Photo Essays
Using Pictures to Guide Written Compositions
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 2: Consolidation / FluencyStage 3: Literacy for Growth
Ages:
7-12
Grade Range:
3rd 4th 5th 6thFood Groups:
Primary: Writing Processes & Strategies, Motivation for Literacy
Activity Description
Preparation:
Session 1:
1. Find cameras for students to use (or see “Additional Comments” section for alternatives) or have students select images from home, magazine cut-outs, or from on-line resources
2. Assemble Bristol board and glue for each student
Implementation:
Session 1:
1. In pairs or individually, invite students to choose a story topic
2. Have students brainstorm how they can represent their story through pictures
a. For example, taking photos that represent different stages in a process, taking photos of people acting
out scenes, etc.
Session 2:
1. Provide students with cameras to take a set of photos pertaining to their topic or provide a selection of images for them to choose from
a. Develop or print photos if camera is used
Session 3:
1. Help students organize their photos in a logical sequence (such as chronological or spatial sequence)
2. Allow students to paste the photos onto Bristol board so that a storyboard is formed
Sessions 4 and 5:
1. Help students to prepare an oral presentation for the class based on their storyboard
2. Support students as they present their storyboards to the class
Session 6:
1. Model for students how to translate a storyboard into a written story
2. Guide students in the process of writing their story based on their photo essay
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Allow students to work with a partner who speaks the same first language
- Allow written drafts to be done in first language
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Provide students with a graphic organizer to help them organize their ideas in sequence
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Ensure potential writing topics reflect diversity
Differentiated Instruction:
- Allow for flexibility in time given to complete task and expectations of length of the written product based on individual student abilities
Related References
Source: Peregoy, S.F. & Boyle, O.F. (2008). Reading, Writing, and Learning in ESL (5th Ed.). Boston MA:Pearson Education Inc.
Evidence:
Sinatra, R., Beaudry, J., Stahl-Gemake, J. & Guastello, E. (1990). Combining visual literacy, text understanding, and writing for culturally diverse students. Journal of Reading, 8, 612-617.
Activity Objective
The goal of Photo Essays: Using Pictures to Guide Written Compositions is to provide students with the opportunity to organize their ideas in a concrete and visual way, in order to help them create richer, better developed written compositions.
What You Need
Prep Time:
10-30 minutes
- Gather cameras & equipment
- Assemble Bristol board and glue
Task Time:
6, 30-minute sessions
- Students brainstorm ideas for story topics
- Students find and organize photos that tell a story
- Teacher helps students prepare oral presentations based on their photos
- Students write their stories
Materials Required:
Students:
- Camera or groups of photos/pictures that tell a story
- Bristol board
- Glue
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Consultant:
- while students prepare photos, organize photos into a storyboard, create and present their stories orally, and write their stories
Student Grouping:
Individual:
- during preparation of photos, organization of photos into a storyboard, and writing of story
Whole class:
- during oral presentation of stories
Assessment Ideas:
- Through anecdotal notes and conferences with students throughout the process, assess students' depth of ideas and how well they describe the topic
- Assess the storyboard for logical sequencing and organization of ideas and visual representation of ideas
- Assess the oral presentation for use of vocabulary and oral language development
- Assess the written story for flow of ideas and use of writing conventions taught in class
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Compile photo essays into a class book
- Have students present their photo essays orally in a school assembly or to other classes to improve their oral skills and confidence in public speaking
Additional Comments:
- This activity is especially suited to ELL students because of the use of visual representation of ideas. It is also well suited to students with LD because the pictures can help them organize their thoughts before they write.
Adaptations: - To make photo essays work for your class, you can adapt them in many ways, including: a. Having students bring in pre-existing photos. from home. b. Providing students with photos pertaining to a topic of interest. c. Providing students with clip art pictures pertaining to a topic of interest. d. Allowing students to select their own clip art pictures that tell their story. e. Having students bring in cameras from home (with parental permission). f. Having students share in the use of one or more cameras that belong to the class/school. g. Obtaining disposable cameras for the students (you may be able to obtain sponsorship from retail stores). h. Having students use digital pictures or digital clip art and organize their photostory on the computer using a program like "Microsoft PowerPoint". - When choosing an option, you may wish to consider factors such as cost, how photos or pictures will be printed or developed, and what will happen if borrowed cameras get broken.
Other Comments:
- Topics students choose can be related to another subject area (for example, students could do a photo essay chronicling the growth of a class plant), based on personal interests (which may enhance motivation and allow for more diverse projects), or based on a class theme or issue you would like to address (for example, photo essays depicting positive behavior at school).
- This activity can be used to teach a variety of text structures such as an essay, a creative story, or a procedural piece. a. For example, if you have modeled writing stories with a beginning, middle, and end, you may wish to tie this into the photo essay concept by having them group photos into groups that show beginning, middle, and end.
