Stop-Motion Animation Foundational Research • Sequence • Lenny.com
Stop-Motion Animation Foundational Research
Unit 1: Stop-Motion Animation & Foundational Research. Students explore persistence of vision, digital research credibility, storyboarding, animation physics, and production.
No jump of a prop should exceed the "1-Stud Rule" limit (approx. 1/3 inch). Smaller movements mean smoother playback!
Production Checklist
Tripod taped down securely
Focus and Exposure values locked
No hands or shadows in frame
"Quiet on Set" cue tested and used
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Studio Wrap-Up & Reflection
Gather with your team to review your captured footage.
1. Storyboard Revisions
What physical limitation did you run into? Write down one adjustment your team must make to your storyboard frames to match your real set space.
2. Group Action Revisions
How did your team work together? Note one specific adjustment to your cooperation, role habits, or workspace volume to make tomorrow's capture phase more efficient.
Slide 6 of 6
Urbandale Community School District • Animation & Digital Production Page 1 of 3
Active Showcase & Reflection Protocols
PEER CRITIQUE & SELF-REFLECTION
Lesson 9 Procedures
03. Showcase & Critical Friend Feedback
25 Minutes
Screen each film on the central projector. During each screening, students focus on their assigned peer group, completing their single critique sheet.
Teacher Directives & Script:
"You are a Critical Friend for your assigned peer group's movie. You will write down what you Like, what you Wonder, and what you Suggest. Keep your feedback supportive, honest, and specific. Remember, you are only writing this one feedback form today!"
Solution Tree Protocol Tip: Establish clear critical friend pairings before beginning the showcase (e.g., Crew A critiques Crew B, Crew B critiques Crew C). This ensures every production group receives a single, high-quality, fully completed form.
04. Final Rubric Evaluation
5 Minutes
Crews convene to complete their Student Self-Reflection Rubric, evaluating their own project across the 4-point scale (Developing 1.0 to Exemplary 4.0) and writing down production reflections.
Pass out the Student Self-Reflection Rubric. Instruct groups to read the student-friendly "I did..." descriptions under all 4 levels and check the circle that reflects their project. Students then complete the physical reflection writing lines individually.
Collection and Wrap-Up
Collect all completed Critical Friend Feedback Forms and hand them directly to the corresponding production crews. Collect the completed Student Self-Reflection Rubrics to review alongside your formal evaluation.
Urbandale Community School District • Animation & Digital Production Page 2 of 3
Final Showcase Evaluation
UNIT ANIMATION SUMMATIVE RUBRIC MATRIX
Frame Festival Standard Matrix
Learning Requirement
1.0 (Developing)
2.0 (Approaching)
3.0 (Proficient)
4.0 (Exemplary)
1. Develop a Plan
(MA:Cr2.1.7)
Struggles to complete storyboard templates. Action blocks lacks planning details.
Storyboard completed with 8 frames but lacks angles, script notes, or timing adjustments.
Storyboard matches final video, including shot indicators (CU, MS, WS) and exact script alignment.
Evaluates resource constraints and maps out alternative timelines or pacing structures.
2. Refine Productions
(MA:Cr3.1.7b)
Camera wobbles extensively. Uncontrolled shadow flicker. No onion-skinning checks.
Uses basic editing to delete bad frames; setup lacks full stabilization or AE/AF setting lock.
Stabilizes camera tripod and secures baseplates. Locks exposure to prevent flicker and refines moves.
Synthesizes advanced problem-solving editing steps to ensure complete artistic integrity.
3. Use Media to Storytell
(MA:Pr4.1.7)
Animation slides lacks beginning, middle, end, or recognizable figures.
Includes narrative bits, but character teleporting or pacing limits narrative readability.
Integrates visual frames, consistent narrative perspectives, and smooth pacing to tell facts.
Creates innovative visual structures that push creative boundaries while maintaining coherence.
4. Follow Legal Rules
(MA:Cn11b)
No credit slides or attribution lists. Sourced claims are plagiarized.
Provides informal citation lists, but titles, creators, or credit cards are unreadable or incomplete.
Uses only royalty-free content and includes formal credit slides attributing crew roles and facts.
Constructs legal scenarios outlining transformative fair use parameters or custom releases.
Instructor Matrix Note
Evaluate final stop-motion projects using the criteria above. Highlight, circle, or annotate the achieved performance levels directly on this page or the physical Instructor Summative Rubric copies.
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2
I Wonder...
Ask a constructive question. What could have been smoother, clearer, or more detailed?
3
I Suggest...
Give actionable next-step advice on camera locking, frame pacing, or citation credit.
Circle or check the exact circle that fits your completed film project.
2. Individual Reflections & Submission
Complete the two individual reflection prompts on the bottom of the page. Describe a technical problem you solved, and explain how your group's active team roles improved production over the last 9 blocks.
Clip your storyboards, logs, and rubrics and turn them in!
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Used royalty-free music and added clear credits with roles and facts.
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Cites all media sources perfectly with professional Fair Use credit.
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Student Production Reflection Prompt Questions
Answer the questions below with details from your active studio work:
1. Identify one specific technical problem your team encountered (camera bump, shadow flicker, object teleportation). Describe how you solved this challenge using editing or physical tools.
2. How did your team norms and role delegation (Director, Cinematographer, Set Designer) improve your production? Highlight one group action shift you logged on Day 6 or Day 7 that made Day 8 more efficient.
Urbandale Community School District • Animation & Digital Production Student Copy
5. Legal Rules
(MA:Cn11b)
No credits or attribution slides. Sourced claims are plagiarized.
Cites facts informally, but credit card text is unreadable or misses team roles.
Uses only royalty-free assets and inserts stationary credits attributing crew and SEEK facts.
Constructs legal scenarios outlining transformative fair use parameters.
Instructor Grading Notes & Feedback
Production Successes / Strengths:
Areas for Digital Refinement:
Urbandale Community School District • Animation & Digital Production Instructor Sheet
5. Legal Rules
(MA:Cn11b)
No credits or attribution slides. Sourced claims are plagiarized.
Cites facts informally, but credit card text is unreadable or misses team roles.
Uses only royalty-free assets and inserts stationary credits attributing crew and SEEK facts.
Constructs legal scenarios outlining transformative fair use parameters.
Instructor Grading Notes & Feedback
Production Successes / Strengths:
Areas for Digital Refinement:
Urbandale Community School District • Animation & Digital Production Instructor Sheet
