Box+of+Light

= = =Box Of Light=

Box Of Light is a Digital Arts Studio that teaches children stop action animation, film and robotics. From our touring performances at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. to our Digital Art Center classes in Bloomsburg, Lewisburg, Sunbury and Erie, Box Of Light constantly explores the use of computers and technology in education and in the arts. In our educational assemblies, Box Of Light looks to support educators with programs that serve as active explorations of school curriculum.
 * About Box Of Light:**

Begun as a touring theatre company, BOX OF LIGHT productions toured for over twenty years and were seen in eleven countries on four continents. In its educational activities, BOX OF LIGHT shows still tour into seven states in the northeast and are presented to thousands of school children yearly.

Box Of Light offers Stop Action Animation and Film residencies. In our first few days, we teach our students the process, be it animation or film, with a fun, short project. Once the students understand how to use the cameras, computers and software, we focus that equipment on a project that supports curriculum. In the past, we have worked on projects that teach and explore geography, math, reading and social studies. We have worked with students from Pre-K to sixth grade.
 * What do we do in a residency?**


 * Our films do not stay films.** Part of what we teach is media literacy. Once the students have created their films, we turn that film into a printed book via Comic Life (see the quick tutorial below). We also turn the movie into an iBook that can be read and seen on an iPad or an eBook that can be viewed on other tablets. (See below.) If the students have the proper permissions, their films are uploaded to our website and downloads page. We want the students, their families and friends to see their work and understand their project.

Here are two examples of curriculum projects that were turned into movies and books.Wild Thing is a kindergarten adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are (We have only uploaded the beginning of the movie.) Bud, Not Buddy is a sixth grade reading project. Both projects were created at First District Elementary in fall, 2011. media type="youtube" key="5lIo6vpK3oU" height="315" width="560"
 * Wild Thing: Kindergarten, First District Elementary**


 * Cover and page of the graphic book version of Wild Thing.**

media type="youtube" key="0zozF8EEDtk" height="315" width="560" This is Part 1 only.
 * Bud, Not Buddy: 6th Grade, First District Elementary**

media type="youtube" key="UPReCnhI4cc" height="315" width="420"
 * Bud, Not Buddy Graphic Book**

In our Cambridge Springs residency project with Becky Leandro's first grade class, we created a film of Celia Warren's Poles Apart. After grabbing images from the film and laying them out as a printable book, we took those book pages and used them to make an iBook that can exist on the school's iPads. Students can then flip through the book on their iPad. This is the fifth engagement with the book for the students. They read the book, recreated it as film scenes, performed the scenes, watched the movie and read their new version of the book. They can hold the printed version of their project, flip through it on an iPad or watch it on their computer. In the iBook, the students can both read the book and watch their movie. We expect to upload the iBook to the iTunes store where parents can download it for free. media type="youtube" key="LhHbrnaRmtE" height="315" width="560" The above clip shows an 'ah yes, this is good' moment in our residency with the sixth grade at Cambridge Springs Elementary. Taken in the last week of our residency, I had looked around the room and saw everyone actively and independently involved in some part of our project. I took out the Flip camera and basically swung it around in a circle. In the clip, you will see kids researching, planning, stop actioning (I know, not really a word) the continents on a globe and the 20% rainforest loss due to deforestation, filming and performing. What you won't see is us having to lead them through their activities or asking them to keep on task. You won't be able to tell which kids have a hard time in school and which don't. Every child in the film is engaged, every child is doing their work independently. To do so, they had to be clear on their goals and competent in the processes (online research, film, stop action, planning). We saw this moment many times in small groups. It was great to see it happen across an entire class.
 * Poles Apart video recreated as iBook, displayed on iPad.**
 * A CLASSROOM MOMENT IN 360º**

Part of what we do in our residencies, is try to provide our teaching partners with knowledge of the processes we've used in a form that allows film and animation to be used after we have gone. Here is a sample tutorial of Comic Life, the software used to create our graphic books.
 * We teach teachers.**

media type="youtube" key="H0cM0oaWYLU" height="315" width="420"


 * 2011-12 Art In Action Residencies:**

Teachers: Diana Hotchkiss, 6th Grade Math and Reading Melissa Vogt, Lyn Geiger, Kindergarten
 * First District Elementary**

Teachers: Shani Kingsley, Kenda Murdock, Kindergarten Becky Leandro, First Grade
 * Cambridge Springs Elementary**

Teachers: Joe Sienicki, 6th Grade Social Studies Mary Ann Birchard, 6th Grade, Math
 * Cambridge Springs Elementary**

Please visit www.boxoflight.org or call 570-764-3288.
 * FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON OUR RESIDENCIES OR WORK:**