Unit 2 - Year 2 Lessons

Overview

Students will complete Unit 2 Year 2 activities using digital art workflows.

Target skills:

• Visual Communication
• Digital Illustration
• Creative Problem Solving

Tools:

• Pixilart

Outputs:

• Student-created digital artifact(s) saved to class folder.

Week 1 - Animate a Fire (Pixilart)

Lesson 1 - Fire (6-8 Frames)

Goal: Animate a small flame using frame-by-frame changes to simulate realistic movement.

1. Talk about fire
   Ask: “What does fire look like when it moves?” > It flickers and changes shape constantly.
   Show short examples (campfire/candle).
   
   

2. Start a new drawing
   File > New > Canvas: 64 × 64 px > Create
   

3. Draw Frame 1
   Use pencil to sketch a basic flame silhouette. Put yellow/orange in the middle.
   
   

4. Add Frame 2
   Click + Add Frame. Slightly change shape (taller/shorter/tilt).
   
   

5. Add Frame 3 … 6–8
   Continue subtle shape changes to create flicker.
   

6. Preview
   Press Play to watch. Adjust speed slider until it looks natural.
   
   

7. Export
   Download > Export as GIF > Save to Google Drive > Students > NAME > Fire.gif

Lesson 2 - Fire with a Base (Match/Candle)

Extend Lesson 1 by adding a base (matchstick/candle) that shrinks as it burns.

• Draw the match/candle first; plan how it shortens each frame.
  

• Lock the frame when selecting/erasing to make edits easier.
  
  

• Re-draw flame on top using the flicker method from Lesson 1.
  

• Export: Firestick.gif > Google Drive > Students > NAME

Week 2 - Animate an Explosion (Pixilart)

Lesson 1 - Explosion Grow, Fade, and Disappear

Goal: Create a convincing explosion by growing, color-filling, then erasing to fade.

1. Talk about explosions
   Ask: “What happens during an explosion?” > Expands quickly, then fades away.

2. Start a new drawing
   File > New > Canvas: 64 × 64 px > Create

3. Frame 1 — Start (small center)
   Use circle tool and an orange color. Turn on Center in top toolbar.
   
   

4. Frames 2–5/6 — Grow
   Click + Add Frame, make the circle bigger each frame.

5. Fill color
   Go back to Frame 1, pick center color and use Fill across frames.
   
   
   
   

6. Final frames — Disappear
   Copy the last frame, use eraser to open a hole in the middle > then swirl > then mostly erase.
   
   
   
   

7. Preview & Save
   Press Play and fine-tune speed. Export GIF.
   

Optional: Add smoke on the last 3–4 frames (starts heavy > almost none).

Lesson 2 - Variations

Repeat with different colors and shapes (e.g., cloud-like billows). Emphasize readable silhouettes and consistent center.