Make Volcanoes Pop with Stop Motion

I use this stop motion activity with my Geography classes — ranging from ages 12-16 years old — as students learn about volcanoes and volcanic eruptions.

   

Animated GIF of a stop motion volcano made of coloured card with popcorn kernels and popcorn used to represent magma and lava
Animated GIF of a stop motion volcano created with Keynote for iPad.


In my experience, these type of activities are some of the most engaging, fun and — critically — memorable for students. Even years later! 

This has helped student understanding of key concepts and terms — such as ‘crater’, ‘vent’ and ‘magma chamber’ — as they learn about volcanoes, and other topics in Geography too!

 

Screenshot of a Keynote document showing a slide with a volcano, made from paper, and a label reading ‘magma chamber’


Students can ‘show what they know’ and apply their learning in a more creative and engaging way through this project. 

It can be used as a key part of how they are introduced to subject content, or as an alternative form of assessment. 

 

Graphic in the style of a Photo Booth photo-strip showing individual photos from the stop-motion volcano project.

Here are some tips and tricks we have learned from using stop motion activities in the classroom: 

  • Frame the shot before you start.
  • Stick any items that won’t have to move to the surface (table, card, etc.).
  • The iPad needs to be steady. But, lots of things can work as a makeshift tripod: A chair, a pile of books, a box, or a table. Make use of what you have in your classroom! 
  • Make small movements between frames and take more photos. This requires patience, but will give a smoother and more realistic sense of movement to the final stop motion project. 
  • Lock focus on the camera. Touch and hold on the focus area (yellow box) until you see AE/AF lock. This will keep each photo in focus and also give more consistent lighting.
  • Plan ahead! It works best to have student in groups with assigned roles and responsibilities. Advise students to sketch and plan the sequence of events on paper or another iPad before they start. 
  • Use what you have. Almost anything can be used to create a stop motion project, even popcorn! Have fun and experiment with different materials.
  • This project was exported as an Animated GIF. This works best with shorter animations of up to about 8-12 photos. For longer projects, you can also export as a video. Then, bring your project to the next level by adding a voiceover and soundtrack to the video using iMovie or Clips. 

 

Screenshot of a Keynote document showing a slide with a volcano, made from paper, and a label reading ‘vent’.


This activity is not just limited to volcanoes, or a Geography lesson. 

Students can use stop motion to show movement or a process in any subject content area. They could show a route on a map, spell out words as part of a literacy lesson or language class, demonstrate scientific processes, show a math equation in action, build a graph or chart to show data visualisation over time, and so much more! 


You can learn how to bring stop motion animation with iPad to your classroom using the new Everyone Can Create Project 'Animate with Stop Motion'.


 

Screenshot of a Keynote document showing a slide with a volcano, made from paper, and a label reading ‘crater’.


Learn how, and explore more Everyone Can Create Projects >


 

An image of an illustrated student with an iPad showing their work to their teacher.

All Comments

Posted on September 14, 2022

Love this idea and how you combine technology with physical resources. It's inspired me to have a think about how this can be used in other curriculum areas.

Posted on September 15, 2022

Thanks, JJ! I’m a big, big fan of mixing physical resources with technology. 😊

Whether it’s ukuleles and GarageBand, or popcorn and stop motion!

I’m so glad to hear that it has given you ideas! Stop motion — and the camera in general — can work so well in any subject content area!

Posted on September 15, 2022

The students must love this - yum! Wonderful stop-motion tips. Thank you Eoin, very engaging post!

Posted on September 16, 2022

Thanks, Cheryl! They really do love this one! 🍿 🌋

And, always choose their own favourite snacks and treats to use, and then eat them afterwards! 😊

Posted on September 15, 2022

Love this! I, too, love mixing digital and physical and this is so clever!

Posted on September 16, 2022

Thank you! 😊 It’s a fun way to help students remember: Magma below surface, but lava above surface (when it erupts). But, that it is from the same material. 🌋 The popcorn works really well to help demonstrate that!

Posted on November 04, 2022

Looks like I’m using another one of your lessons with my 8th graders! I love this!!! So visual and you know students will remember this a long time later. So good!

Posted on November 05, 2022

Thanks, Leah! ☺️ I’m delighted to hear that!

My students always love this activity, and other variants on it!

Posted on December 02, 2023

Great idea. The kids will remember it more since they were emotionally involved in it. And I'm sure it was a ton of fun to create!

Posted on January 20, 2024

Thank you, Dr. Pat! Yes — this activity is always a highlight of the year for many students! 🌍

Posted on February 04, 2024

This is such a neat way to illustrate the geological process!

I am thinking of incorporating the idea of stop motion with my 8th Grades as they are learning about inheritance and how to complete punnett squares.

Posted on February 06, 2024

Thank you, cc_dcva!

That sounds like a great lesson integration with stop-motion! Lots of opportunities to show movement, change, and user different colours and textures. Hope it goes well!

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