“I wanna to express thanks to uncles and aunties for their efforts in fighting against the epidemic. How I wish the plants could beat the viruses. In this way, their workload would be greatly reduced and they could have a good rest......”

Recently, the Plants vs. Viruses Creativity Challenge was held online by the Education Group of Primary School Affiliated to the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. Students at home used their imagination and creativity to make animations and compete in the challenge.

At the critical moment when “the plant kingdom is attacked by viruses and a large number of viruses are about to attack”, students are ordered to “establish a plant corps to fight against virus invasion”. They turn into the “supreme commanders” to collect data, find the characteristics of plants and make illustrations.

Ms. Wang Wenting, a teacher of the Primary School Affiliated to the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, also made a video clip of mini-class for freeze-frame animations before sharing it with students from five schools in the Education Group of Primary School Affiliated to the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. Using the freeze-frame animation skills they have learned, the students have created wonderful scenes of “Plants vs. Viruses”.

“One day, ‘Grass’ is taking a walk when ‘Virus Boss’ rushed to her. Grass is scared and quickly runs away. Seeing ‘Virus Boss’ is about to catch up, ‘Watermelon’ and ‘pepper’ runs over and fights against ‘virus boss’......” Zhang Zhijie, a student of Class 6 Grade 4 of the Primary School Affiliated to the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, has designed different roles for the Challenge, including evil viruses and heroic plants. Each role has its own characteristics. Facing the strong enemy of viruses, the plants work together and finally defeat them. “By designing the animation, I also want to tell people that in the face of the epidemic, as long as we get united, we will be able to defeat the viruses.” Zhang Zhijie said.

“When residents in our community are queuing to have nucleic acid sampling, ‘Omicron Dragon’ comes to attack the community. But don’t be afraid. Protected by ‘Seven-color Lotus’, they soon defeat the ‘bad guy’”. Tang Yunquan, a student of Class 1 Grade 1 of No. 2 Primary School in Kailu New Village, and her father designed and produced the freeze-frame animation “Plants vs. Viruses”. In order to make the animation more vivid, she has prepared props such as collage toys, hand-painted buildings and paper “Omicron Dragon” in advance. Tang Yunquan said, “In the challenge, I have experienced the production process of freeze-frame animation, which is very fun. The epidemic continues. I hope that every child can abide by the epidemic prevention regulations together with his or her family and cheer together, so as to defeat the virus as shown in the animation ending.”

After the Education Group of Primary School Affiliated to the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology initiated the Plants vs. Viruses Creativity Challenge, a number of students’ creative works have been received. Students said that, after seeing plant kingdoms defeat the viruses, they gain stronger confidence in beating against the COVID-19 virus in the real world.