Digital Storybooks: Digital Storybooks: Clay AnimationClay Animation

WorkshopWorkshopOctober 30th, 2009October 30th, 2009

Languages 1: Melanie, Kendra

Languages 2: Tricia, Ingrid

Math 1: Ryan A, John, Kerri

Math 2: Kya, Lauren P, Amy

Math 3: Kim, David, Lauren W

English 1: Leah, Bets, Alison

English 2: Carol, Megan G, Vanessa

English 3: Caitlin, Lara, Sarah P

English 4: Kathryn R, Adam, Sara

Clay Animation Activity Groups

Science 1: Bob, Tiffany, Meghan M

Science 2: Michael B, Ashleigh, Phil

Science 3: Michael J, Tracy, Susan

Science 4: Ben, Lorraine, Drew

Social Studies 1: Stefan, Sade, Stella,

Social Studies 2: Jennifer A, Stacey, Erin

Social Studies 3: Jenny Arm, Lindsay, J.P

Social Studies 4: Chris, Sam, Ryan M

Social Studies 5: Kristina, Rachel, Brittany

Social Studies 6: Todd, Zina

AgendaAgenda

1.1. Sample of Digital StorybooksSample of Digital Storybooks

2.2. Clay Animation ActivityClay Animation Activity

Types of Digital Types of Digital StorybooksStorybooks

Photo StorybooksPhoto StorybooksPhotos or Images w/ NarrativePhotos or Images w/ Narrative

Clay AnimationsClay AnimationsClay/materials to create a flipbook on an Clay/materials to create a flipbook on an idea/conceptidea/concept

Google Map StorybooksGoogle Map StorybooksUse Google Map to create stories or toursUse Google Map to create stories or tours

Collaborative StorybooksCollaborative StorybooksUse Voicethread or Earfl to get participatory Use Voicethread or Earfl to get participatory storiesstories

What is Claymation?What is Claymation? Claymation, or Clay Animation, uses clay figures to Claymation, or Clay Animation, uses clay figures to

illustrate a story or concept and computer software to illustrate a story or concept and computer software to animate the still photographs of the clay figures. animate the still photographs of the clay figures.

Materials NeededMaterials Needed

Your imaginationYour imagination

Storyboard Storyboard

Digital CamerasDigital Cameras

Materials for a backgroundMaterials for a background

Materials for charactersMaterials for characters

ComputerComputer

Steps to Creating an Steps to Creating an AnimationAnimation

Step One – Come up with a Story ConceptStep One – Come up with a Story Concept

Step Two – Create a StoryboardStep Two – Create a Storyboard

Step Three - Design and create the Step Three - Design and create the backgroundbackground

Step Four - Design and create the charactersStep Four - Design and create the characters

Step Five – Take the picturesStep Five – Take the pictures

Step Six – Create the AnimationStep Six – Create the Animation

Step Seven - ShareStep Seven - Share

Step OneStep OneCome up with a story or concept.Come up with a story or concept.

Event or ConceptEvent or ConceptPhenomenon such as metamorphosisPhenomenon such as metamorphosisExamples: the water cycle, long division, fractions, a Examples: the water cycle, long division, fractions, a scene from a play or story you are studyingscene from a play or story you are studyingSolution to a problemSolution to a problem

Step TwoStep Two

Create a storyboard.Create a storyboard.Storyboards don’t have to be Storyboards don’t have to be detailed. They just need to show the detailed. They just need to show the overall concept of the animation. overall concept of the animation. Storyboards can be simple pictures Storyboards can be simple pictures or words, or a combination of both.or words, or a combination of both.The more you include in your The more you include in your storyboard, the easier it will be to storyboard, the easier it will be to create your characters.create your characters.

Storyboard Example Storyboard Example

Storyboard ExampleStoryboard Example

Example taken from http://library.thinkquest.org/22316/start.html

Step ThreeStep ThreeDesign and create your backgroundDesign and create your background

Materials needed:Materials needed:Construction PaperConstruction Paper

Markers or CrayonsMarkers or Crayons

GlueGlue

Cardboard BoxesCardboard Boxes

Cotton ballsCotton balls

You want your characters and You want your characters and their actions to be the focus of their actions to be the focus of your animation, not what is your animation, not what is

behind them.behind them.

Background TipBackground Tip

Make sure your background is Make sure your background is not so large that it makes your not so large that it makes your characters seem too small. characters seem too small.

A large size piece of construction A large size piece of construction paper is plenty big.paper is plenty big.

Background TipBackground Tip

3-D additions to your background 3-D additions to your background make your animation more make your animation more appealing. appealing.

A box and a downward camera A box and a downward camera angle are great ways to add angle are great ways to add depth to your animation. depth to your animation.

Pop ups on your background are Pop ups on your background are

also great ways to add depth.also great ways to add depth.

Background TipBackground Tip

EXAMPLES of EXAMPLES of GREAT GREAT

BACKGROUNDS!BACKGROUNDS!

Step Four: Step Four: Design and Design and create characterscreate characters

Make sure that your characters Make sure that your characters are 1 and a half to three inches are 1 and a half to three inches tall. tall.

Characters that are too tall will Characters that are too tall will not stand up.not stand up.

Good CharactersGood Characters•These characters are perfect size and very detailed.

•Designed and created by a 5th grade resource student with the help of a first grader.

Good CharactersGood Characters

•Spongebob is a great character.

•The materials that he was made of caused him to be top heavy.

• The creator compensated by placing something behind him to support the weight.

Not So Good CharacterNot So Good Character

•This character is too small.

• It is also not covered with clay.

• It is unappealing to the eye.

Not So Good CharacterNot So Good Character

•This character is not very well put together.

• It is not completely covered in clay

•It appears very sloppy.

Step Five: Step Five: Take the Take the picturespictures

Take the picturesTake the picturesSet up your cameraSet up your cameraUse good lightingUse good lightingPracticePracticeShootShoot

Make sure you have a stable surface for the camera to Make sure you have a stable surface for the camera to sit on, such as a tripod.sit on, such as a tripod.

It is important that your camera does not move at all It is important that your camera does not move at all during the making of your animation.during the making of your animation.

Find a well lighted place in the room or mount a lamp Find a well lighted place in the room or mount a lamp directed toward the set.directed toward the set.

Make markings where the camera goes.Make markings where the camera goes.

Camera TipsCamera Tips

Set up the background and Set up the background and characters and do a practice run characters and do a practice run before you begin taking pictures. before you begin taking pictures.

Move the characters about a half Move the characters about a half an inch at a time. an inch at a time.

30 to 70 pictures make a great 30 to 70 pictures make a great animation. animation.

Camera TipsCamera Tips

One person One person should be in should be in charge of holding the camera charge of holding the camera still and taking the pictures. still and taking the pictures.

Another person Another person should be in should be in charge of moving the charge of moving the characters. characters.

Camera TipsCamera Tips

Camera Placement: Camera Placement: These These are Great! Examplesare Great! Examples

Camera Placement: Camera Placement: Poor Placement. Poor Placement.

ExampleExample

Claymation AssignmentClaymation Assignment

Storyboard a “short” Claymation movie in Storyboard a “short” Claymation movie in your content area.your content area.

Science:Science: demonstrate a scientific phenomenon demonstrate a scientific phenomenon such as a chemical reaction or biological such as a chemical reaction or biological process.process.

Social StudiesSocial Studies: focus on a concept, historical : focus on a concept, historical event, different interpretations of an event, event, different interpretations of an event, geographic features, current events…geographic features, current events…

English/FL:English/FL: focus on characters from a novel, focus on characters from a novel, re-write the ending to a famous novel, dramatic re-write the ending to a famous novel, dramatic “acting”, have poetry come alive. Concept…“acting”, have poetry come alive. Concept…

Editing in iMovieEditing in iMovieOpen up iMovieOpen up iMovie

Create a New MovieCreate a New Movie

Upload PhotosUpload Photos

Place Photos in orderPlace Photos in order

Arrange timing of PhotosArrange timing of Photos

Insert Photo Effects (Ken Burns)Insert Photo Effects (Ken Burns)

Insert Video EffectsInsert Video Effects

Insert NarrationInsert Narration

Insert Sound/MusicInsert Sound/Music

Export for web (SHARE—SAVE FOR WEB)Export for web (SHARE—SAVE FOR WEB)

Embed on your blog Embed on your blog

Tips and TricksTips and Tricks

The first time you do an animation The first time you do an animation with your students, let them have with your students, let them have fun with it. Don’t set to many fun with it. Don’t set to many expectations. Just let them use expectations. Just let them use their imaginations. their imaginations.

Let your students do as much as Let your students do as much as possible outside of the classroompossible outside of the classroom

Storyboarding, scene creations, and even picture taking Storyboarding, scene creations, and even picture taking (cell phones!)(cell phones!)

Copyright FREE Copyright FREE Sound/Music FilesSound/Music Files

http://findsounds.com/ (free)http://findsounds.com/ (free)

www.royaltyfreemusic.com (free and www.royaltyfreemusic.com (free and paid)paid)

EDU504 Next StepsEDU504 Next Steps

Select your Web2.0 Resource for your Webinar in Select your Web2.0 Resource for your Webinar in December.December.

Continue to post on your blog (4 posts this Fall)Continue to post on your blog (4 posts this Fall)

Make sure you have completed your Technology in my Make sure you have completed your Technology in my Placement Survey (Okay if you did this with a group of Placement Survey (Okay if you did this with a group of MACers).MACers).

Live Blog one 30+minute event (http://coveritlive.com )Live Blog one 30+minute event (http://coveritlive.com )Announce via email and/or twitter before bloggingAnnounce via email and/or twitter before blogging

Embed LiveBlog on your blogEmbed LiveBlog on your blog

Next 504 Meeting is November 6Next 504 Meeting is November 6thth