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How do you "draw the frames"?

Andrea Wong

I don't know why but I always struggle with introducing the fames and I continuously change up how I complete this activity. I always start by watching the Frames Concept Video as a class and discussing the general idea of the frames. But after that I'm all over the place! These are a few of the things I have done in the past:

- Have students watch each frame video one at a time as class, having students complete that portion of the frames drawing after each video (video, draw, video, draw, etc.)
- Have students get into groups to watch the video for one of the frames and then create a brief presentation on their frame before starting any of the drawings.
- Do a traditional jigsaw before students start drawing. 

My school has 40 minute class periods so the frames introduction usually takes 2-3 days. I think that is part of the reason why I switch things up trying to find a good balance. So my question is, what do you find works best for your students? Do you do one of the options I listed above or do you have another idea for me to try? My school is also moving to an 80 minute block this year, so do you think that will have an impact on how I tackle the frames?

Parents

  • I very much like the idea of layering the videos and the drawing activity; in the past I've shown the first "overview" video to the whole class before doing the drawing activity (in groups) while leaving the three more focused videos as purely optional for the students to view as they wish. I think your layering concept is much better, though, and will be shamelessly stealing it.

    For me the biggest difficulty tends to be in pacing because some students/groups want to create the "perfect" image. I struggle sometimes to nudge them along at a quicker pace. I've always had longer class periods to do this activity, as well, so I've also felt the pressure to keep it confined to a single class period if possible. I'm moving to a new school (heck, a whole new country!) this year and, with that, have been wanting to shift to a more positive mindset overall - so I may try to take some pressure off and let them go to town as artists instead of watching the clock so closely.

  • in reply to Christopher Barber

    I very much agree, students will take the time you give them to complete an activity and this one always feels like it's labor intense or takes a long time. They get oddly perfectionist about certain things when I'm making it very clear that I accept stick figures and the most rudimentary art possible. For this reason I had some of the same struggles that   was describing. And maybe that's also why I have sometimes not returned to this activity in each unit as religiously as I should have. I do think it's worth the squeeze.

    Also - Exciting,  ! I am not moving to a new school this year but definitely also thinking about how I can maintain more positivity and let the kids do their thing. 

  • in reply to Adam Esrig

     , I don't always go back to "redraw" the frames either. I am hoping if a have a stronger initial activity this year I will be more motivated to do the other activities later in the year. I am contemplating saving the initial frames drawing until a bit later in the first marking period. It's often one of the first activities I do, but I wonder if getting to know my students a little better first will help me facilitate. 

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  • in reply to Adam Esrig

     , I don't always go back to "redraw" the frames either. I am hoping if a have a stronger initial activity this year I will be more motivated to do the other activities later in the year. I am contemplating saving the initial frames drawing until a bit later in the first marking period. It's often one of the first activities I do, but I wonder if getting to know my students a little better first will help me facilitate. 

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