So here is the lesson idea.  In August, when your kids get back (or on Monday for you year round folks), share a little about yourself, your rules and expectations using Animoto.  Surely, it's more fun for you than going through it.  Then, play a little game or review activity to make sure they got it.  Abbey and I made an intro video when we presented last year at NCTies.  Here it is:

But, you can do more with it than that.  Jamie Lemmond, a Social Studies teacher at East Wake School of Integrated Technology frequently used Animoto to put context to the images his students would see during their studies.  Here is a video depicting the end of World War II:

Other uses for Animoto:

• Have students summarize/retell a story you are reading using pictures (remember your Copyright rules).
• Put a series of pictures together, and have students write the story that goes with it.
• Autobiographies
• Have students make a public service announcement about a topic that you are studying
• Have students post pictures (or provide them) and come up with action verbs, alliterative phrases (or really anything else) that goes with them.

I'm sure I've just scratched the surface here.  Got more?  Post in the comments.