Ocean inspiration; how-to’s for filmmaking, poetry and graph; ocean data, science and more!
WORKSHOPS
Free Poetry and Art workshop at Tacoma Art Museum
Come get inspiration from works of art at the Ocean Fest Neighborhood Night on Feb. 21 at Tacoma Art Museum! Explore how artists have expressed ideas about oceans and water, learn about ekphrastic poetry (a special type of poetry inspired by art), and write some poetry of your own. Workshop 6pm, event 6-8pm at Tacoma Art Museum. Workshop RSVP: Sign up here by Feb. 16.
Free Ocean Fest filmmaking workshop
When: 9:30am-12pm Sat. Feb. 23, 2019.
What: Storyboarding, narrative, camera techniques, editing, audio and Q&A from pro filmmakers at Waka Waka Studios. Equipment for loan from Tacoma Public Library.
Where: Boys and Girls Club, 3875 S. 66th St., Tacoma. 253-502-4650
Cost: Free, but must register here by Feb. 16.
OCEAN INSPIRATION
Free days at the Zoo
One big barrier to students entering the story contest might be that they have never seen ocean creatures in real life. Now they can – for free! On Feb. 24 and March 7, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is free to City of Tacoma residents with ID. Students and families can see sharks, fish and giant Pacific octopus up close. 9:30am-4pm.
Free Third Thursdays at the Foss Waterway Seaport
Every third Thursday the Foss Waterway Seaport is free from 5-8pm: Marine science, touch tank animals, whale skeletons and more. fosswaterwayseaport.org
Self-Guided Ocean Fest Art Tours at Tacoma Art Museum
From February – June, 2019, learn more about how artists express ideas about oceans. Work with your classmates to investigate several water-themed works of art using a self-guided activity sheet. You’ll consider issues of environmentalism, beauty, and the importance of water in the Pacific Northwest. These gallery activities will help students form ideas for Ocean Fest poetry, film, or data storytelling submissions, and/or prepare for a visit to Ocean Fest.
Self-guided experiences are $5/student ($3.50 at the scholarship rate); transportation reimbursement is available. Book online here.
FILMMAKING
Check out film equipment for free
The Main Branch of Tacoma Public Library has a Digital Media Lab where you can learn about and borrow film equipment. You can check out video cameras, tripods, audio recorders and reserve a computer with movie editing software.
Check out free library how-to books/ebooks
How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck
Digital Filmmaking for Kids for Dummies
Shooting Video To Make Learning Fun
(ebook available with your Library Card)
Filmmaking how-to’s online
Five Rules for Writing a Short Film
WRITING POETRY
Free Ocean Poetry and Art at Tacoma Art Museum
Come get inspiration from works of art at the Ocean Fest Neighborhood Night on Feb. 21 at Tacoma Art Museum! Explore how artists have expressed ideas about oceans and water, learn about ekphrastic poetry (a special type of poetry inspired by art), and write some poetry of your own. Workshop 6pm, event 6-8pm at Tacoma Art Museum. RSVP: Sign up here.
Learn to write a poem
Local nonprofit Write253 holds after-school writing groups at local middle schools. write253.com
Poetry writing for beginners online
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Poetry-for-Beginners
https://www.poetryfoundation.org
GRAPHING
How to make different kinds of graphs with Excel
How to make an interactive online Tableau graph
Some great ocean graphs (don’t copy – use for inspiration!):
Whale research on orca populations
OCEAN DATA SOURCES
Whale Research Center orca data
NANOOS Network of ocean data sites
OCEAN SCIENCE
Learn about ocean problems like orca decline, plastic, pollution and warming.
NOAA: The facts about the ocean trash problem
Annie Crawley: Inspiring ocean videos, plus the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
UWT finding microplastics everywhere in Puget Sound (scroll to videos, “UW 360”)
Learn about local chemical and oil pollution from Puget Sound Keeper
How climate change is affecting our oceans, from United Nations scientists
The latest on ocean warming from the New York Times
Ocean Pollution and Marine Debris Lesson Plans
Endangered orcas and Washington’s plan to save them
And you should enter in other competitions, too!
From the Bow Seat, an international ocean awareness contest (prizes up to $1,500) – deadline June 17
National Young Arts Foundation (all disciplines) – apply June-Oct
President’s Environmental Youth Award (can be an ocean project or film) – deadline Feb. 1