ANIMATION FOR EDUCATION

Animation is a great classroom activity, allowing teachers and students to explore and develop a more creative curriculum, in literacy, science, citizenship, MFL and many topic areas. Being fun, creative and hands-on learning, animation motivates and engages both teachers and students as they use simple IT practice, and is uniquely suited to all classrooms.

Here are some tips to teach animation in the class:

1 - Think of a simple idea and story that will be easy to film in the classroom, watch examples in our Screening Room. Download our Teachers Animation Toolkit for ideas and tips to achieving great results in the classroom.

2 - Create your models, using simple bold designs, with large features that will be easy to animate and bring to life. Watch this animation with your class.

3 - Plan your story, once more keeping ideas simple and visual. For your first attempt aim for a film that is advert length. Use our free Story Planner downloadable PDF to help get you started. Keep the number of models in a story to a minimum.

4 - To animate the story you will need:
• A computer or laptop.
• Animation software
• A video camera or good quality webcam.

5 - When filming, work at 12 frames per second, keep the moves of the models small, animate one thing at a time, and aim for a film that is advert length.

6 - Encourage students to preview their animation and evaluate their work as they go. Good animation software can do this.