Lights! Camera! Stop. Action. Movies.

With the holiday season quickly upon us...starts right after Labor Day now...we have the opportunity to watch the classics of our generation.  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and others.

What ever happened to the art of stop-action movies?

I think our modern-day desire for real-time action, high-def computer graphics and reliance on technology has made stop-action truly a lost art form.  Even my own kid's favorite, Bob the Builder, has gone computer-enhanced!

Stop-Action (SA) movies can be a wonderful (as in fun and educational), high level, creative (think top-level Bloom's Taxonomy) digital storytelling project within your classroom.  SA can be as easy or as challenging as you make it and be used in so many unique and interesting ways.

Movies can also be made using a variety of handy (and available) tools.

• iPads...iMotion HD is incredibly easy to use for all ages.  

• Document Cameras for 3D (like Rudoph) or 2D movies like Common Craft videos

• Digital cameras and photography

• Video Software for project editing, adding music and narration, timing...Windows Movie Maker, iMovie (computer or iPad version), Photostory,  Videolicious...

Awesome Stop-Action Movie Made By Students:

If you are currently making movies in class, I would LOVE to hear about it and share success stories.