THE SECRET
LIVES OF
OBJECTS
Making Time: 30-45 min
Age Group: 11 and up
Project Designer: Andrew Cerrito
BETRAYAL!!!!
Use a smartphone or iPad and your creative storytelling skills to document the secret lives of regular objects that you have in your home!
Imagine that the everyday objects you have laying around secretly have likes, dislikes, emotions, interests, and friends just like you do.
Your task is to set up a scene that reveals an object’s secret life, and use the camera on a phone or iPad to capture the moment.
Project
Overview:
What do you think these apples are up to?
FIghting? Having a party? Escaping?
Painting: "The Basket of Apples", Paul Cézanne
Gather Supplies:
A smartphone or tablet
This is optional, but if you have completed the phone stand, it could help you take pictures.
Step 1:
Pick A Concept
Pick an action and/or a feeling that you feel would be fun to try to capture using objects in your household. Try not to make it too specific at first!
(For example, “annoyed” would be better than “annoyed that the heater is broken and it’s too cold”.)
Here are some starter concepts if you are having trouble getting started:
Action | Feeling |
Playing a trick on other objects | Comfortable |
Exercising | Bored |
Getting to know someone | Annoyed |
Going to a party | Energetic |
Betraying another object | Shy |
Acting cool/trying to impress | Confused |
Step 2:
Pick a Lead Object
You will need to pick a lead object that will be the subject, or focus, of your concept.
What do you have around your living area that would be interesting/funny to use with your concept?�
Some Tips:�
Examples:
Pasta, Pens/Pencils/Markers, Forks/Spoons/Knives, Coins, Toothbrush, Sunglasses
Step 3:
Pick Supporting
Objects
You will also need some supporting objects. These could be friends/family of your lead object, or even props your object can “use” to get your concept across.
For example, if your concept was feeling comfortable, what props might your object need to feel comfortable in its environment?
Step 4:
Expand Your Idea
Now that you know what your objects are, you can build upon your main idea little more. Take your concept from Step 1 and use it to ask yourself some questions about the objects you picked.�
(For example: Why is your toaster annoyed? OR How is your house key trying to impress the banana across from it on the table?)
You can express your idea as a single image, or as an animation of a series of images!
You can
see some examples
on the
next page!
Picture Example
Animation Example
Main Object: Pasta Concept: Betrayal
Supporting Objects/Props:
Other pasta, Pasta boxes
Main Object: Marker Concept: Comfortable
Supporting Objects/Props:
Box of other markers, Tissues, Tissue packet
The other Cavatappi begged for him to come back, but in his heart, Jimmy had always known he should be with the Fusilli.
Brenda likes the other markers in her box, but sometimes she just wants to escape for a bit, roll up in some nice sheets, and forget her busy life.
Now that you understand the project, it’s time to set your scene.
Prepare
Your Workspace:
You will need to find a space where you can set up your scene to take a picture.
Try to clear the area around your objects so that other things do not distract from the subject of your picture or animation! Make sure to ask other people who are using the space if it’s OK for you to set up there. Let them know what you’re doing - they may find it interesting and want to help!
Go for it!
If you are taking a single picture, set up your scene and go for it! Once you have it, consider adding a caption like in the examples to make your concept clearer and more interesting.
Then, share it with your classroom, or with friends who are also doing the project. Look at the last slide (“Share It!”) for ideas. And don’t forget to tag it #beamanywhere
If you are taking a series of pictures for an animation, read on for some tips!
Making an Animation Out Of Pictures
Stop-Motion
Animation
The process of making an animation out of a series of pictures is called stop-motion animation.
See another example to the right!
This one is made of only two pictures, but you can make longer ones also.
Main Object: Video Cable Concept: Indecisive
Supporting Objects/Props:
Cable connector
“Do I want to keep my hands in my pockets or not?”
Shoot The Pictures
The first step is to shoot your series of pictures, making sure to move the objects just a little bit each time. For example, the animation with the markers above was made out of eight different pictures.
Notice how each picture in the sequence advances the action slightly.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Copy Your
Ending Shot
If you look closely at shots 7 and 8, you’ll notice they’re the same.
This is done so that when the animation loops, the ending shot has a little more time to show on the screen.
It makes things feel more comfortable for the viewer.
7
8
(more time to see the ending)
From Pictures To Animation
We are going to use the Google Photos application in order to easily make an animation from our pictures.
If you don’t have it, please download it.
It may ask you to sign in. If so, use your Google Classrooms account.
From Pictures To Animation
When you open the app, you should see a screen like the one on the right, with all the pictures you’ve taken already with your phone.
Tap on the “For You” button at the bottom of the screen.
From Pictures To Animation
Next, tap on the “Animation” button at the top of the screen.
From Pictures To Animation
Select all the pictures you took for your animation. They will be in backwards order, and that is OK, because it shows the pictures taken most recently first.
Make sure they each have a check mark next to them. Once you’ve selected them all, hit “Create” in the upper right corner.
Share It!
You should now see your picture or animation on the screen!
You could share it with others using the icon at the bottom of the screen, or you can bring it into Google Docs or another program to add a caption and share it that way as well.
It will now also be in your camera roll with your other pictures, in case you want to see it again later.
PLEASE TAG WHAT YOU MADE:
#beamanywhere