Four Oaks Elementary School students used a unique lesson in their technology elective classes to participate in a LEGO Movie-Making Competition.
Third through fifth grade students in Kelly Nolan’s technology elective classes brainstormed ideas and worked with partners to choose characters and a storyline.
Students used those storylines and characters to further develop their stories. They then created a storyboard that detailed character development, dialogue, and settings. Each character’s movement and prop placement was sketched out by the students on the storyboard, so that they would be ready to “film” their movie.
To create their scenery and backgrounds, students used LEGOs and any materials they could find such as rocks and dirt.
Students created their movies using iPads and the free LEGO Movie Maker App. The process is done like old cartoons, using stop-motion-animation.
To complete their movies each group took hundreds of pictures to make their cartoon come to life. As the pictures were played together at a higher speed it gave the illusion of movement.
Each group then edited their movies and added narration, sounds, and sometimes music. The movies varied in length from one to five minutes.
Once completed student movies were collectively voted on by the school. Students watched the movies and admired the creativity of the budding filmmakers.
“I’m extremely proud of these students,” said Nolan. “They committed to completing their projects even after our elective ended. They gave their own time to follow through on their commitment. Each team’s accomplishments show their hard work and dedication.”
Jack Rowland and Elijah Hudson, both 3rd grade students, won the competition with nearly 40 percent of the vote. Jack and Elijah were awarded personalized LEGO trophies for their LEGO movie creation, “Washed Away” which is about a group of people trying to escape a city from a tsunami.
The four remaining competitors were recognized for their hard work and perseverance in their projects as well. Christian Fiske and Raiden Simmons, both 5th grade students, created the film “Old Pasco.” Jaren Godwin and Katie Lee, both 4th grade students, created the film “The Surfing Adventure.”
