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 story’s 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
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#BrushNinja is a great tool to show the order of the planets and how they rotate around the sun.
Tweeted by NancyLove watching my students creating animated GIFs on brush Ninja to create their own Vocab cards on mutual BONDS and stocks. Thanks again @tonyvincent and @jmattmiller for the idea 💡 #WeAreMCUSD
Tweeted by Ryan ReadAwesome man!!!! Great website! I’m also loving the website https://brush.ninja to make animated gifs. It’s a combination of whiteboard/GIF creator. Enjoy!!! #TCEA #TCEA19
Tweeted by Tom SpallMy students enjoyed creating inspiring #GIFS in #BrushNinja & a couple in @canva as they wanted to HELP spread LOVE, kindness, joy, and calm during these tough times!
Tweeted by Erika SanströmThese second graders showed of their tech and creativity skills by using Brush Ninja to make the trees for each season.
Tweeted by Coach RaonaqTechnology took over the Learning Centre today! Students became the teachers! They helped their friends learn how to use Osmos, Brush Ninja, Dash and the popular Beebots! Practicing social skills lessons on turn taking and compromising!
Tweeted by Jennifer Funke