Animating Young Minds is a 10-visit classroom residency led by professional teaching artists that uses stop motion animation to reinforce core academic concepts while amplifying student voice and choice through the creation of original animated documentaries. Over the course of ten visits from a professional Teaching Artist, students build skills in storytelling, visual design, sound, and digital tools like Stop Motion Studio and iMovie. 

Each session targets specific learning objectives—from understanding how still images create motion, to exploring symbolism and sound design, to planning and pitching original projects. As students gain hands-on experience in production workflows, they also strengthen collaboration, critical thinking, and presentation skills. Teachers benefit from a co-teaching model that introduces accessible media arts strategies they can continue using beyond the residency. By integrating animation into classroom instruction, Animating Young Minds boosts academic engagement, supports content mastery, and opens pathways to future careers in media and digital arts