Dear Families, 

In our stop motion class at John Dye, students have been exploring how still images can be turned into moving stories. We kicked things off by making flip books, which introduced the concept of frame-by-frame animation in a simple and hands-on way. This activity helped students understand the importance of sequence, consistency, and motion, all while having fun with their own hand-drawn ideas.

From there, we transitioned into real-time stop motion using toys, and other objects. Students worked in pairs and small groups to move items incrementally to understand in real time stop motion. This gave them a chance to experiment, troubleshoot, and collaborate. Every student also had a turn being the director—deciding what story to tell, organizing shots, and guiding their team through the process. It’s been great to see them grow in confidence and learn how to communicate their creative ideas.

Currently, we’re beginning to use stop motion software to bring these projects to the next level. Students have started learning how to import images, adjust frame speed, add titles, and experiment with sound. In the coming weeks, we’ll continue to build on these skills—working on timing, story structure, and camera setup—so that students can create more polished and complete short films. These next steps will help them deepen their understanding of animation and strengthen their ability to plan and complete creative projects from start to finish.

We’re excited about the progress they’ve made so far and look forward to continuing to explore new tools and techniques together. Their ideas are thoughtful, their teamwork is strong, and their creativity continues to grow with each session.

Best,

Jackie, Curated Care teacher