Learning objective
Stop-Motion & Frame Animation
Animation Basics
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Welcome to Animation Basics! In this strand, you will learn how to bring static drawings and objects to life using stop-motion capture, flipbooks, frame-by-frame editing, and digital keyframing.
Moving Pictures
Frame flipbooks and simple stop-motion loops.
Let's Go!
Routine: See, Think, Wonder
Look closely at these 5 drawings played quickly. What do you see?
Why does the character appear to move?
Teacher note: Facilitate the See, Think, Wonder routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Form (Technology helps us express stories visually.).
Learn
Animation is magic built from still pictures! When you take pictures of an object and move it just a tiny bit between each shot, playing them quickly makes it look like it's alive. In computing, technology helps us express stories visually. As you explore the interactive Animation Simulator below, focus on how to create a repeating animation loop using a tablet camera.
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Animation Controls
6 FPS Stop-Motion📷 Camera Capture & Frame Looping
Capture still drawings and watch persistence of vision connect them into a fluid motion loop.
🎬 Animator Secret:
Persistence of vision keeps images lingering in our retina for 1/16th of a second, blending still pictures into moving cinema!
Apply Simulator Skills • Try it yourself
Create a 5-frame animation loop!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Recognise that a series of still images creates motion.
Developing
Capture a sequence of 3-5 stop-motion photos.
Secure (Goal)
Create a repeating animation loop using a tablet camera.
Mastery
Adjust frame playback speed to control movement. Typing: 5 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar of 2
⭐ Mastering Standard
⭐ Mastering Standard📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See, Think, Wonder
Teacher notes: Facilitate the See, Think, Wonder routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Form (Technology helps us express stories visually.).
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Recognise that a series of still images creates motion.
- Developing: Capture a sequence of 3-5 stop-motion photos.
- Secure: Create a repeating animation loop using a tablet camera.
- Mastering: Adjust frame playback speed to control movement. Typing: 5 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.01.B.1.2
Outcome: ANIM-O-01 — Frame flipbooks and simple stop-motion loops.
PYP: Form · Technology helps us express stories visually.
Learner profile: Inquirer
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative: Students may verbally explain or point to the correct answer for "Which tool is used to capture stop-motion frames?" with a teacher or teaching assistant.
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 2: Onion Skinning
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Onion Skinning
Onion skinning and frame rate adjustments.
Learning objective
Learning About: Onion Skinning. Learning To: Smooth movement. Learning To Be: Communicator.
Let's Go!
Routine: Zoom In
Look at this faint ghost shadow behind the character drawing. Why is seeing the previous picture helpful?
Teacher note: Facilitate the Zoom In routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Function (Sequencing frames creates smooth motion.).
Learn
Onion skinning lets you see a faint ghost of your previous picture! This helps you place your next drawing or figure in the exact right spot so the motion isn't jerky. In computing, sequencing frames creates smooth motion. As you explore the interactive Animation Simulator below, focus on how to create a 10-frame smooth movement sequence.
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💥
⚽
⚽
Animation Controls
6 FPS Stop-Motion📷 Camera Capture & Frame Looping
Capture still drawings and watch persistence of vision connect them into a fluid motion loop.
🎬 Animator Secret:
Persistence of vision keeps images lingering in our retina for 1/16th of a second, blending still pictures into moving cinema!
Apply Simulator Skills • Try it yourself
Animate with onion skinning!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Understand what onion skinning overlay shows.
Developing
Use onion skinning to position the next frame accurately.
Secure (Goal)
Create a 10-frame smooth movement sequence.
Mastery
Compare 6 FPS vs 12 FPS animation playback. Typing: 10 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar of 2
⭐ Mastering Standard⭐ Mastering Standard📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Zoom In
Teacher notes: Facilitate the Zoom In routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Function (Sequencing frames creates smooth motion.).
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Understand what onion skinning overlay shows.
- Developing: Use onion skinning to position the next frame accurately.
- Secure: Create a 10-frame smooth movement sequence.
- Mastering: Compare 6 FPS vs 12 FPS animation playback. Typing: 10 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.01.B.1.2
Outcome: ANIM-O-02 — Onion skinning and frame rate adjustments.
PYP: Function · Sequencing frames creates smooth motion.
Learner profile: Communicator
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative: Students may verbally explain or point to the correct answer for "What does the 'Onion Skinning' tool do in animation software?" with a teacher or teaching assistant.
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 3: Storyboards & Sets
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Storyboards & Sets
Storyboard planning, lighting, and camera positioning.
Learning objective
Learning About: Storyboarding. Learning To: Plan animation sequences. Learning To Be: Thinker.
Let's Go!
Routine: Think, Puzzle, Explore
Why do professional animators draw storyboards before taking a single photo?
What puzzles you about camera stability?
Teacher note: Facilitate the Think, Puzzle, Explore routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Change (Planning scenes ensures coherent narratives.).
Learn
Before shooting an animation, professionals plan every camera angle on a storyboard! Keeping your tablet locked on a tripod ensures your scene doesn't wobble while your story plays out. In computing, planning scenes ensures coherent narratives. As you explore the interactive Animation Simulator below, focus on how to set up a steady camera rig and background set.
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💥
⚽
⚽
Animation Controls
6 FPS Stop-Motion📷 Camera Capture & Frame Looping
Capture still drawings and watch persistence of vision connect them into a fluid motion loop.
🎬 Animator Secret:
Persistence of vision keeps images lingering in our retina for 1/16th of a second, blending still pictures into moving cinema!
Apply Simulator Skills • Try it yourself
Plan and film a story scene!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identify key parts of an animation storyboard.
Developing
Draw a 4-panel storyboard before animating.
Secure (Goal)
Set up a steady camera rig and background set.
Mastery
Animate a complete short scene following a storyboard plan. Typing: 15 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar of 2
⭐ Mastering Standard⭐ Mastering Standard📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Think, Puzzle, Explore
Teacher notes: Facilitate the Think, Puzzle, Explore routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Change (Planning scenes ensures coherent narratives.).
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identify key parts of an animation storyboard.
- Developing: Draw a 4-panel storyboard before animating.
- Secure: Set up a steady camera rig and background set.
- Mastering: Animate a complete short scene following a storyboard plan. Typing: 15 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.02.B.1.1
Outcome: ANIM-O-03 — Storyboard planning, lighting, and camera positioning.
PYP: Change · Planning scenes ensures coherent narratives.
Learner profile: Thinker
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative: Students may verbally explain or point to the correct answer for "Why is it essential to keep the camera completely still on a stand while making a stop-motion film?" with a teacher or teaching assistant.
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 4: Audio & Foley
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Audio & Foley
Adding sound effects, voiceovers, and audio timing.
Learning objective
Learning About: Sound Sync. Learning To: Add voice & audio effects. Learning To Be: Principled.
Let's Go!
Routine: See, Think, Wonder
Watch this animation with no sound, then watch it with sound effects and music. How does your feeling change?
Teacher note: Facilitate the See, Think, Wonder routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Connection (Audio enhances visual storytelling.).
Learn
Foley is the art of creating everyday sound effects for films! Adding footstep sounds, pops, and voiceover lines at the exact right frame turns a simple animation into a cinematic experience. In computing, audio enhances visual storytelling. As you explore the interactive Animation Simulator below, focus on how to sync sound effect clips to exact frame events.
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⚽
⚽
💥
⚽
⚽
Animation Controls
6 FPS Stop-Motion📷 Camera Capture & Frame Looping
Capture still drawings and watch persistence of vision connect them into a fluid motion loop.
🎬 Animator Secret:
Persistence of vision keeps images lingering in our retina for 1/16th of a second, blending still pictures into moving cinema!
Apply Simulator Skills • Try it yourself
Add voice and sound effects!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Recognise how sound effects (foley) change story mood.
Developing
Record a clear voiceover track for an animation.
Secure (Goal)
Sync sound effect clips to exact frame events.
Mastery
Edit and balance background music against character dialogue. Typing: 20 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar of 2
⭐ Mastering Standard⭐ Mastering Standard📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: See, Think, Wonder
Teacher notes: Facilitate the See, Think, Wonder routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Connection (Audio enhances visual storytelling.).
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Recognise how sound effects (foley) change story mood.
- Developing: Record a clear voiceover track for an animation.
- Secure: Sync sound effect clips to exact frame events.
- Mastering: Edit and balance background music against character dialogue. Typing: 20 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.02.B.1.1
Outcome: ANIM-O-04 — Adding sound effects, voiceovers, and audio timing.
PYP: Connection · Audio enhances visual storytelling.
Learner profile: Principled
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative: Students may verbally explain or point to the correct answer for "What is the term for custom sound effects recorded to match actions on screen (like footsteps or door knocks)?" with a teacher or teaching assistant.
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 5: Keyframing & Motion
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Keyframing & Motion
Vector path animation, keyframes, and tweening.
Learning objective
Learning About: Keyframing. Learning To: Animate vector paths. Learning To Be: Knowledgeable.
Let's Go!
Routine: I used to think...
I used to think you had to draw every single frame... Now I know that keyframing lets the computer calculate the movement between start and end points!
Teacher note: Facilitate the I used to think... routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Perspective (Digital tools automate repetitive motion tasks.).
Learn
Keyframing is digital magic! Instead of drawing 50 frames, you set a starting position at Keyframe 1 and an ending position at Keyframe 50. The computer automatically fills in the frames between (tweening)! In computing, digital tools automate repetitive motion tasks. As you explore the interactive Animation Simulator below, focus on how to animate scale, rotation, and position using automated motion paths (tweening).
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⚽
⚽
💥
⚽
⚽
Animation Controls
6 FPS Stop-Motion📷 Camera Capture & Frame Looping
Capture still drawings and watch persistence of vision connect them into a fluid motion loop.
🎬 Animator Secret:
Persistence of vision keeps images lingering in our retina for 1/16th of a second, blending still pictures into moving cinema!
Apply Simulator Skills • Try it yourself
Create a keyframed motion path!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Understand the difference between frame-by-frame and keyframe animation.
Developing
Set starting and ending keyframes for a moving object.
Secure (Goal)
Animate scale, rotation, and position using automated motion paths (tweening).
Mastery
Apply motion easing (ease-in / ease-out) for natural physics. Typing: 25 WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar of 2
⭐ Mastering Standard⭐ Mastering Standard📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: I used to think...
Teacher notes: Facilitate the I used to think... routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Perspective (Digital tools automate repetitive motion tasks.).
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Understand the difference between frame-by-frame and keyframe animation.
- Developing: Set starting and ending keyframes for a moving object.
- Secure: Animate scale, rotation, and position using automated motion paths (tweening).
- Mastering: Apply motion easing (ease-in / ease-out) for natural physics. Typing: 25 WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.03.B.1.1
Outcome: ANIM-O-05 — Vector path animation, keyframes, and tweening.
PYP: Perspective · Digital tools automate repetitive motion tasks.
Learner profile: Knowledgeable
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative: Students may verbally explain or point to the correct answer for "What is 'Tweening' in digital 2D animation software?" with a teacher or teaching assistant.
Teacher override: allow
Locked level
Level 6: Green Screen & Rigs
Complete the previous learning check to unlock this next level.
Green Screen & Rigs
Chroma keying, 3D rig animation, and final editing.
Learning objective
Learning About: Compositing. Learning To: Apply chroma key & 3D rigs. Learning To Be: Reflective.
Let's Go!
Routine: Step Inside
Imagine placing your claymation character inside outer space or deep underwater without leaving the classroom!
Teacher note: Facilitate the Step Inside routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Reflection (Combining techniques produces professional media.).
Learn
Chroma Keying (Green Screen) allows you to isolate your animated characters and place them into any world! By knocking out the solid green color, you can layer animated sprites over custom digital backgrounds. In computing, combining techniques produces professional media. As you explore the interactive Animation Simulator below, focus on how to replace the green background with a custom digital environment.
⚽
⚽
⚽
💥
⚽
⚽
Animation Controls
6 FPS Stop-Motion📷 Camera Capture & Frame Looping
Capture still drawings and watch persistence of vision connect them into a fluid motion loop.
🎬 Animator Secret:
Persistence of vision keeps images lingering in our retina for 1/16th of a second, blending still pictures into moving cinema!
Apply Simulator Skills • Try it yourself
Produce a green screen composite film!
🚀 Open a practice space
🌟 Student Project GuideSuccess Criteria & WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like)
🎯 Task Success Criteria (Rubric)
Foundation
Identify how green screen (chroma key) compositing works.
Developing
Film an animated character in front of a green backdrop.
Secure (Goal)
Replace the green background with a custom digital environment.
Mastery
Composite multiple animation layers, titles, and audio into a final video. Typing: 30+ WPM.
👀 What A Good One Looks Like (WAGOLL)
Exemplar of 2
⭐ Mastering Standard⭐ Mastering Standard📁
Save to Your Website Portfolio:
When you finish creating your project in your software, copy the share link or take a screenshot and publish it onto your student portfolio website!
Reflect
Learning check
Teacher setup, curriculum links and progress descriptors
Spark support
Routine: Step Inside
Teacher notes: Facilitate the Step Inside routine for 2–3 minutes. Encourage students to connect the prompt to Reflection (Combining techniques produces professional media.).
Achievement pathway
- Foundation: Identify how green screen (chroma key) compositing works.
- Developing: Film an animated character in front of a green backdrop.
- Secure: Replace the green background with a custom digital environment.
- Mastering: Composite multiple animation layers, titles, and audio into a final video. Typing: 30+ WPM.
Curriculum links
Curriculum strand: CM.03.B.1.1
Outcome: ANIM-O-06 — Chroma keying, 3D rig animation, and final editing.
PYP: Reflection · Combining techniques produces professional media.
Learner profile: Reflective
Competency tags
Gate support
Accessibility alternative: Students may verbally explain or point to the correct answer for "What is the process of removing a green background and replacing it with a new image or video called?" with a teacher or teaching assistant.
Teacher override: allow