SAM Animation is software designed specifically for the classroom. Years of beta testing in classrooms, talking with teachers from elementary, middle, and high schools, and a solid foundation rooted in theories of teaching and learning have resulted in SAM Animation 1.2. The software is built on the fundamental beliefs that it should be easy for students of all ages to use, while allowing the content to be front and center. In other words, good software encourages students to engage with the problem of learning math, science, or other topics - not with the problem of learning how to use the software itself.

Six principles underly SAM Animation's application in science classroom settings: Constructionism, Flow, Representation, Engagement, Story, and Time. The figure below briefly describes these principles, which are further elaborated in the white paper "Science of SAM: Why Animation is Good for the Classroom".