Try stop motion animation

You’ll need

A4 paper
Scissors
Pens or pencils
Stapler
Device with access to the internet
Stop motion app
Objects to animate

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There’s also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.

Planning and setting up this activity

You can find out more about stop motion animation with BBC Bitesize.

Running this activity

Pick a story or idea. Think of something simple and fun. It could be toys having an adventure, a superhero flying, or a sandwich being made on its own.
Start by making a storyboard. This is a series of pictures which tells you what will happen in the animation.
Gather your characters and props. You could use toys, clay, LEGO, paper drawings, household objects, yourselves or anything you like! Make sure they can stand up or move in small steps.
Use a flat surface like a table. Add a background using paper, cardboard or fabric to set the scene and make sure the lighting stays the same (sunlight can change!).
Use a tablet, phone, or camera on a stand so it doesn’t move between pictures. You can use a box, stack of books, or tripod.
Use a safe, child-friendly stop motion app. These help you take pictures and turn them into a movie. There are many to choose from but Stop Motion Studio is free, easy to use and has lots of features.
Take the first photo. Place your character in the starting position and take a picture. Don’t knock or bump the camera!
Move your character a tiny bit. Make a small change, like moving an arm or sliding a toy a little, and then take another photo.
Keep moving and snapping pictures. The smaller the movement, the smoother your animation will be!
Press play in the app to watch your movie. If something looks weird, you can delete a frame or redo it.
You can add sound effects, voices, music, or even text in some apps. Be creative!
When you're happy, save your animation and you can then watch them all.

Reflection

This activity was all about stop motion animation. Have you watched anything in stop motion animation before? Have you tried making your own before? We got to tell a story using objects, drawings, or clay, and take lots of pictures to bring it to life. What was it like to see your characters move? What was your favorite part of the story you made? What challenges did you face, and how did you solve them? It may have been keeping the camera still or making small movements without knocking things over. It takes patience and planning. What did you add to it? Did you use voices or music? How long do you think it would make to create a film? What would you do differently next time to make your animation even better? What new ideas do you want to try in your next animation?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Scissors: Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Sharp objects: Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Online safety: Supervise young people when they’re online and give them advice about staying safe. Take a look at our online safety or bullying guidance. The NSPCC offers more advice and guidance, too. If you want to know more about specific social networks and games, Childnet has information and safety tips for apps. You can also report anything that’s worried you online to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command. As always, if you’ve got concerns about a young person’s welfare, including their online experiences, follow the Yellow Card to make a report.
Glue and solvents: Always supervise young people appropriately when they’re using glue and solvent products. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by glue or solvent use and make adjustments as needed.
Rubbish and recycling: All items should be clean and suitable for this activity.
Phones and cameras: Make sure parents and carers are aware and have given consent for photography.
Music and films: Make sure music and films are age appropriate for the youngest person present.
Electrical equipment: Inspect cables for any damage before each use. A responsible adult should supervise people using equipment, and people should follow instructions on how to use them correctly and safely. They should be properly maintained and stored. Be extra cautious of trailing cables and water when using electric equipment.

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.