Name of project:
Home Documentary
Classroom, School:
5th Grade Classroom at Jackson Magnet Elementary School
Cooperating Teacher:
Christopher Nelson
Grade Level:
5th Grade
Presenter's Name:
Rudy Arnold
Subject and Curricular Link:
The Students learned the importance of writing about an image that contains important information about their life and what they care about. The students were asked to write two paragraphs about the final photographs that they choose. The students were expected to use proper punctuation and sentence composition.
Overview of Project
This project was a two week project. The project consisted of four Teaching periods and one critique. The teaching times were on Monday's and Wednesday's between 1:10-2:15. The first period I presented a PDF on the Composition, The disposable camera, and some vocabulary for the students to know. I also gave the students an overview of the project. They were then given their cameras and had to return the cameras after the weekend. I will then collect them on Wednesday, and take them to get developed. The following Monday I brought the photographs to class and then recapped the first PDF which helped the students narrow down which photographs they wanted to choose. At this point I gave the photographs back to the students and had them pick 2 photographs, some of the photographs did not turn out due to old film, so I had the students draw what they took pictures of if the images did not turn out. The following class period I had the students write in a rough draft of the 2 paragraphs that go to the corresponding photographs they took. The photographs were then mounted on the fourth class period. The paragraphs were re-written next to the photographs. I then did a VTS with the students about the final products. The students then had their work up at a local coffee shop for a month.
Essential Question(s)
What makes you who you are? What Items in your life inspire you? Where do you spend a lot of your time? Who is important to you? What makes your home your own?
Prior Knowledge
Some writing compositional skills are required, standard sentence composition is needed.
Examples of Student or Artist Work
I showed some of my photos to help explain documentary photography to the students; I also showed works by Ansel Adams and Wing Huie. The photographs are from artsconnected.org
Assessment
There was a lot of feedback and discussion during my initial PowerPoint and introduction. I also talked with each student individually as they went through their selection process. The students were aked what about their photographs depict what they are passionate about.
Materials
The students will be given each a disposable camera, on the first day to photograph images, the students will then be given poster board as well to mount their photographs too. The students will also need some notebook paper and a pencil for the writing part of the exercise.
Teacher Vocabulary
Composition-Documentary-Viewfinder-Vertical-Horizontal-Flash -Rule of thirds
Procedures
1. Composition Powerpoint + Artist Examples +Vocabulary
2.Distribution of cameras.
3.Take Photographs + Develop
4.Learn about descriptive writing
5.Write about work
6.Discus work
7.Place work in gallery.
Teacher Reflection
Students might not bring the cameras back.
The students will get to experience the process of connecting image with their ideas and objects of value, they will learn to talk about what they have photographed.
The photographs will be up through the month of April at Groundswell Coffee Cafe on the corner of Hamline and Thomas.
Skills Development
The Students Vocabulary skills and photography skills.
Key Knowledge and Applications
The students learned how to document their homes. The students will now have the knowledge to use a camera, and frame a good composition in future projects. The students also learned about self-analysis and finding worth in their home.
Materials
Disposable cameras. Matte Board for mounting, notebooks to write in. Some sort of adhesive for mounting photographs. Powerpoint or some other way to present information.
Summary of Lesson
The students were given the knowledge and information that made it capable for them to document their homes through the use of photography and drawing. In addition, the students wrote about this experience and now their work is being hung in a gallery.