Stop Motion Animator is a free tool for creating stop motion animation videos using a webcam. Stop motion animation refers to a technique where objects are manipulated to appear to move on their own. The object is moved in small increments and a photo is taken of each movement. When the series of frames are played back, the illusion of movement occurs. Creating videos and movies is engaging for students but also provides opportunities for children to use higher-order thinking skills to organize and design the story elements and the events of the scenes and story. It also provides an opportunity for students to utilize auditory, verbal, visual, and kinesthetic modalities in combination to create a very personalized and meaningful product that can be shared. The fifth graders have been writing personal narratives and used Stop Motion Animator to “animate” their narrative and bring it to life.
