Stop Motion has become one of those fun activities we tried once and haven't been able to put it down! With Stop Motion, you take an inanimate object or still pictures and make them appear to move on their own. I like the iOS app Stop Motion Studio (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-studio/id441651297?mt=8) available for a free download in the iTunes Store. By using the camera on your device, you can take pictures, video and add audio to each stage or phase of the movement you want your object to take. The speed of each slide can be adjusted for speed or slow-motion...whichever you choose. The video created can loop, fade in, fade out and take on so many different 'personalities'. It's a lot of fun. In-app purchases for more images, themes and audio are a minimal investment and can be purchased in a bundle.
Ideas for Stop Motion: I think this is a perfect activity for Digital Storytelling, which has become a big focus this year in the Lab. Students can create characters, events and create a moving story to share with the class or friends & family. Another idea for this type of program is being able to show the sequence of start to finish or of a life cycle. Plant a seed, watch as it sprouts, grows and blooms....fascinating!
There are other free Stop Motion apps available and look to have similar results. I found this app to be kid-friendly and easy to use. Ideally, this works best with older Elementary Students, but 2nd & 3rd Graders, alike were able to pick up on it with little help.
A new adventure in moving pictures...Stop Motion!
Elana Moore
