Part of my teaching assignment is to introduce new ways to "show what you know". And from my days 5 years ago taking photographs with a tripod and using Windows Movie Maker to try to animate the photos we have come a long way since then. I continue to find this type of storytelling interesting, innovative and a very good way to motivate students.
I have collected a number of resources along the way and tried to find ways to bring animation closer to the students. In the photo above, you'll see my 6 year old Mac Mini, a 5 year old school owned Canon Mini DV camera and a school owned monitor. I used this set-up this week as a demonstration animation station. I have it on a metal cart on wheels which allows me to move from classroom to classroom.
National Film Board - Canada (NFB) Resources
StopMo - Great site. 18 minute segmented step-by-step process for animation. Includes a detailed series of lesson plans which can be adapted to different grade levels.
Software
We're very fortunate to have an agreement with Tech4Learning to have Frames animation software installed on each academic image among publicly funded schools in Ontario.
Mobile Animation Apps. for iOS
For iPhone and iPod Touch I have had success with (free) LEGO® Super Heroes Movie Maker
And just last week a student in grade 8 showed me a terrific app. for iPhone and iPod Touch called iMotion HD. Unlike the LEGO® app., which saves to the Camera Roll, iMotion HD does not save unless you purchase the full version for $1.99. We also use the animation instructional videos included with NFB's free (in Canada) PixStop Animation App. for iOS. Three short tutorial films are included with the app. and are very good: "Three Principles of Animation", "Flipbook" , and "Storyboarding".
Steps in the Process
I encouraged students to keep a few things in mind when creating their animations:
a) Create a 3 panel storyboard which shows: beginning, middle, and end.
b) Write next to your sketch the Action Sequence in each panel.
b) Select no more than 3 characters to be the 'talent' in the animation.
c) Tell your story in 10 seconds or less.
d) Decide ahead of time whether you'll be creating your animation as a Pixilation with classmates, with toy characters, or with clay.
Note: There are other animation options but these are three good ones with which to start.
Teacher Created Resources:
York Region teacher Dan Grant uses animation in his junior classroom and penned an article a while back for ETFO's Voice magazine on Stop Motion in the classroom. The best collection of templates and instructional videos around is by teacher Kevin Hodgson. His animation website is terrific.
Update: This week we started storyboarding and creating backgrounds. A trip to No-Frills was necessary. Came back with about 40 cardboard boxes!
