daily activities
Sample
Fact or Fiction?!
Movie Magic
“How did they do that?!” If you haven’t asked that question after watching a movie, you might not be watching enough movies. We’ll journey into the magic behind the making of fictional worlds like Wakanda, Hogwarts, and Middle Earth.
what you’ll need
Popsicle sticks, toothpicks, or straws for building
Wind or a fan
Ice and water
Tape
Glue
FOR PARENTS
Ask About Today
What are some ways filmmakers incorporate real locations and visual effects to create the fantasy worlds we see in movies?
Skip the Ads
Unfortunately, online videos often start with short advertisements. Remind your campers to click the "Skip" button as soon as they can to move ahead to the video.
explore
60 minutes
01
The Making of Hogwarts
What did it take to build a giant model of Hogwarts so it could come alive on screen? Learn directly from the model supervisor on the set of the first Harry Potter film.
Remember: Online videos often start with advertisements. Click "Skip" as soon as you can.
02
Bringing Wakanda to Life
The filmmakers behind the Black Panther movies used extraordinary visual effects to create the Wakanda you see on screen. Find out what went into the making of Wakanda—and what the film set looks like without the magic of CGI.
03
Facial Recognition
What would cartoon characters look like…if they were real people? These graphic artists—and their computers—are about to turn cartoons and video game characters into humans.
04
On Location
Travel through Northern Ireland to visit some of the famous real-life locations that showed up in the television series Game of Thrones—and see how they’re transformed from reality to fictional world.
05
Bugs…Really. Big. Bugs.
Creepy crawlies have been playing a leading role in science fiction for decades. In this short PBS documentary, learn about the origins of “big bug” fiction. Get your fly swatter ready.
create
60 minutes
01
Build a Movie Model
Imagine your own favorite fantasy location. Maybe it’s Hogwarts or Wakanda, or something else. (Or maybe it’s a place you make up!) Using the guidance from this at-home engineering activity, build your world using straws (popsicle sticks or toothpicks will work too). Then test how well it’ll hold up to real life conditions like wind and rain.
move
10 minutes
01
It’s a Wakanda Workout
Exercise like your favorite Black Panther characters with this simple YouTube workout.