GRADE 6

Stop Motion with Dancing Dolls

We researched and discussed a dance performance, from classical ballet to contemporary TikTok, to understand their historical and artistic importance. Next, we developed a plan for recreating a key portion of the dance using stop motion animation. Then, we used wire and wooden dolls, an online stop motion animation application, and a webcam to create at least 10 seconds (~120 pictures) of stop motion animation.

Coding Mobile Apps

We began to explore App Lab on code.org using a free play approach. For instance, we added elements like labels, buttons, checkboxes, dropdown menus, and images. We also changed the properties of the elements we added, like background colors, text color and size, and button colors and size.

We also used a wireframe diagram to analyze an example quiz app. The wireframe diagram is something designers use to create prototypes that show the basic designs of different screens and also shows how screens are connected to one another. For instance, clicking one button might take a user to one screen. Another button would take a user to a different screen. We used arrows to show the flow between screens.

We began using App Lab on code.org to create a prototype quiz about ourselves. We used the example quiz from last week and the wireframe diagram as a model to work from. We wrote questions about ourselves and added four choices. We also discussed what kinds of information we would and would not want to put on the internet. Some kinds of information may be used for identify theft purposes.

To make the apps work, we had to connect the screens using code. For instance, most of the time, to move from one screen to the next, the user has to click a specific button.

Digital Citizen Badges

We earned Digital Citizen Badges for being Password Security Pros, Courteous Online Communicators, and Conscientious Digital Sharers. We also played Interland to learn more about digital citizenship.

Stop Motion with LEGO

We’re learning about cinematography and filmmaking this year. We’re starting the year by creating stop motion movies. Most of us are using LEGOs. We watched a couple of LEGO stop motion clips created by other students. To get started, we began thinking about the characters and settings we'd like to use. We started searching for characters and putting together some initial sets.

We continued working on our stop motion movies by planning our shots and practicing taking photos to see how our sets and characters look. We discussed how some shots can be used to establish a setting and mood. We also discussed how shots can be zoomed in, out, medium, etc.

We put images together in sequence to see if we had achieved the animated looks we were going for.

Movie Posters with Generative AI

We used generative artificial intelligence (AI) in Adobe Express to create images for movie posters. Our movie posters are for the stop motion movies we've been working on.

Robotics and WHYY Media Lab

Students participating in after school clubs in the Wildcat Workshop worked on the following tasks and projects:

• Robotics team members build rovers and began solving mission challenges. They are supported by Penn Engineers. In December, we participated in a FIRST LEGO League Challenge event at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

• WHYY Media Lab members learned how to set up cameras and began planning projects. They are supported by Digital Service Fellows, students from Penn GSE, and staff members from WHYY. In January, we took a field trip to WHYY.