My 7th graders are following a 100% animation based curriculum. All of the
programs I use are free! It's nice because it includes the fun of animation
with beginning computer programming. I also use it to support their studies from
their core subject area classes. It also helps me meet my benchmarks.
NET-S: CI
a, b, c ; CC a, b, d; CT a, b; TC a, b, d
METS: 3-5.CT.1 & 3, 6-8.CI.2 & 3, 9-12.CI.3, 9-12.CC.3, 9-12.CT.1
Here are the sites/programs I use for my 7th graders.
Pivot
Pivot is a stick person animator. There are tons of additional characters
and props you can download online. It's amazing to me the projects my students
create with it, and how many of them use it during their free time. It's
deceptively simple. Be sure to check out some examples below.
In my class, I have the students use it to re-create a famous moment in
history. Projects have included 9-11, Lincoln's assassination, and the first man
on the moon.
Download Pivot
This site contains a library of figures other people have created. Caution:
Not all of these are school appropriate.
http://www.droidz.org/stickmain/
Toon Doo
Toon Doo is a cartoon strip making website (no download required). It's
very simple to use, but also has some amazing advanced features. There are
thousands of characters and props in the program, but if you can't find what you
want, there is a feature that allows you to create your own characters. You can
also upload pictures and edit them, then include them in a cartoon. Students can
also make numerous cartoons and upload them into a book of cartoons.
In my class, the students have to create a scene from a book they've read.
It has to include the title, dialogue or thoughts in every box, and clearly
illustrate the scene. Then, the students upload the cartoons onto their blogs
and write a descriptive introduction paragraph.
www.toondoo.com
Xtranormal.com
This site is amazing. Students create 3D animation scenes which include
both talking and action. They can manipulate the characters, their expressions,
motions, voices, accents, and more. There are even background noises and music
to add, if desired. Included characters range from famous historical figures to
celebrities to cartoon animals.
The site is free to use, but to save the files in a format that can be
shared on our blogs or other spots outside of xtranormal costs money. There are
educational accounts available, but I have not yet looked into that
option.
www.xtranormal.com
BitStrips
Bitstrips is a comic making website, but so much more! You can create your
own classes, then send those students assignments to complete. The comics can
easily be downloaded as picture files, so they're easy to place on a blog or
website, or print. Also, there is a library of lesson plans you can download and
adjust to meet your needs.
bitstripsforschools.com
Voki
Voki allows you to create talking avatars which can be embedded onto a
website. There are a variety of accents and languages you can use with your
characters.
www.voki.com
Blabberize
Blabberize takes a still picture and turns it into a talking, 30-second
animation. Choose your picture, place the mouth, and record your audio. That's
all there is to it!
www.blabberize.com
GoAnimate
Go
animate allows you to create 3D videos. You can either make a quick video with
presets, or choose everything about your movie from the ground up. The free
accounts have limitations, but you can still embed your final product on a
website and it generates a hyperlink for you to email. You can even share it on
Facebook or Twitter.
goanimate.com
Scratch
Scratch is an animation/programming software. Students can create almost
anything they put their minds to. Projects in my class have included a fortune
teller, a science simulation, American Idol contest, a party scene, and two
characters telling jokes. Like many programs, there is a large library of
characters to use, which students can modify to their liking, plus students can
draw their own characters. There are lots of example projects for students to
see, plus if you go to the Scratch website, all projects shared are available
for download.
I spend about 8 weeks on Scratch. There are 14 lessons in my unit. The
students move at their own pace, and not every student finishes every project.
All finished works are embedded in the students' blogs.
scratch.mit.edu
learnscratch.org
scratchprogramming.wikispaces.com/
Storytelling
Alice/Alice
Storytelling Alice is another programming/animation software. It
was originally developed as a student's grad project at Carnegie Mellon. It
is a free download, and there are two versions. Storytelling Alice is geared
towards younger students, and Alice is for older students. There are tons
of resources online, books to use, and full curriculums for Alice. Within the
program are tutorials, templates, and examples to use, too. It's definitely
worth a look.
alice.org
programs I use are free! It's nice because it includes the fun of animation
with beginning computer programming. I also use it to support their studies from
their core subject area classes. It also helps me meet my benchmarks.
NET-S: CI
a, b, c ; CC a, b, d; CT a, b; TC a, b, d
METS: 3-5.CT.1 & 3, 6-8.CI.2 & 3, 9-12.CI.3, 9-12.CC.3, 9-12.CT.1
Here are the sites/programs I use for my 7th graders.
Pivot
Pivot is a stick person animator. There are tons of additional characters
and props you can download online. It's amazing to me the projects my students
create with it, and how many of them use it during their free time. It's
deceptively simple. Be sure to check out some examples below.
In my class, I have the students use it to re-create a famous moment in
history. Projects have included 9-11, Lincoln's assassination, and the first man
on the moon.
Download Pivot
This site contains a library of figures other people have created. Caution:
Not all of these are school appropriate.
http://www.droidz.org/stickmain/
Toon Doo
Toon Doo is a cartoon strip making website (no download required). It's
very simple to use, but also has some amazing advanced features. There are
thousands of characters and props in the program, but if you can't find what you
want, there is a feature that allows you to create your own characters. You can
also upload pictures and edit them, then include them in a cartoon. Students can
also make numerous cartoons and upload them into a book of cartoons.
In my class, the students have to create a scene from a book they've read.
It has to include the title, dialogue or thoughts in every box, and clearly
illustrate the scene. Then, the students upload the cartoons onto their blogs
and write a descriptive introduction paragraph.
www.toondoo.com
Xtranormal.com
This site is amazing. Students create 3D animation scenes which include
both talking and action. They can manipulate the characters, their expressions,
motions, voices, accents, and more. There are even background noises and music
to add, if desired. Included characters range from famous historical figures to
celebrities to cartoon animals.
The site is free to use, but to save the files in a format that can be
shared on our blogs or other spots outside of xtranormal costs money. There are
educational accounts available, but I have not yet looked into that
option.
www.xtranormal.com
BitStrips
Bitstrips is a comic making website, but so much more! You can create your
own classes, then send those students assignments to complete. The comics can
easily be downloaded as picture files, so they're easy to place on a blog or
website, or print. Also, there is a library of lesson plans you can download and
adjust to meet your needs.
bitstripsforschools.com
Voki
Voki allows you to create talking avatars which can be embedded onto a
website. There are a variety of accents and languages you can use with your
characters.
www.voki.com
Blabberize
Blabberize takes a still picture and turns it into a talking, 30-second
animation. Choose your picture, place the mouth, and record your audio. That's
all there is to it!
www.blabberize.com
GoAnimate
Go
animate allows you to create 3D videos. You can either make a quick video with
presets, or choose everything about your movie from the ground up. The free
accounts have limitations, but you can still embed your final product on a
website and it generates a hyperlink for you to email. You can even share it on
Facebook or Twitter.
goanimate.com
Scratch
Scratch is an animation/programming software. Students can create almost
anything they put their minds to. Projects in my class have included a fortune
teller, a science simulation, American Idol contest, a party scene, and two
characters telling jokes. Like many programs, there is a large library of
characters to use, which students can modify to their liking, plus students can
draw their own characters. There are lots of example projects for students to
see, plus if you go to the Scratch website, all projects shared are available
for download.
I spend about 8 weeks on Scratch. There are 14 lessons in my unit. The
students move at their own pace, and not every student finishes every project.
All finished works are embedded in the students' blogs.
scratch.mit.edu
learnscratch.org
scratchprogramming.wikispaces.com/
Storytelling
Alice/Alice
Storytelling Alice is another programming/animation software. It
was originally developed as a student's grad project at Carnegie Mellon. It
is a free download, and there are two versions. Storytelling Alice is geared
towards younger students, and Alice is for older students. There are tons
of resources online, books to use, and full curriculums for Alice. Within the
program are tutorials, templates, and examples to use, too. It's definitely
worth a look.
alice.org