Week One

Day's Activity	Related PLUS Materials
1. Quick Animation 2. Quick Animation 3. Writing 4. Cartoons 5. Circus Skills / Kite Making	VA / Story Telling / Digital Photography / Designing Our World. " VA / Literature / Story Telling VA / Literature / Story Telling Designing Our World / Circus/ VA / Digital Photography

Monday: Melton - Daniel Newnham

There was a largish group of Learners on the first day. Noel had continued on from the Drama Project. His behaviour had been dubious, but he argued he hadn't really liked Drama and had only changed from Visual Arts at the request of a staff member. D had also continued but had an ILP of of relevant ideas to work on. Dizzee had carried on from the Visual Arts Project.

There was a conflict between the new Learners who were quiet or surly and the old hands, keen to show their cocky "binthere, dunnit" attitudes. Daniel started them off with simple flip book animations and showed them some of the types of possible animations they might do.

Tuesday: Melton - Daniel Newnham

Unfortunately, due to teasing and the disruptive atmosphere, two of the most productive Learners from Monday decided not to return to the course. Snoop and Toppy got involved in creating some characters, but needed a lot of attention to stay focused. Nell was uncooperative and obviously disinterested in animation. Unfortunately, D was excited to have another girl on the project and immediately lost interest in her IRP and embarked on a matchmaking mission.

Wednesday: Melton - Yvette de Sylva & John Cheetham (Jesus)

Yvette & John had to deal with the usual shenanigans caused by a change in personnel. John had worked with Noel and D before. The Learners engaged in some lively circle work. Snoop was very engaged and animated, though not always in the most appropriate way. Slim and Lurch were quiet, but interested. Dizzee made some good contributions and Toppy was staying sensible and engaged, despite D's best efforts to to set up a double dating partnership.

The Learners engaged well with Peter (Popeye) and also Suzanne (Basic Skills Tutor). Some work was done to establish the basis of a storyline. Suzanne also started the Learners on their IRP reading.

Thursday: Melton - Yvette de Sylva & John Cheetham (Jesus)

Getting and keeping the Learners involved in finding a storyline for an animation was quite a struggle. The consequence was a story that involved almost all suggestions that came up. So the story of 'King Shadrack and the Last (Burger Flavoured) Condom in the World' was born. It isn't necessary to detail the storyline any further as no amount of explanation could really bring anything other than a stunned silence. Box office gold.

The Learners were encouraged to work on areas of specific interest with regards to the story; the look of the characters, the dialogue, lyrics for the soundtrack etc. By the end of the day many sheets of storyline, characters and some prototype plasticine models had been made... by Peter, Yvette and John. Several of the Learners did engage well and also drew up sheets of ideas and created characters.

Friday: Brooksby - Karen Legg (Leggy) & Sue Whitworth

The Circus Skills and Kite Making again fulfilled its role as a stimulating change from the main project activities. The Learners took part in all the activities, from making kites, origami boxes and balloon animals, to spinning plates and juggling. Snoop was particularly involved and continued practising his juggling (on occasion at an appropriate time) throughout the rest of the project. Lurch and Natalie made Gorillaz style kites and Dizzee showed no disinterest despite having done the same activities on the Visual Arts Project.

The down side of the day was the continuation of the double-dating saga. The day's episode was a truly stomach churning, graphic, marathon of adolescent lurve and saliva. Words were had with the four offenders to make clear how unacceptable this was.