Photo: Magda Ehlers - Pexels

Using Stop-Motion Animation to Teach Elementary Concepts

 

Utilizing stop-motion animation in the classroom helps children become more involved in what they are learning and gives them an opportunity to be creative, which ultimately helps boost student engagement and understanding of the material. Children have different learning styles and multiple intelligences, and stop-motion animation is a great way to provide children with nontraditional learning experiences. Some students who have a difficult time expressing their understanding of content may be able to demonstrate it more easily through animation.

 

Stop-motion animation can be used to teach a variety of elementary concepts: 

Students can visually express ideas through digital storytelling - learn about history through reenactment - visualize science processes and life cycles - learn about, visualize, and explain maths. 

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Creating stop-motion animation films is also a great way to promote collaboration among students and help students strengthen their problem-solving skills.

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How does animation help children with special needs?

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Animation can be a really positive and great teaching aid for children with special needs. Many special educational needs schools already use animation as a method of teaching. Stop motion animation is an extremely tactile and visual medium that is perfect for getting across new concepts to children with learning difficulties.

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Promotes social and educational inclusion – Children learn by playing – Increases self-confidence – Enhances organization skills – Communication 

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Stop motion animation in school and the curriculum

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There are 5 steps involved in making a movie. Let’s look at each of these steps and show how various learning outcomes can be achieved with this form of animation