Humans are naturally inclined to tell stories. Whether personal, historical, persuasive, or fantastical in nature, stories shape our culture.

Students can convey their learning in the form of a story, too. That story can be written, oral, or visual, or it could be a combination. In an animation, students can write a script that relates what they've learned. They can assign dialog to move the story along. They can plot out the visuals that will enhance the story. This interplay of language and visuals that shift to advance the story causes students to navigate in and out of concrete and abstract thinking. Students must simplify information, summarize information, and prioritize information to produce a succinct story.

Gaining experience with the types of thinking and tools involved in creating an animation is a meaningful experience for students as they prepare for college and careers.