Using Clay Animation In
Your Classroom
Helping Students Become Technologically Literate
April Petitt
Technology Coordinator
Region 5 ESC
apetitt@esc5.net
Classroom Movie
Irving ISD Clay Movies
The Water Cycle
Fraction Action
Photosynthesis
Forces That Shape
Website: Irving ISD
Subjects and Verbs
Measuring Up
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.
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.
What student skills are needed?
 Communication
 Critical thinking
 Written
 Spatial relationships
 Language
 Reflection
 Organizational
 Assessment
 Sequential thinking
 Interpersonal
 Group collaboration
 Mediation
 Problem solving
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.
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.
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.
Core Class Activities?
Sample Lesson
Final
Product
Storyboard
NETS for Students
 What is NETS?
 National Educational Technology Standards
released in June 2007 at NECC in Atlanta, Georgia.
 The NETS were created by ISTE (International
Society for Technology)
 Have influenced our focus on student skills by
defining standards for students, and providing
guidelines for integrating technology into the
curriculum and providing support for technology
use.
ISTE
 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 vs. Clay Animation activities
 3-5
 6-8
 9-12
Technological Applications Texas
Essentials Knowledge and Skills
http://staffweb.esc12.net/~lmccray/techintegration/techappsteks.htm
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.
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
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.
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.
Creating Your Background
The props and background part of clay animation
is probably the second most important thing. It
should be colorful and detailed.
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.
Props and Background Settings
 The props and background part of clay animation is probably
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Importing to MovieMaker 2
 Give handout to students illustrating steps for
creating video in Movie Maker 2
 Microsoft Movie Maker 2