Zoetrope Animation
Zoetrope Animation https://www.careergirls.org/empowerment-activities/zoetrope-animation/ Days: 1 Mode: Individual Take-home: Boxed zoetrope + animation strip
Teaching & key ideas
Key concepts: Persistence of vision, animation frames, sequencing, rotational motion.
Hook: Spin a completed zoetrope and reveal how still pictures appear to move.
Test / evidence: Student creates a short repeating motion that appears animated when spun.
Variables to change: Number of frames; size of movement between frames; spin speed.
Lesson flow
Lesson plan:
Day 1: Demo animation principle → draw frames → assemble → spin/test → revise frames
Video:
Zoetrope Animation
Safety / cleanup:
Use blunt tools; teacher handles any precision cutting; avoid excessive flashing/spinning for sensitive students.