Elementary

How can students use stop-motion animation to bring a positive message to life?

Students will collaborate in pairs to create a stop-motion video featuring a positive quote and accompanying music.

• 3 x 4" (8 x 10 cm) pieces of construction paper
• pencils
• erasers
• scissors
• teacher-created printout of block letters,
• Pads (one for every two students)

Step 1
Show students an example of a stop-motion video. Explain that stop-motion is a type of animation that uses real objects rather than drawings or computer-generated images to tell a story. Characters can be people, animals, or everyday objects made from materials such as clay or paper, as well as toys or puppets.

Step 2
Have students select a short, positive quote. Using a teacher-provided block-letter printout as a guide, students draw or trace letters onto construction paper and cut them out. Alternatively, students can create their own block letters.

Step 3
Have each pair use the Stop Motion Studio app on an iPad to create their video. Students should move each letter slightly between photographs, taking four to five photos as each letter is moved into position. One student moves the letters while the other holds the iPad steady or uses the iPad stand, if available. To delete a photo, tap it and select “Delete.”

Step 4
Once the animation is complete, have students tap the three white dots next to their video and select “Rename.” Students should include their names, their partnerʼs name, and their room number in the file name.

Step 5
To add music, have students tap the three dots next to their video and select “Export Movie.” Choose “Save Video,” then open iMovie. Select “Start New Project” and then “Movie.” Under “Video,” select “Recently Added,” choose the exported video, and tap “Create Movie.”

Step 6
Next, tap the plus (+) sign, select “Audio,” and then “Soundtracks.” Have students choose a soundtrack and tap the plus (+) button to add it to their video. When finished, tap “Done.”

Step 7
Students submit their completed video to the schoolʼs learning management system.

The teacher will review each pairʼs stop-motion video before students move on to adding music in iMovie. The teacher will also check that the completed videos include music before students submit them.

Editorʼs note: iMovie menu labels, interfaces, and navigation steps may vary depending on the app version. Preview and test these instructions before beginning the project with students.

Meera Ramanathan is a project resource teacher at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy in San Diego, California