Planet Unknown
The Planets
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The planets
12 different planets each with its own unique atmosphere and inhabitants. Planet 1 – Tribal Discovery. Filled with ‘cute’ aliens this planet would soon become annoying. Planet 2 – Endless repetition – a planet where all the inhabitants live the daily grind perpetually. Planet 3 – All is calm, but maybe we are being lulled into a false sense of security? The aliens start to eject from the pipes, as they land with a plop they grow into beautiful flowers. Planet 4 – Danger Lever high, technological takeover on planet 4. Robots inhabit this alien. They seem really happy and loving. Planet 5 – Underwater evolution discovered. Millions of tiny amoeba like creatures are multiplying under the sea. Their photoluminescence creates an interesting landscape. Planet 6 – Volatile – the aliens on this planet just can’t agree. Planet 7 – Utopian Disturbance. Cloven animals wandering around a bit and eating grass, maybe the most boring of the planets. Planet 8 – inedible danger – where the vegetation bites back! Planet 9 – Reckless – retro game characters live on planet 9 – superheroes who love to show off their ‘super’ powers. Planet 10 – Missing, undiscovered. The scariest inhabitants of any planet. Dead aliens Planet 11 – Avoid – The aliens on this planet are crazed. They run and run and run, just for the fun of it. Planet 12 – Home – under attack. The aliens here seem resigned to the end. So resigned they have decided to put it into a song. |
Teaching ideas
Write descriptions for each planet as if you are an astronaut landing on them. Write descriptions of the alien life forms. Write dialogues between you and the aliens or between the aliens. Create holiday brochure entries for each planet. Discuss and write a set of rules for the argumentative aliens on planet 6. Pupils could write narratives set on any of the planets describing how they survive there and escape (if needed) Pupils could work in groups to create their own planets – each planet having a different setting and characters – these characters could then interact with each other. Children could write poems based on the song at the end. Looking at rhyme, structure etc During the project the film's creator Andy kept a sketch book of his ideas, a kind of journal or jotter to help him remember. He made it throughout the year of creating The Planets. It has an archive of the daily alien illustrations and the monthly Planet animations. This is what the animated short was born out of, a daily illustration project that he started to get him back into drawing in his sketchbook. This has really helped me develop new ideas, both for character design and story ideas. Here is the link http://illustratedaliens.tumblr.com/ Created by Andy Martin
For more information see below: Email: andy@andymartin.info Website: http://www.andymartin.info Blog: http://www.andymartin.info/blog Twitter: http://twitter.com/handymartian * WATCH ALL THE PLANETS HERE: https://vimeo.com/channels/theplanets * |
Pandora
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I first saw this short 'documentary' about Pandora, the planet from the film Avatar on David Mitchell's class blog
David is a successful headteacher and education consultant. You can follow him on twitter@DeputyMitchell 
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ELEVEN
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Eleven (HD 2010) - Operative 4511 is a space marine on his own and outnumbered. Sometimes the voice you reach at the other end of the comm can mean the difference between life and death! 'Eleven' plays with the visual style of fps video game cut scenes that were popular when it was conceived.
Created by Anzovin Studio anzovin.com |
Teaching Ideas
Children can create sections of dialogue from the film to practise using dialogue punctuation etc. Children can rewrite the narrative in 1st or 3rd person. Write a description of the robots, create their own alien robots. Links to other animations in The Sci-Fi Shed |
Maybe One Morning
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A man goes for a walk one morning but something very strange is happening. For some reason everything seems to be breaking away and floating towards the sky. It is although something is dragging it upwards,
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Teaching Ideas
I would use this film as a story starter. Ask the children to write a narrative based on the events. The focus should be on describing the scenes with a sense of mystery. Using show not tell and building up tension. Allow the children to complete the story by describing what it is they think is happening. Could link to the Pixar short film 'Lifted' or other films from The Sci Fi Shed |
I lived on the moon
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By Yannick Puig
A young boy dreams of going to the moon and one day that dream comes true. This surreal animation takes you on his journey. His journey begins when a giant plant takes him to the moon. The strange creature takes him on a journey across an alien landscape. The boy leaves the plant behind and travels across the sky on the back of a giant ray. Through oceans of giant jellyfish. He encounters warriors who attack him - will he escape with his life? |
Teaching Ideas
- Write a newspaper report; Boy goes to the moon. - Write a narrative of this story, experiment with narrative voice, 1st person, 3rd person etc. - Describe the different creatures he sees, -write a dialogue between the boy and some of the characters. - Choose a planet and describe the strange creatures you find there. |
Parallelostory
View this film here on Vimeo Visit the creators website impactist.com
Spend a couple minutes in the multiverse and you may find it comfortable enough to participate in your own Parallelostory, which is just hip meta-universe slang for "parallel love story". But remember, this is only one of an infinite number renderings of the same story that your dimensional alternates will have already viewed, are viewing, or will view.
Or not at all.
Or not at all.
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Teaching Ideas
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Invasions from clement-morin.com
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Why are aliens visiting our planet? This enchanting animated short film follows a visitor from another world as it starts its journey on Earth.
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Teaching Ideas
Inspire a news report based on crop circles. What is forming them? Write the ship's log for the blue alien recording his daily discoveries. Write emails between the blue and pink aliens. Use hot seating to question the blue alien about his discoveries. 
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Kiss
“Le soleil est le passé, le terre est le présent et la lune est le futur.”
“The sun is the past, the earth is the present and the moon is the future. .” Paul Auster
“The sun is the past, the earth is the present and the moon is the future. .” Paul Auster
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You have to watch this film on full screen with the volume pumped up to truly appreciate the film.
The film is called 'Kiss' it's creators wanted to explore something as innocent as a kiss. This is a love story between the sun and the moon, every solar eclipse is the moon's unsuccessful attempt to get to the sun. Soundtrack - 'Stille' by Bendick |
The film lends itself to writing rich description of objects and movement. The use of simile and metaphor to describe imagery and the personification of celestial objects. I would love to write a narrative of the moons journey towards the sun, his hope and desperation.
The Astronomer's Sun
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"A young man, accompanied by his mysterious mechanical bear, visits an abandoned observatory to confront memories of his past and follow his Father on a journey into the unknown. A magical journey about relationships and what it is to be human."
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Discussion points
This is quite a sophisticated storyline. Lots of pauses and discussions are needed to allow the children to truly understand and engage with what is going on.
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Writing Ideas
- Write the narrative from the Man's or bear's point of view.
- The man finds a letter from his father explaining where he went to and why, it may contain instructions on how to use the machine. Write this letter.
- As above - write the instructions on how to work the machine.
- Write a story using flashbacks.
- Design own comet/celestial object making machine - perhaps one that turns them into stars or asteroids.
- Create own clockwork toys using elastic bands etc
The Robot and The Butterfly
Set in a futuristic prison - spherical cells hang on chains. The bars are broken - but its futile to try and escape anyway - it's a long way down. [Inference there for you]
A beautiful orange butterfly lands on the cell bars and the robot prisoner seems to be enchanted by it. Perhaps we feel sorry for this gentle robot who is in prison now. But then there is a little twist at the end that stops us feeling sorry for him. |
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Teaching Ideas
- Describe the cells hanging as a story opener, can children vary sentence starters e.g. using Verbs or adverbs.
- Use description to show the juxtaposition between the robot and the butterfly.
- Write the journal of the robot. Perhaps he can describe the day he saw the butterfly and explain what he did.
- Write a flashback story for the robot - so we can find out why he is in prison.
New Media
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We’ve been attacked again—only this time it’s our own fault.It seems today's modern world is being consumed by media and machines.
This film takes that metaphor and makes it reality, using amazing CGI the creators show our world being taken over by 'alien' machines with echoes of H.G. Well's 'War of the Worlds' |
Somalia
This is actually an advert for a large Turkish electrical appliance company, Vestel.
Somali pirates take over a huge cargo freighter at sea. Things don’t look good for the crew, until the pirates start to investigate the cargo—Vestrons! Engage! The machines are all made from household appliances - children can create their own robots and create a narrative for them. I use pictures cut out of catalogues and magazines as a base to create the robots. |
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SWING (Upper KS2 +)
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It's a boring day for our hero - so he roams the street kicking a can. There doesn't seem to be much to do. He spots a swing hanging from a tree. It looks exciting, all bright and new in the dull, grey city.
He enjoys his go on the swing but someone seems to be watching him. Who is it? Who will the next victim be? This one is for mature KS2 children and above. I like the fact they take something innocuous and make it into a killer! |
Teaching Ideas
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Smile
Smile is a touching animation about a robot that is searching for one thing that technology can not give it.
Many years after Human extinction, a broken maintenance robot with little power continues to do what its programmed to.. The robot wants one thing - to be able to smile. Although because he is broken it is impossible. He spends all of his time searching for the solution. |
Discuss why he wants to be able to smile. Why might he consider it so important?
Children can write the narrative of his search.
Complete his journal, orally or written down.
Create an alternative ending where the robot actually gets a smile.
Children can write the narrative of his search.
Complete his journal, orally or written down.
Create an alternative ending where the robot actually gets a smile.