Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basic concepts of physics and apply them to create your own stop motion animation.

Materials and Prep

• Stop motion animation app or software (e.g., Stop Motion Studio, iStopMotion)
• A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera
• Props or objects for your animation
• A tripod or stable surface to hold your device

Prior knowledge needed: Familiarity with stop motion animation techniques and basic understanding of physics concepts such as motion, force, and gravity.

Activities

1. Review the basic concepts of physics, including motion, force, and gravity. Discuss how these concepts can be applied to create realistic movement in animations.
2. Choose a simple scene or story for your stop motion animation. This could be as simple as an object falling or bouncing.
3. Set up your props and camera. Make sure the camera is stable and can capture the entire scene without moving.
4. Take a series of still photos, moving your objects slightly between each shot to create the illusion of movement.
5. Import your photos into the stop motion animation app or software and arrange them in the desired sequence.
6. Add any additional effects or sound to enhance your animation.
7. Preview and refine your animation, making any necessary adjustments to timing or movement.
8. Export or save your final stop motion animation and share it with others!

Fourth Grade Talking Points

• "Physics is the study of how things move and interact with each other."
• "Motion is when something changes its position over time. It can be fast or slow, straight or curved."
• "Force is a push or pull on an object that can make it move or stop moving. It can also change the direction or shape of an object."
• "Gravity is a force that pulls objects toward each other. It makes things fall to the ground."
• "In stop motion animation, we use these physics concepts to make objects appear to move on their own."
• "By taking a series of still photos and playing them quickly, we create the illusion of movement."
• "We can make objects in our animation fall, bounce, or move in any way we want by adjusting their positions between each photo."
• "Remember to have fun and be creative with your stop motion animation!"