Category:  Animation

Grade 3-5 Animation

An animation project combines  text, media, and graphics with at least one of the following elements:  

• Video or movie clip 

• Sound (this could be a voice-over, background music, or sound clips) 

• Navigation structure 

Eligibility

• Open to students in Grades 3-5 

Example Projects

• Digital story, tutorial, cartoon, stop motion

Example Software

• PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, iMovie, Scratch

Specific Category Rules 

• Projects must contain a planning document (storyboard/flowchart) and a narrative (see Animation Scoring Guideline for additional details). 

• A planning doc is displayed or available that clarifies the process used to create the project.

  • Your planning doc should display the process used to create the project.

  • Your planning doc should be specific and as detailed as possible to give the judges the necessary background regarding how it was developed.

  • The planning doc will not be judged for grammar or appearance but should be legible and organized.  

• The narrative description is displayed or available that clarifies the process used to create the project.

  • The narrative description/project summary is included in the Philly MDC  Participant Packet. 

  • Narratives must be detailed enough to provide the judges with any information to fairly judge the project. Attach additional pages if necessary.       

• Copyright information and credits are included in the narrative or displayed with the project (see below). 

• Directions for re-launching the project must be provided, as well as any passwords. (May use narrative) 

• The judged video clip must not exceed 5 minutes. If it is part of a larger project, copy the five minutes that you want to be judged.  

• Spelling and grammar will be judged on narrative and project.  

• Projects should be displayed on a single computer.  

• Displays and monitors must not exceed 24 inches.  

• Space will be assigned and limited to 3 feet per project.  

• If a project meets the above rules it will be judged using the Animation  Scoring Guideline. 

In addition, your project should also include each of the following elements

• All projects should display the process used to create the project.  This should be specific and as detailed as possible to give the judges the necessary background regarding how it was developed. 

• You may choose to put it on your tri-fold display or bring a loose-leaf notebook with your notes.  

• Tri-fold displays are not judged, they are for clarification purposes only.  

Copyright Requirements

• The Philly MDC Student Participation Packet includes a participation agreement that must be signed by all participating students on a project and their teacher sponsor.  Part of the agreement outlines copyright expectations, as well as other project requirements. 

• The Philly MDC, although educational, removes the student's work from the classroom and therefore requires the student to get permission from the owner to use any copyrighted music, video, graphics, etc. Fair use does NOT  apply. 

• Remember to credit music or items that were created by yourself or friends as well.  

• Get photo releases signed by everyone in your project in any media format.  

• Copyright information and credits are included in the narrative or displayed with the project. 

Disclaimer

To ensure that projects reflect students’ own creativity and effort, participants in the Philadelphia Student Media and Design Competition must adhere to an 80% human, 20% AI rule. Students should document and clearly report how AI tools were utilized in their work to maintain transparency and align with competition guidelines.

Suggested sites to search for media: 

• Creative Commons This site provides searchable material from various authors that are usable under certain conditions. Click here to find out more about Creative Commons Licenses 

• Public Domain Pictures 

• Pixabay