindguptatoys.com
https://www.ted.com/talks/arvind_gupta_turning_trash_into_toys_for_learning
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2019/09/halloween-changing-face-paper-cup-craft.html
For students interested in honing their portrait-drawing skills, I recommend:
The next step:
Cartoons Get Animated
The Origins and Evolution of Moving Pictures
From Thaumatrope
https://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/flipstick.html
to Flipbook:
from Muybridge
to Patrick Jenkins
to Matt Shlian
We viewed historical motion pictures and animation from the Library of Congress and Edison archives:
Humorous Phases of Funny Faces, 1906
and viewed a sampling of animated gifs…
Coming Attractions: Takin’ It 3D!
3D Technology
Stereographic
and Anaglyphic (Get out your anaglyphic glasses!) 
tankelteach 