Character Study with Morfo and Drawing Pad on iPads

In Grade 2 all of the students have been writing character descriptions. This process has been teaching them to look beyond physical attributes and to learn about different aspects that influence a particular character.

In Grade 2 there is a new 1:1 iPad program this year. In the past these character descriptions would be written up and displayed on paper. By using iPads, students are able to make their characters come alive. To do this they combined two apps called Drawing Pad and Morfo.

Drawing Pad https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drawing-pad/id358207332?mt=8 is one of my go-to apps on the iPad. It is easy to use and you can make beautiful artwork with just a little knowledge. To draw a character portrait all your need to do is follow these simple steps below:

Here is the actual character from Ruby's Wish.

Step 1: Paint the basic shape for the character. This is the head, hair and shoulders. Add a black background using the paper backgrounds and outline the hair using a pencil. Keep it simple. There is no need to add eyes or a nose as the Morfo app will do that for you.

Step 2: Add the rosy cheeks

Step 3: Use the smudge tool to smudge the red spot.

Step 4: Add some pencil details in the ears and on the clothing. You may wish to add a pink mouth as well but Morfo will make a mouth. Save your work to the camera roll by tapping the share icon.


Open the Morfo app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/morfo-3d-face-booth/id440560166?mt=8
Follow the instructions. Grab your script and breathe some life into your character. Take a look at the finished Ruby. This was created by a student from Grade 2.

Drew Berry - An Inspirational Look at the Brain

I was very fortunate at the Global Apple Distinguished Educators Institute in San Diego to attend a keynote presentation by Drew Berry who is a Biomedical Animator. That means that he takes foremost biological research and creates animations to communicate that research visually. His animations are all done to scale and being able to listen to his working process and watch what he has made was mind blowing.

Take a look at his animation about the brain. The last part is amazing as Drew Berry explains what is happening on the screen.