Digital Storytelling 101: Using Brush Ninja for Narrative Storyboarding and Creation Lesson Plan
Learning Objective
Students will learn how to use Brush Ninja, an animated GIF maker, to create a narrative storyboard and produce an animated GIF.
Materials
- Computers or tablets with internet access
- Brush Ninja website
- Paper and pencils for sketching storyboards
Procedure
- Introduce the concept of digital storytelling and how it can be used to convey ideas and emotions using animation.
- Explain that students will be using Brush Ninja to create their own animated stories.
- Show students the Brush Ninja website and demonstrate the basic features of the software.
- Explain how they can use different brush strokes, colors, and frames to create a moving story.
- Ask students to brainstorm ideas for their own stories on paper before beginning their digital creations.
- Instruct students to sketch out a storyboard detailing their storyβs events on paper before starting their digital creation.
- Encourage students to use their storyboard as a guide while creating their animation using Brush Ninja.
Assessment
Student animations will be assessed based on creativity, quality of artwork, clarity of storytelling, and effective use of animation techniques.
Extension
As an extension activity, students can share their final animations with classmates or even post them online for others to view. They can also explore other digital storytelling tools and create more complex animations.
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How to animate with Brush Ninja
This video teaches the basics of using Brush Ninja
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Examples of Brush Ninja in Education
Incredible to see the creativity of Year 3 students @St_Chrysostoms. After learning about what animation is they created their own using Brush Ninja by @BinaryMoon
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Tweeted by Erica RamΓrez, M.A.EdFirst graders had a BLAST learning about animation and creating moon phases movies using #BrushNinja ππππ Who knew learning could be this fun?
Tweeted by Stephanie EconomosWhen the ice cream van has visited the school playground it must be the last week of school term in Scotland! Enjoy the summer holidays!
Tweeted by Heather Haynes5th grade students @LCPSLegacy are preparing for #EarthDay2023 by creating PSA GIFs with Brush Ninja. @LCPSEdTech
Tweeted by Logan McIntoshWe were busy bees in 2nd grade today! 2A celebrated Eid thanks to Seyd and Ariana, created landforms, and used Brush Ninja with Mrs. Murphy. πποΈπ¨
Tweeted by Amanda Adamonis