Stop motion animation has been quite popular in my French Immersion class this year and found that all students enjoyed doing this type of project. Gifted students who have heard of stop motion animation asked me to do a special project. They enjoyed doing stop motion animation to show the growth of tomato plants coming using seeds from the International Space Station. Students who have difficulty with language in the sense that they are hands-on learners could see a way where they are quite proficient at communicating. They already liked playing with little Lego figures. They were asked to do for class what they enjoy doing at home or at recess. They were more than engaged. Stop motion animation is a powerful and very creative tool to express oneself, and engage students who feel otherwise left out. It can be used as well to engage students with subjects that can me more difficult, like science.
Example of applications/themes where stop motion can be used
Children will spend hours creating stories with their toys:
Story making: LEGO stories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0m-qxEdWsQ
Social Studies: Ancient Egypt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1AvRaeD3rc
Learning happens not only in school but everywhere 24/7. Many will create imotion videos while travelling or doing a field trip.
History/Geography: Visit to Old Montreal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pakw4mbZUk
More difficult science can be made more enjoyable by having students showing their learning in a formal they enjoy working with:
Science: DNA replication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoYhDDxiwPE
Science: Filming stars
http://vimeo.com/28040685
Some Apple apps like iMotionHD is another very easy to use option.
It does allow using automatic settings to film plant grow, or the change of the seasons
Science: How a plant grow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDN0yAFcQok
Stop motion can be used with many subjects
Character Education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE0122jqe4Y
Health – Healthy eating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwmZEhDqEOs
Social Studies: A civilization story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aze9Fk_Wz2E
Math – Multiplication
http://youtu.be/M48Txz8WXxw
Literacy – Poetry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j2HsQ8rqSc
Literacy – The Great Gatsby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUTuhPsdI9k
Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=aGoOhZN_PR8
Professional Resources: On separate Document
http://www.cinetrafic.fr/liste-film/619/1/les-films-d-animation-en-stop-motion
Group workshop – technology
We were asked to show the class of about 50 participants.
First the story needs to be planned using a graphic organizer or story board. The set can then be designed with paint, paper, plasticine, LEGO figurines, books. They then take several pictures, using a (iphone camera and digital camera) of their stories. The pictures are integrated in movie maker. The story can be narrated, or copyright free music can be added. The movie is complete.
Other alternatives exist like using an Ipad with iMotionHD.