Stop Motion Animation

In our unit of inquiry grade two students are learning that stories can engage their audience, communicate meaning, and express values. In addition to enjoying stories created by others, we are also learning how to express ourselves in creative ways by using our imagination. To kids, this comes naturally.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."- Albert Einstein

2A and 2B have been working with their computer teacher, Mr. Towse, and art teacher, Ms. Diane, to learn how to share stories by making stop motion videos. The girls have been retelling traditional folktales and illustrating the stories by drawing pictures during art class. Using iPads, they take pictures and turned their artwork into stop motion animations with the app, Stop Motion Studio. The students are learning to make incremental changes between frames so in the final product the illusion of movement is created. Besides the technical know-how, this art form gives the kids an opportunity to learn patience and commitment. Mr. Towse taught 2A students that the Wallace and Gromit clay-mation movies take one man over a year to make!

The girls were practicing using Stop Motion Studio today. Here a few examples of what they made. This is a free app if your daughter would like to make her own animation at home.

It's bonus content Friday!!! :-) Today's "Feed and Read" guest, Ms. Mai, read the story 'Katy and the Big Snow' to 2A in English and Japanese AT THE SAME TIME! She was a role model for the girls by showing how she can express herself in two languages.

Throughout the school year, we will give the girls further opportunities to learn 'global-mindedness' as part our PYP curriculum. Global-minded citizens can communicate in more than one language and value all languages as a tool for sharing ideas. Ms. Mai is thinking about starting her own Youtube channel to share her favorite stories in English and in Japanese. What do you think? Is it a good idea? (-;
Please leave her a comment!!