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Running Rabbit

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Greater than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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How can static pictures create animation? This is actually an optical illusion - a result of "tricking" our brain. This same principle makes animations and films possible. Let's explore!

Materials Needed

50cm x 30cm cardboard
Printable template
Strong glue
Double-sided tape
Scissors
Paint palette
Paint
Pencil
Paintbrush
Wooden stick
Ruler

An assortment of craft supplies lies on a light wood-grained table, arranged for a children's activity. The supplies include: a sheet of brown construction paper, a roll of clear tape, a bottle of glue, scissors, a pencil, a paintbrush, a wooden dowel, a ruler, a white paint palette, and three small tubes of paint or glue. A printed sheet shows four identical cartoon images of a tugboat on water, likely a template for the craft project. The image suggests a boat-making activity for children.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Cut out the printable template pieces using scissors.

Two hands are shown working with a printed sheet of paper on a light wood-grained table. The sheet contains four identical cartoon images of a tugboat on water, arranged in a grid. One hand holds the paper while the other hand uses scissors to cut along a dotted line separating the images. This suggests the process of cutting out the individual tugboat images, likely for a craft or educational activity.

Step 2

Fold the grey sections of the template backwards along the dotted lines.

On a light wood-grained surface, two hands hold three separate square cards. Each card features a cartoon drawing of a tugboat on water, identical to the others. The hands are manipulating the cards, suggesting they've been cut from a larger sheet and are now being used for a game, sorting activity, or part of a craft project.

Step 3

Next, fold the prepared template in half as shown.

On a light wooden surface, two hands manipulate three cards featuring cartoon tugboats. One card is folded in half, another is being held flat, and the third is in the process of being folded by the hands. These actions suggest a step in a craft activity, likely involving folding and assembling the tugboat cutouts.

Step 4

Now use double-sided tape to stick together the grey sections with matching numbers. Keep the centre of the template hollow to allow for the wooden stick insertion.

Two hands are positioned on a light wood-grained table, holding a small rectangular piece of white paper. The top edge of the paper has a thin gray strip with a dotted line, indicating a fold or a section to be glued. The hands are gently pressing down on the paper, likely in the process of folding or adhering it as part of a craft project.

Step 5

Cut a 16cm length from the wooden stick using scissors.

Two hands are shown cutting a thin wooden dowel with scissors on a light wood-grained table. The dowel is marked with a line indicating a length of 16cm, which is the point where the scissors are cutting. This suggests a precise measurement is being followed for a craft or construction project.

Step 6

Thread the wooden stick through the middle of the assembled template!

Two hands hold a folded piece of paper with a drawing of a tugboat on water and a thin wooden dowel. The dowel is inserted into the fold of the paper, creating a simple handheld boat craft. The hands are positioned above a light wood-grained table, likely the surface where this craft is being assembled.

Step 7

Take the 50cm x 30cm cardboard and draw two 6cm x 9cm rectangles and one 10cm x 6cm rectangle using the pencil and ruler. Cut out all three rectangles.

A piece of light brown cardboard lies on a light wood-grained surface. Three rectangles are outlined on the cardboard, marked with their dimensions in centimeters. Two rectangles are identical, measuring 6cm by 9cm, and the third, larger rectangle measures 6cm by 10cm. This suggests a template for cutting out shapes, likely for a craft or construction project.

Step 8

On the 6cm wide edge of each 6cm x 9cm cardboard piece, mark a dot 3cm along and 0.5cm in from the edge. Make holes at these marks with a pencil, ensuring the wooden stick can pass through. Repeat for both 6cm x 9cm pieces.

Two identical light brown cardboard rectangles are placed on a light wood-grained surface. Each rectangle has a small hole punched near the top. Lines and numbers indicate the dimensions: 3cm across the top, and 0.5cm from the top edge to the center of the hole. These appear to be tags or components for a craft project.

Step 9

Paint the three template pieces in your favourite colours.

Two hands are painting a light blue rectangle of cardboard with a small paintbrush. Two other orange rectangles, similar in shape and size to the blue one, lie on the light wood-grained table nearby, suggesting they have already been painted. All three rectangles have small holes punched near their tops. This scene depicts a crafting activity, likely involving decorating these cardboard pieces.

Step 10

Using strong glue, attach the three cardboard pieces together as shown to create your stand.

Two hands hold a partially constructed cardboard structure against a light wood-grained background. Two orange rectangular pieces, each with a hole punched near the top, are angled to form the sides of a three-dimensional shape. They are connected at the base by a light blue rectangular piece. This image shows the assembly process of a small cardboard craft.

Step 11

Insert the wooden stick with the template through the holes in the stand.

Two hands hold a small zoetrope or animation device made of cardboard and paper. The central image depicts a white rabbit running against a light blue sky and green grass background. A wooden dowel is inserted through the sides of the device, presumably to spin the images and create the illusion of movement. The sides of the zoetrope are orange cardboard. The background is a light wood-grained surface. This image showcases a simple, handmade animation toy.

Step 12

Now try spinning the wooden stick and observe what happens when the paper spins quickly.

A hand turns a small, hand-cranked animation device constructed from cardboard and paper. The device has a handle made from a wooden dowel or stick. As the handle is turned, two images on separate pieces of paper rapidly alternate, creating the illusion of movement. One image depicts a boat sailing on blue water, and the other shows a white rabbit hopping across green grass. The video demonstrates a simple DIY animation toy made from readily available materials.

The Science Behind It:

When we flip through images quickly, our eyes retain each still image for a fraction of a second (called persistence of vision). Our brain tends to "fill in" the gaps between these static images, making them appear continuous and fluid, like one continuous motion. This illusion is the principle behind animation. Early cartoons used this technique, creating moving stories by shooting consecutive frames one at a time!

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