This Junior Cycle Short Course investigates the ways in which making animations, through engagement with local history/heritage, can support and develop the digital and visual literacy of a 2^nd year group of art and design students, at Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Co. Tipperary. By engaging with, and responding to, the students’ local heritage site that is Cahir Castle, students created their animations through photography, drawing, paper making and open source digital media equipment and software, such as their mobile phones and the ‘Stop Motion Studio’ app. Students currently in second level education are part of the digital native generation, where technology is, and always has been, a huge part of their lives, both in the classroom and outside of it. This short course, in line with the NCCA guidelines, can give students the opportunity to improve, develop and build upon their digital and communication skills in an innovative and creative way, to help them communicate stories, ideas and concepts in both a visual and digital way – through making stop motion animations.