Making a Stop Motion Project

Here is a fun task, with a number of benefits, that you might like to try with your students.  A stop motion project may be used to demonstrate their knowledge of a subject, a PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) theme or be used as a Design and Technology Task.  Stop motion projects involve taking up to 750 photographs with a slight movement of an object in each photo.  The photos are then uploaded into imovie or a similar program that speeds up the display of the photographs much like an animation.  Stop motion projects:

• engage students in learning
• motivate students to share their knowledge
• encourage collaboration
• enhance technology skills
• provide opportunities for students to share their knowledge beyond the classroom

Step 1
Firstly decide on a Subject area.  I chose Year 6 Design and Technology. 
Step 2
Next choose a topic. I chose Information and Communication and the outcome 'changes to information and communication over time'. 
Step 3
Then decide on a design task.  The task I set was to create a 'Stop Motion' project to help teach a Foundation (Prep, Kindergarten) child learn the Math's concept Position.
Step 4
List down your ideas.  I listed position words and then decided on which ones to animate.
Step 5
Look through children's colouring books for inspiration for the characters.  I chose to create a dog and cat - Fido and Pumpkin (any guesses what colour Pumpkin was?).  Remember this is for inspiration not to copy.
Step 6
Make your characters using split pins to attach the head, legs and tail so that you are able to move them.
Step 7
Make the background.  I glued a a large blue piece of cardboard on to white foam card and added a variety of green card for the grass and tree.  Then I added a kennel and some 3D flowers.  I attached the tree with foam mounts so that the characters could move behind it.
Step 8
Next make an introduction sign so that the audience knows what your stop motion is about.  I printed the words "Fido and Pumpkin are learning about:, then added POSITION one letter at a time so that in the animation it looked as if POSITION was being written.
Step 9 
Next set up a camera on a tripod.  I had the camera I used facing down to the floor so the animals would be flat and easy to move.
Step 10
Take up to 750 photos with the animals gradually moving to different positions and upload your photos into iPhoto.
Step 11
Open imovie and using the photo icon to locate your photos and select and drag them into the project space.  Then simply press the play button and there you have it.

You can also add sound, text and special effects as I have.  Your more able students might experiment with these features in imovie.

It was really exciting coming up with the ideas and seeing them come to life.  Your class will love this project. See the finished result by clicking on this You Tube Link.

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=linFWJlJ9RY

Note: Your students need to experiment before they attempt this task and using your photos is a good way to let them practise.  My friend did this with my photos so there may be another version of Fido and Pumpkin that hits the net at some stage!