Learning Activity

Elements of Literature with Pixar Short Films

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

4

Overview

Students will watch Pixar Short Films and describe the characters, settings, and/or events in the films.
Students will determine the theme of the short films and describe how the theme was portrayed in the film.
Students will describe and explain how messages are created and portrayed through media arts productions.

This activity was created as a result of the Arts COS Resource Development Summit.

Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 4 - Media Arts

AE17.MED.4.11

Identify, describe, and explain how messages are created by components in media arts productions.

Unpacked Content

UP:AE17.MED.4.11

Essential Questions

EU: Identifying the qualities and characteristics of media artworks improves one's artistic appreciation and production.
EQ: How do we 'read' media artworks and discern their relational components? How do media artworks function to convey meaning and manage audience experiences?

Skills Examples

  • After watching a commercial for a car, respond to teacher questions to identify, describe, and explain how the messages were created by the individual components.
  • After watching a series of commercials for shoes, respond to teacher questions to identify and describe the various methods and styles and the effect on the class.
  • With guidance, watch and respond to a series of political ads. By responding to teacher questions, tell the purpose, meaning and message of each and how interpretation is affected by context.
  • Using a class made checklist for basic principles, processes, and context grade one of your own media arts products and make changes to make it better.

Anchor Standards

Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Students will identify and describe how the message or theme of a Pixar Short Film is portrayed through the components of the media arts production. (light, sound, space, time, scene, sequence, etc.)
  • Students will describe the characters, setting, and events in the Pixar Short Film. 
  • Students will determine the theme of short animated films. 

Activity Details

The teacher will show Pixar Short Film Mater and the Ghostlight. 

Students will identify and discuss the main character, setting, and elements of plot in a whole group discussion led by the teacher.  Students will identify the theme of Mater and the Ghostlight by discussing the message of the film. (If you trick others, they might trick you; The Golden Rule: Do to others what you want them to do to you.) Students will discuss how the message of the film is portrayed through the components of the media arts production (light, sound, space, time, scene, sequence, etc.) in a teacher-led discussion.  

Mater and the Ghostlight part 1 - Youtube 

Mater and the Ghostlight part 2 - Youtube

Mater and the Ghostlight part 3 - Youtube

After identifying the theme in Mater and the Ghostlight with the teacher, students should watch a different Pixar short film and describe the characters, setting, and elements of plot as well as identify the theme on their own or in a group. 

Other Pixar shorts with common themes: 

Boundin' - Youtube - Friendship, kindness, courage

One Man Band - Youtube - Greed, two heads are better than one

 

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Students will determine the characters, setting, plot, and theme of a short film and complete a graphic organizer. 

Students will describe how the message of the short film is created by components of the media arts production. 

Theme in Video Organizer

Variation Tips

This can also be done with commercials or other types of media.

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

The teacher should make sure they have access to several Pixar Short films and a reliable way to show the films to students.  Many of the short films can be found on youtube.  You can also purchase two DVD library collections of Pixar Short Films on Amazon or anywhere else that movies are sold. 

The teacher should also preview the films before the lesson to familiarize yourself with the content. 

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

asiahester1
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