Animate Me!

Introducing the concept of animation to students may be confusing to them, at first. Describing it is enough for some students to understand, while others have difficulty visualizing the process or product. This mini-lesson will allow the students to quickly engage in the process, and see the result before embarking on creating the art and story for their own animation projects.

Supplies: Digital Camera, USB Chord, Stop Motion, IMovie or Moviemaker, Tripod, Students

Steps:
1. Set up camera on tripod, connect to computer, and to software.
2. Have students work together and take turns being subjects and using the computer and camera.
3. Students who are subjects will pose and slowly act out a movement, while students taking pictures and using equipment will take multiple shots of the subjects throughout their actions. (Each acted out scene should have at least 15 pictures because their are approx. 15 pics/sec)
4. Instructor will make sure students take turns using equipment, and being actors, so everyone has a chance to understand the process completely.
5. The instructor may include recording sound effects and pairing them with the animations, if time allows).
6. The instructor will show the students how to use the software to stream the frames together, and create the short animations.
7. Now students can play back the animations, and see themselves moving in an animated film.