Step Into My Sessions: Supporting older students with great animations

Animations can clarify abstractions

Midterms, finals, and AP exams are, for many of our students, part of the school year. Perhaps a hurdle to be cleared before summer can start. Along with all that testing, understandably, some anxiety can surface. Let’s explore how a great animation can help our students during this stressful time – maybe even with a smile! 😁

My 10th graders were sketching how the end of the year was feeling for them. ✏️

Let’s follow one student’s example…

Download Feelings Fixers & Trackers

This wasn’t the only student in the group who was feeling worried about upcoming tests. 📝 Several had some AP exams on the horizon, which, although that meant there wouldn’t be a final, were still seen as super important.

We decided to take a video break, 🎞️ and watch one of their favorite Maca & Roni views from the great animator Kyungmin Woo: Jenga!

Students kept their Feeling Trackers handy, and we came up with this combo of feelings for the two lab assistants:

We discussed the contrasting feelings, how those feelings shifted as the video progressed, and what each character might be thinking. Already, there were smiles all around, and some cheerful banter! 😀💭

Maca & Roni: Jenga, by Kyungmin Woo

Time to reflect...

As so often happens, animation discussion organically morphed to self-reflection. 🪞🤔 We talked about how feelings can change, and how what we think influences how we feel.

We turned off YouTube and re-examined our initial sketches. Some important changes were made:

I love how animations help our students find their truth as they move through their challenges, both big and small. 🥇

If you haven’t gotten my Mace & Roni Super Social Learning Spreadsheet, matching videos with recommended social cognitive concepts, grab it today, and be ready for Summer and Fall!!

Summer is just around the corner 😎 – best wishes, and thanks so much for welcoming me to your inbox this school year!