Educational activity based on the short film Racines
Understand and interpret documents and images. Produce a variety of written texts.
Racines © Kawanimation
TitleRacines
ThemeEcology
Genre & keywordsContemplative, old lady, rock, root, forest, trip
Age (for the film)6-11 years old
Duration04 min 23 s
DirectorE. Lusbaronian & H. Faucompret & P. Bassil & H. Weiss
MusicVictor Belin
ProductionKawanimation (France, 2013)
Reading and writing.
Compare this short film with the feature film “Up There” by Pete Docter and Tom Peterson (2009): look for similarities and differences, gather the details in a chart and use it to write a short summary of the two films.
In this short film, we follow the adventures of an old lady who journeys inside her house. There are many similarities with the animated film “Là-Haut”. It is the story of an old gentleman who also journeys inside his house. This will be an opportunity to compare the two films with the students, which will allow them to practice image comprehension and writing skills.
Start by showing the feature film, asking the students to pay close attention; explain to them that they will use this video for later work.
After watching, ask them for their impressions and ask them to summarize the story orally. Help them and follow up regularly with questions. Take stock of what they have understood. If necessary, return to certain scenes and rewatch extracts.
During another session, do the same with the short film. Then go to the next step and compare the two films.
Start with an oral activity to make sure the task is clearly understood; then start the written work after giving examples.
Similarities: the type of film (animation) - the age of the main character - They are both traveling in their home - They are on a long journey full of obstacles - They encounter difficulties (the man is slowed down by adversaries, the woman is slowed down by the fatigue of the colossus).
The differences: short film/feature film – with or without words – man/woman – house that moves with balloons/house that moves on the back of a colossus made of rock – the man has a surprise passenger/the woman is alone – They do not have the same objective, the man wants to go to Paradise Falls to keep a promise made to his late wife, the woman wants to get closer to the sun to make her plants grow.
How do the two films end?
Depending on the level of the students, we can offer a sheet with a two-way comparison grid.
Activity sheet written by: Valérie du blog Val 10. Discover the Val 10 blog...
