Microbial Wonders: Learn, Create, Animate-Make Your Own Video Field Guide

What will be taught?

In this 6 week science and art camp, we will learn about the world of world of microbes and how to create an animated microbe field guide video as a means to deepen the learning make a creative record of discoveries along the way.

Students will learn about the characteristics of microbe types including anatomy, behavior, survival strategies, and life cycles. 

How is your class structured?

After starting class with a brief icebreaker activity, we’ll spend the first third of each class 
learning about the characteristics of microbe types including anatomy, behavior, survival strategies, and life cycles using through images, video, discussion, and Q&A.

Following the interactive information sharing, learners use their imagination to form clay models of the microbes and draw creative backgrounds.


What topics will you cover?

We'll investigate microbe specific topics such as adaptations that help microbes thrive in harsh environments such as thermal vents and glaciers.
We'll examine how microbes exist together and how they help life on earth to thrive and how they can be harmful.
We'll learn about ways microbes assist in making delicious foods we enjoy regularly. 
We'll learn about the methods that microbes use to communicate with each other and with other organisms. 

Learners will incorporate information they've found inspiring to create realistic or imaginary clay microbe figures to take on the action in their videos. 
Learners will use stop-motion animation to bring their favorite microbe discoveries to life.
Through animated videos, they’ll create a moving field guide that describes what excites them most about the tiny world of microbes.
 
Editing skills, special effects and add sound will complete the videos.
Learners can choose to share their unique microbe field guides in class or choose to observe.

Information is shared through discussion, Q&A, video clips showing live microbes in exciting situations, and colorful and whimsical examples of stop motion to inspire creativity. 
Students are encouraged to ask questions according to their comfort and curiosity, work at their own pace and experiment with their own ideas in their art work.  

Examples of the weekly classes:
1)What is a microbe? Methods of classifying the different types of microbes through images, video, discussion, Q&A .
Introduction to how stop motion animation works, and introduction to the free app we'll be using, Stop Motion Studio. 
Setting up the table top animation studio and learn to make the clay move. 


2) Investigation into Bacteria
Protists and Bacteria through images, video, discussion, Q&A  
Begin forming a collection of clay microbe characters to animate. 
Be able to show what makes each microbe unique. 

3)Investigation into Algae through images, video, discussion, Q&A  
Continue making clay microbe figures that represent the unique characteristics of the different microbe types.
Use imagination and new learning to create a background to show where the microbe action to takes place.
 

4) Investigation into Fungi (yeasts and molds) Archaea through images, video, discussion, Q&A.
Continue making clay microbe figures that represent the unique characteristics of the different microbe types discovered each week. 
Learn special effects to add to the videos.
Complete and show videos, making final edits and adding sound.   

5)   Investigation into Protozoa through images, video, discussion, Q&A.
Continue making clay microbe figures that represent the unique characteristics of the different microbe types discovered each week. 
Learn methods of editing the videos.


6) Investigation Viruses and Archea into through images, video, discussion, Q&A.
Continue making clay microbe figures that represent the unique characteristics of the different microbe types discovered each week. 
Finish up editing and shooting videos.
Learners may share their videos if they choose. 

What's your teaching style?

My flexible teaching style aims to accommodate the real time needs of the learners. 
I lead with inquiry to honor and make best use of learners' curiosity so that students may learn by observation, asking questions and active participation in problem solving challenges. 
I acknowledge that some learners may prefer to observe while and other's participate more actively and I do my best to make everyone feel welcome. 
All ice breaker activities are cooperative and are quickly adapted to the abilities of learners present and are always optional.
This class is perfect for beginners and experts alike for enjoyment and success.