Introduction to Stop-Motion Animation Lesson Plan

Media Production

Level: Grade 1-3

About the author: MediaSmarts

media representation

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

Overview

In this lesson, students learn how animation works and make simple flipbook animations. They are then introduced to the pre-production, production and post-production process by planning and making a shot stop-motion animation. The lesson ends with a film festival of students’ videos.

Learning Outcomes

Big ideas/key concepts: Students will understand that…

Media are constructions

  • Media works are the result of work and conscious choices by creators

Each medium has a unique aesthetic form

  • Video media, such as animation, create the illusion of movement through many slightly different still images

Key questions:

  • How does animation look like movement?
  • What choices do we have to make to make a good animated work?

Essential knowledge: Students will know…

  • Reading media:  Basics of animation
  • Media representation: How social media represents our friends, peers and celebrities
  • Media health: How media representation of peers and celebrities affects our body image and self-esteem; how to manage the impact of social media on our well-being

Key vocabulary: Animation, pixilation, storyboard, frame

Performance tasks: Students will be able to…

  • Use: Make an animation
  • Understand: Analyze the qualities of a good animated work

Student-friendly outcomes:

  • We will learn that movies, videos, and animations are made by real people who make careful choices about what to show us.
  • We will learn the basics of how animation works and why it looks like pictures are moving.
  • We will learn what choices we need to make to plan and create our own animation.

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit