Teacher Lauren Sommer relates that in the class students are diving into all the behind the scenes work “that goes into making Disney theme parks such magical places.”
Students have listened to professionals share insights about their careers within Disney and describe the creative processes they go through in designing experiential storytelling attractions. Following these lessons, students are asked to use what they learn to design their own theme parks.
Each week, students have focused on different aspects of designing their own themed lands including determining a theme, writing a background story and designing attractions and landscapes. Once planning is completed, students begin drawing large maps, bringing their ideas to life.
The maps are currently hanging in their classroom. Students also created Google slides that parents can access via their Google drive. Imagineering students enjoy complex projects throughout the year, such as creating rides for their theme parks. The rides have to meet a certain criteria such as the ability to load and unload a certain number of guests per hour.
The students also have fun with the new Chroma-Key technology, the “green screen”. This involves the process of using a solid color background and then “keying” to remove the solid color to reveal a new backdrop. Many famous Hollywood films, including those made by Disney, Pixar and Marvel, use green screen technology to create a digitally appealing movie for fans worldwide. This visual effect is a fun way to incorporate creativity when it comes to digital effects. The photographs provide examples of what the students created.
The Summit Springs Educational Foundation donated funds to purchase Mickey hands used at the Learning Centers to welcome students.
The Imagineering~Discovering Disney class is taught at all of Springs’ TK-8 Learning Centers and students may join at any time. Go to Bookmart to sign up for a class. Aspiring Mouseketeers, architects, engineers, actors, writers and directors of all ages are welcome. Bookmart will be open for pre-orders on May 3 for Learning Center classes for the 2022-23 school year.
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