Earth Change Claymations

I am a library media specialist in Green Bay, WI. This is my third year teaching and my first in Green Bay. Since I have started here the two digital cameras we have are constantly checked out. One of these cameras is very old, so it would really benefit the students if we had more cameras that can be used for projects.
With more cameras I could do a claymation project with the students. I learned about making claymations during a grad class that I took and found it to be an excellent way to integrate technology into the curriculum. Presently it would be very difficult to do in my school with limited cameras that are in great demand.
I will use the cameras to make claymations with the fourth grade classes. The fourth graders learn about changes that can happen to alter the Earth’s appearance, such as erosion, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The students will be in groups to create different changes to the Earth using claymation. For example, one group could use clay to show a volcano and the land around it. Next they would show the volcano erupting. They would then show how the land around the volcano changed over time as a result of the volcano erupting. The students will then make a movie with the pictures they took of the clay. Each group will be responsible for teaching the rest of the class about an Earth change using their claymation.
During this lesson the students will not only learn about Earth changes in a hands-on way, they will also learn about photography, computers, making movies, and teamwork. They will meet social studies standards, along with many of the library and computer literacy standards.
Once the fourth grade claymation project is finished I will find other areas of the curriculum in different grade levels where I can use claymation to integrate technology. I also plan to use the digital cameras for many other lessons. Kindergarten classes can take pictures of students following or not following school rules to make a classroom book. First graders can take pictures of each other dressed as community helpers to learn about the different jobs people have. Second grade students can take pictures around the community to learn more about the city they live in. Third grade students can look for plants they see on field trips and take pictures to learn about the different types of plants and how they grow. Fifth graders can take pictures to use when they need an idea to start writing. There are many possibilities for using the digital cameras in the school. With my professional development goal of integrating technology into the curriculum I am constantly looking for new ideas. Having the cameras would give us more opportunities to use technology with our students.