Helping Students Become Technologically Literate

1. Using Clay Animation In Your Classroom Helping Students Become Technologically Literate April Petitt Technology Coordinator Region 5 ESC apetitt@esc5.net

2. Classroom Movie

3. Irving ISD Clay Movies The Water Cycle Fraction Action Subjects and Verbs Measuring Up Forces That Shape Photosynthesis Website: Irving ISD

4. What is Claymation? • Claymation is the process of telling a story through the use of clay. The story can be a historical event, a chemical process, a fiction story, etc. • All figures and props can be molded from clay or other materials. A background and foreground can be created which would further enhance the story. • A series of still pictures are taken with a digital camera. • The frames are then put together to create a movie.

5. Steps for Student Planning • Brainstorm in group • Sketch of background and characters • Storyboard • Script • Create Background • Create Characters • Plan area for shooting still shots • Import shots in MovieMaker 2 • Add audio, transitions, effects, etc.

6. What student skills are needed? • Communication • Written • Language • Organizational • Sequential thinking • Group collaboration • Problem solving • Critical thinking • Spatial relationships • Reflection • Assessment • Interpersonal • Mediation

7. Reaching Students Artistic Students Creating a clay animation movie gives students the opportunity to use their artistic and creative talents while using clay and technology to communicate and tell a story. Students with Learning Differences Clay animation appeals to multiple intelligences and a broad variety of learners.

8. Creativity and Collaboration Creativity is encouraged when students sculpt clay characters, draw and paint sets, and animate their stories. Collaboration skills are practiced when students work together to produce a clay animation project.

9. Language and Math Skills Language skills are engaged while brainstorming and writing the script and storyboard. Mathematical, logical, and spatial skills are used in organizing the project, sequencing the frames, and using digital photography and video editing technology.

10. Core Class Activities?

11. Clay Projects

12. Clay /Japanese Kimono Unit With this unit I introduce them to Japanese culture. We zero in on kimono styles and history, then discuss what ceremonial clothing do  we and a variety of cultures wear.  We view the  following site: http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/index.html and then discuss clay terms and the elements, form  and texture. Cultural Study

13. Sample Lesson FinalProduct Storyboard

14. NETS for Students • What is NETS? • The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project is an ongoing initiative of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and a consortium of distinguished partners and co-sponsors. • The NETS Project will work to define standards for students, integrating curriculum technology, technology support, and standards for student assessment and evaluation of technology use.

15. ISTE • ISTE released new student standards in June 2007 at NECC in Atlanta, Georgia. The next generation of National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) were the result of input and feedback from educators across the U.S. and 22 other countries. • The primary goal of the ISTE NETS Project is to enable stakeholders in PreK-12 education to develop national standards for educational uses of technology that facilitate school improvement in the United States. • NETS Standards • 3-5 • 6-8 • 9-12

16. Technological Literacy http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/skills/techlit.htm Students Who Are Technologically Literate: • Demonstrate a sound conceptual understanding of the nature of technology systems and view themselves as proficient users of these systems. • Understand and model positive, ethical use of technology in both social and personal contexts. • Use a variety of technology tools in effective ways to increase creative productivity.

17. Technological Literacy (cont’d) • Use communication tools to reach out to the world beyond the classroom and communicate ideas in powerful ways. • Use technology effectively to access, evaluate, process and synthesize information from a variety of sources. • Use technology to identify and solve complex problems in real-world contexts.

18. Your Wiki Thoughts • Go to http://claymation.wikispaces.com • Sign up with wikispaces

19. Tech4Learning • There are many resources for claymation on the Internet. A list of all resources is included on the claymation wiki. • One site that will be helpful is http://www.tech4learning.com/claykit/projects.html • This site contains planning sheet, storyboard, rubric, assessment materials, introduction letter, NETS standards, etc. for your use.

20. How to Begin? • If time allows, research the history of claymation. • Classroom Materials • Letter to Parents • Planning Sheet for group • Sketch Sheet • Rubric • Storyboard/Script • Moviemaker 2 Handout • Student Self-Assessment /Group Assessment • Reflection • Preparation Ideas

21. Brainstorm • Students will be divided into groups to brainstorm ideas for their project. • Students can choose their partners or teacher can assign partners. • Once students have brainstormed project and come up with a group idea, it should be approved by the teacher. • Planning Sheet would provide planning guide for group.

22. Storyboard/Script First, you come up with an idea for a character, props, and a background. With this information, you create a storyboard which is the basic layout of what you want to happen in your movie.

23. Creating Your Background The props and background part of clay animation is probably the second most important thing. It should be colorful and detailed.

24. Color • When dealing with colors, you need to use contrast. • Don’t make the character the same color as the background or the character will never be seen. • Also, make the clay stand out by using bright and attractive colors instead of dull and ugly colors.

25. Props and Background Settings • The props and background part of clay animation is probably the second most important thing. It should be colorful and detailed. The props you use should look good with the character and the background should be the setting of your character (where you want your character to be. • You can also use real objects - a rock for a boulder, a branch for a tree, etc. Objects in the foreground can give your animation a nice sense of depth. • You can even create an animated background - one that changes during the course of your animation. • For a short cut - use a picture as a background, such as a large photograph, a small poster, or a picture from a calendar. • Make sure that your background is the same scale as your characters, and that it will fill the frame for whatever camera you will use to capture the images.

26. Creating Your Character • Start developing your character with the clay you have, by forming the clay into shapes that look like the character you created in your mind. • Start with basic shapes and eventually work your way to the more difficult details, such as: eye colors, teeth and mouth shapes, hair shapes, and finger and toe shapes. Soon you character will start to form and become alive before your eyes. Keep adding and adding and sculpting and soon you can begin the process of shooting your movie.

27. Basic Steps • Build a basic skeleton with pipe cleaners, including arms, legs, neck and body. • Cover pipe cleaners and add bulk with aluminum foil. Clay will not stick to bare pipe cleaners so make sure they are covered with foil. • Prepare clay by flattening out clay into your skin to cover all body parts, clothes, etc. • Use the Styrofoam balls for the head. Cover the bare Styrofoam ball with the clay skin. Add features of the face with the clay.

28. Basic Steps (cont’d) • Attach the head to the completed body. The feet of the character must be very similar to “clown feet” to support the figure in an upright position. • The limbs of your character must be moveable in order to demonstrate action when filming.

29. Items To Use: • Modeling clay • Craft sticks • Sequins • Paper clips • Pipe cleaners • Aluminum foil • Wax paper • Glue sticks • Yarn • Baby wipes • Styrofoam balls • Fishing line • Artificial eyes • Construction paper • Markers • Scissors • Roller

30. Extras A toothpick is great for making small dents or holes. You need a knife for cutting up the clay and making knotches without cutting the clay. You will also need a roller or something to flatten out clay sheets.

31. Importing to MovieMaker 2 • Give handout to students illustrating steps for creating video in Movie Maker 2 • Microsoft Movie Maker 2