I was over at Barnes and Nobel the other day. While perusing the bargain section, I came across a do-it-yourself Clay animation kit complete with DVD and everything. When I was there, I didn't think anything about it but over the past few days, my mind has played with ideas on how to use it.
1. I could have two clay figures who solve a problem made out of clay. Record it and add sound. Perhaps the two figures could take apart or build a 3D figure and discuss it.2. Maybe students could create enough variables and constants out of clay to solve the problem using the clay figures to solve an equation.
3. Perhaps a couple clay cars could be used to create a movie showing how to solve rate/time/distance equations.
4. Have students create part of a room out of clay and use that to help explain on video how to calculate the amount of paint, carpeting, etc for a house.
5. Perhaps have the students create characters who are planning to cut down a clay tree and show the calculations to see if they can cut down the tree without hitting the tree near it.
6. Use trig to calculate the height of a ladder needed to paint the second floor of a house. Students can create everything from clay and create a movie.
These are just ideas for using clay animation in the classroom. I am going to try to move to a more project based classroom and want to use some projects that allow my artist type students to create something while learning math.
