Meadows Primary School

Meadows Primary School is located 45km from Adelaide, in the Adelaide Hills. It has an enrolment of 200 students, R-7 in 8 classes. The school caters for a wide range of needs and abilities and includes children on NCPs to SHIP.

PROJECT COORDINATOR: Jill Cole

ARTIST: Jessica Wallace and Kathleen Dooley

PROJECT: ‘The Encounter – Australia’ – an animated film project (media).

The Artists:

The Process:
Divided into four groups the students focused on their aspect of the project by discussing, painting, drawing and filming their animations. The groups focused on the ‘Encounter’ theme in relation to: the sea environment; life on deck; the impact on Aboriginal people; and the characters on the voyage.

The artists worked with the students as a whole class for an introductory session then divided into smaller groups to paint backgrounds and make/draw objects for the animation. Students were then rostered in small groups to film the animations. While the artists worked on the editing process in the library the children were able to observe.

Aims:
• For students to develop skills, understanding and knowledge of the artistic process of making an animated film.

• For students to have a first-hand experience in learning by working with a professional artist.

• For students to acquire an appreciation of the scope of the Arts as well as the interrelationship with ICT, SOSE, English and Aboriginal cultural awareness.

Outcomes:
Students developed: dispositions and capacities in creation and presentation; aesthetic understanding; contextual perspective; understanding of how the Arts shape and represent cultures; and the capacity to construct new realities. Students also learned and practiced the skills and knowledge involved with making their presentations while learning the terminologies.

Highlights
The highlights of the project are ongoing. At the time of the project’s completion we had a special assembly and then showed the animations at a school Open Day.

‘The aims and objectives were met to a high degree even though we had to change the artists due to problems getting started.’ Teacher

‘I learnt a huge amount from the Meadows students. I learnt about their individual abilities as well as their visions. I found the process engaging and relevant to aspects of Australian history. I also felt very supported by the staff and principal.’ Artist

207 students were involved in this animation/film project.

Meadows Primary School

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