Frame by Frame: Creativity and Compromise at the Stop Motion Animation Club

At South Arbor Charter Academy, students are discovering the magic of movie making. Through the Stop Motion Animation Club, scholars have been given the unique opportunity to expand their storytelling abilities and bring their imaginations to the screen. 

Meeting regularly, a group of creative third-through-eighth-grade scholars gathered under the guidance of Jillian Teeple, a Special Education teaching assistant. The club offered a deep dive into the technical and creative sides of animation.

“On the first day of the club, I teach students the steps of making a stop motion animation. We explained storyboarding and script writing, discussed frame rates with them, and showed them some simple examples of stop motion animation. Additionally, we spent some time brainstorming and discussing with their groups what short films they would like to create,” Teeple said. 

With the groundwork laid, students set out to bring their visions to reality. They crafted storyboards and scripts before moving into production. To make their stories come to life, the young directors utilized materials brought from home, animating everything from Legos and clay to play dough. The culmination of their hard work was a special screening where scholars watched and celebrated each other’s films.

However, the club was about more than just technical skills, learning to master a new talent perfectly exemplified January’s Moral Focus™ virtue of perseverance. The students learned that navigating creative differences is just as important as the filming itself.

“A lot of the students had differing ideas when it came to what they were going to make their film about. However, I think a lot of them showed perseverance by continuing to brainstorm with their group even when they disagreed,” said Teeple. “One group of third and fourth graders did a great job of showing perseverance when brainstorming ideas. After initially arguing about what they would use for materials, they persevered through and compromised with each other and concluded that they would make a film featuring clay versus plastic bricks.” 

In the end, the students walked away with not only a self-produced film but also a valuable lesson in collaboration. Whether working with clay, plastic bricks, or just a challenging new concept, they learned that the best stories often come from the ability to keep going, one frame at a time.