A PHOTO ESSAY
These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the
Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14
western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western,
United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big
Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating
teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the
Workshops.
AUTHOR: Rebecca Sexson, Anasazi Elem., Scottsdale, AZ
DATE: May 1994
GRADE LEVEL / SUBJECT: 2-4; English, writing
OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:
- Understand the purpose of a photo essay.
- Sequence a series of events.
- Understand the format in creating a photo essay which includes a caption for each
picture.
- Complete a photo essay as a creative activity by using photos, magazine pictures or
drawings to illustrate a story.
- Read and enjoy a photo essay.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS: Teacher - a picture of a face with obvious emotion, a piece
of 8 1/2" x 11" white drawing paper for each student, a visual example of a
photo essay would be helpful but not necessary. Students - a piece of poster board that is
an appropriate size for their essay; photos, drawings, or magazine pictures; marking pens,
pencil, glue.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
- Ask students to name materials they "read" that contain words and pictures.
(ex. newspapers, magazines, books, etc.)
- Show a picture of a happy or sad person. Have the students identify the emotion and
explain that a picture can express an emotion better than words: "A picture is worth
a thousand words."
- Explain that a photo essay is a story told in pictures with short statements (captions)
under each picture.
- Demonstrate by using a whole group activity. Choose a story, or part of a story, from
your literature series, that examples following directions; i.e. making bread or building
a bird house, etc. I have used a story from our Houghton Mifflin series called "Mrs.
Birdie's Bread." You could also use the topic, "A Day at School."
Give
each student an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of white drawing paper. Fold the paper into
four squares for younger students or six to eight squares for older students. Number each
square in sequence. Decide together as a class what happened first. Have each student draw
a picture and write a caption for the first drawing. Continue this process until all
squares are completed.
This example could be completed as an individual activity, a whole class activity, or a
cooperative learning activity.
- Send a letter home to the parents explaining the photo essay and assign the essay as a
home project. The pictures for the essay may be photos taken with a camera, pictures drawn
by the student, or pictures cut from a magazine. If students have a difficult time
thinking of a topic/title for their essay, you might want to list suggestions from a class
discussion. All photo essays should have a title and the pictures should be mounted on
poster board. The poster board does not have to remain rectangular.
- The assignment should be given two to three weeks to complete because of film
processing.
- Assign the project on a Monday. Record each student's topic on Friday, or on the
following Monday at the latest.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Upon completion, let each student bring their essay to
class to share. Students should present an oral summary of their essay and explain each
picture.
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