(From left) Kirsten Earles, Paula Andel and Garrett Johnson work to place the fishing line in their clay figurines before beginning the filming process. The sixth-grade group was working on the scene “Acceptance.” (Sheila Anderson/VCTR) 

By Sheila Anderson
Valley City Times-Record

A sixth-grade class project isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when one hears “clay animation.”
In Sandi Goeller’s classroom at Washington Elementary in Valley City, however, everything is possible. This is the seventh year Goeller has implemented a project of this type in her classroom.
Students began by reading the book “Julie of the Wolves” by Jean Craighead George. The class was divided into five groups who each chose a different scene from the book. The groups created storyboards for their scenes, and then created clay figurines. Finally, they constructed a background.
Once everything was in place, students used a digital camera to shoot the frames  of the clay animation. Goeller is in charge of downloading the photos, cropping them, and putting them in order. Goeller’s classroom is equipped with software that can handle 70 frames (digital photos) and create the animated film.
The number of frames required might seem tedious, but Goeller explains it is a necessary part of the process.

For full story, see Wednesday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.