Changing Snapshots

Photography. How I love it so. Too long since I've snapped any (the summer in Morocco and Israel). Not sure why I let the things I care about slip away but will never forget about the trivial things -watching tv, snacking, and interneting. This week in my classroom photography took precidence. At the beginning of the year I asked the students to bring in images of themselves when they were younger. Of course these twelve year olds were super excited - how could not be? Weren't they the most adorable creatures ever? Serious competition. Anyway at that point in September I wasn't sure what lesson I would use them for, but thought no matter what snapshots of themselves will get them hooked.

After making sure EvERyone brought at least one in (not an easy task) finally we began the project. I quickly realized that actually the assignment is more interesting without the photos and with imagination: Showing change. What's one thing about yourself that has changed since you were younger and how will it change in the future? In four separate squares of paper the students drew how an interest or a part of their appearance looked like or will look like at different stages of their life. Amazing ow they view themselves in their changing world.

So what about photography? Well without camera we used the same compositional techniques and strategies applied to creating interesting photographs. Our big vocabulary word was magnify.

Aside from the constant complaints about writing my students seem really happy with their own work.

Classroom community is expanding :)