◷ 30 minutes◎ Ages 7–12✦ Animation
Quick start

A flipbook creates the appearance of movement when similar drawings are shown quickly in sequence. Move the ball slightly between frames.

Finished example for Make a bouncing-ball flipbook animation
Inspiration image: one possible finished result. Your artwork should be your own.
Your creative mission

What you will learn

A sequence of small changes can make still drawings appear to move.

Skills: Sequencing, motion and frame-by-frame drawing

Jump to picture steps ↓

What you’ll need

  • 8–12 small pieces of paper or sticky notes
  • Pencil
  • Binder clip (optional)

Get ready: Cut or prepare the small papers before the session; hold the stack together.

Six-frame visual journey for Make a bouncing-ball flipbook animation, ending in a colourful creative variation
Visual journey: use the numbered guide below for complete instructions. The final inspiration image is one imaginative variation, not a required result.
Follow along

Make it, one picture at a time.

Look at the picture, try that step on your paper, then move to the next. Follow the numbered stages, then choose your own colours and details.

  1. Stage 1 of 5: Stack at least eight small pages in the same direction and number them lightly.
    STEP 01

    Stack at least eight small pages in the same direction and number them lightly.

  2. Stage 2 of 5: On page one, draw a small ball near the top-left area.
    STEP 02

    On page one, draw a small ball near the top-left area.

  3. Stage 3 of 5: On each new page, move the ball a little lower. Near the bottom, make the movement smaller.
    STEP 03

    On each new page, move the ball a little lower. Near the bottom, make the movement smaller.

  4. Stage 4 of 5: On the next pages, move it upward again, changing its position a little each time.
    STEP 04

    On the next pages, move it upward again, changing its position a little each time.

  5. Stage 5 of 5: Hold the stack at one corner and flip quickly with your thumb. Adjust drawings if the bounce feels jumpy.
    STEP 05

    Hold the stack at one corner and flip quickly with your thumb. Adjust drawings if the bounce feels jumpy.

Make it your own

Keep the ball the same size on every page. Changing only the position makes the movement easier to understand.

Talk about it: What changes when the ball moves farther between pictures?

Help a young artist learn

These practical notes are for parents, carers and teachers. Children can follow the picture steps above.

For parents and carers — teach together

Start together

Cut or prepare the small papers before the session; hold the stack together.

During the activity

Let the child control the flip and notice what changes.

Afterwards

Ask: What changes when the ball moves farther between pictures?

For teachers — classroom adaptation

Learning focus

Sequencing, motion and frame-by-frame drawing

Demonstrate and guide

Demonstrate two frames on a board, then help groups compare smooth and jumpy motion.

Observe, do not grade the artwork

Ask learners to describe one choice they made and one thing they would try differently.

Make it easier or take it further

Make it easier

Use six pages with small changes.

Extra challenge

Add a squash frame when the ball touches the ground.

Free printable resource

Print the original activity sheet if it helps you follow along.

Download worksheet (SVG) ↓

SVG opens in a browser and can be printed or saved. Use A4 or fit-to-page printing where appropriate.

Keep creating

Create a paper stop-motion scene

Make paper characters appear to move with a series of photographs.

Storyboard a tiny three-scene story

Plan a short animation before drawing lots of frames.

Activities are suggestions, not assessments. Adapt materials and supervise as needed.