From creating simple flip books to watching Saturday morning cartoons, we have all experienced the magic of animation. But how is it that a series of still images can be brought to life? It all has to do with the speed at which our brain processes what we see. Learn a brief history behind our current understanding of visual perception, and look at examples that demonstrate how our brains trick us into seeing motion. An interesting video to include in an art lesson on animation, or an exploration of cognitive process in the human brain.

Concepts

sense of sight, the five senses, sense of vision

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Additional Tags

motion pictures, visual perception, cognition, persistence of vision, apparent motion, vision, sense of sight, visual cortex, social studies

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Pros

• Provides a clear explanation for the perception of animation and motion pictures
• Academic language is appropriate for seventh through twelfth graders
• Allows teachers to customize lessons based on video content

Cons

• If being used to teach psychology, a more detailed explanation of the processes in the brain is required

Common Core

SL.7.2 SL.7.3 SL.8.2 SL.8.3 SL.9-10.3 SL.11-12.3