Students at Andrew
Robinson Elementary have been putting the funds they received from the
Chartrand Foundation's Inspire.Create.Achieve. (I.C.A.) Grant to good use: they have been creating claymation projects.
Claymation is a term used
to define clay animation: the process of taking pictures of clay figures and
then replaying those pictures quickly to create the illusion of movement.
Andrew Robinson Elementary
applied for the grant with hopes of implementing more technology programs at
the school. Since receiving the $12,000 grant, the school has been able to
purchase computer software, art materials, digital cameras and stop motion
movies.
"Our ultimate goal with
the grant is to enable Andrew Robinson students to add another dimension to
their scope of experiences," says Anthony Sznakowski, the art specialist at
Andrew Robinson who oversees the claymation projects. "We love the
opportunity to expose our students to the art of applied digital media
technology and video production. We believe that the more exposure our
students have to the world of technology from an early age, the better
equipped they will be for life."
The students who
participate in claymation are members of the Andrew Robinson Claymation
Team, which is comprised of about 10 students who have good grades and were
recommended by their teachers. The team typically meets after school one to
two days per week, and they have been working on their claymation projects
since October.
Sznakowski says his
students love the claymation projects. "They are lined up at the door to the
art lab after school ready to get started. As soon as I open the door, the
kids jump right into their projects."
So far, the Claymation Team has created two films: "Food Fight" and "The Life Cycle of a Butterfly." Before creating a film,
students had to first write a synopsis and storyboard outlining what they
were going to do. Then, they had to sculpt the clay figures, create the
background set by hand and determine which sound effects would be needed.
Once all the materials were ready, the students arranged the characters on
the set and began taking pictures. Sznakowski said more than 300 pictures
were needed to create the .48-second "The Life Cycle of a Butterfly" film.
"We have seen some of the most incredible work from
Duval County teachers and students participating in our I.C.A. Grants
program," said Jeff Chartrand, executive director, The Chartrand Foundation.
"From claymation movies created by elementary students at Andrew Robinson to
theatrical productions that match the school's book-of-the month selection
at Carter G. Woodson, creativity is alive and well in our public school
system."
Sznakowski, along with Ms. Walsh, Robinson Elementary's
reading resource teacher, plan to continue working with and expanding the
Claymation Team. New students will be joining next term, and they will be
taught claymation by the older students. "With the success the program is
having this year, I can only imagine what movies we will make next year,"
Sznakowski said.
The Andrew Robinson Claymation Team's films were uploaded to YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the title of the film:
"The Life Cycle of a Butterfly" and "Food Fight."
The I.C.A. Grants awarded by The Chartrand Foundation
afford educators with additional resources designed to make class work and
curriculum in the areas of art, civics, and science relevant to real-life
experiences. Founded in September 2006, The Chartrand Foundation is a
Jacksonville-based family foundation that has contributed or committed more
than $2 million to efforts that support quality public education and
community reform.
