Visual Arts

In the Visual Arts, students will share ideas about how and why their own and others’ works are made and their purpose, value, and context.

Here are some suggestions for yellow-eyed penguin-related Visual Arts to do in your classroom or at home. 

Create a yellow-eyed penguin animation 

 Understanding the Arts in Context 

Investigate, analyse, and evaluate ideas and interpret artists’ intentions in animation. Investigate penguin animations and discuss what they are communicating to us. 

Developing Practical Knowledge 

Explore some animation conventions, applying knowledge of creating individual frames of action and then viewing them in sequence through the use of such programs. 

Download the free animation programs Alice , (large download), Scratch, Pivot Stickfigure Animator or Flash (costs money). 

Developing Ideas  

Usually only three individual frames of action are required for a simple animation.  By sequencing and linking ideas systematically make these three work for you.  

Good (and often simple but effective) ideas can be found at Animation09:  and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation have a couple of pages of helpful hints.

Check out the Wild Dunedin, Hoiho created by Andrew Sparrow.

Communicating and Interpreting  

Research and analyse how an animation can be presented to communicate important meanings. 

Design a comic strip for a year 1 and 2 class outlining the plight of the yellow-eyed penguin. 

Understanding the Arts in Context 

Investigate, analyse, and evaluate ideas and interpret artists’ intentions in comic books you are aquainted with. 

Developing Practical Knowledge 

Explore some comic art conventions, applying knowledge of elements and selected principles through the use of materials and processes. 

Developing Ideas 

Sequence and link ideas systematically using a story board. 

Communicating and Interpreting 

Explore and describe ways in which meanings can be communicated and interpreted in through the media of comic strips. 

Investigate extending your animation and creating a living book using the animation software.

YEP Doodle 

Doodle for Google is an annual competition where Google invites young people to design the Google logo in their own style (this is called a doodle). 

Understanding the Arts in Context 

Investigate, analyse, and evaluate previous Google Doodle winners. What makes them winners? Also check out Christchurch’s Beckenham Primary School Doodles depicting yellow-eyed penguin threats and successes for inspiration.  

Developing Practical Knowledge 

Explore media such as pencil, crayons, felt tips, paint, or computer drawing or design software for creating the Doodle. 

Developing Ideas 

After deciding whether you are going to depict yellow-eyed penguin threats or successes, write yellow-eyed penguin and list possible ideas for some of the letters. 

Communicating and Interpreting 

Have a good look at what the rest of the class is doing.  How best could you show yellow-eyed penguin threats or successes in your YEP Doodle?