Double Exposure Lesson Plan: Eye on Your Community
Illinois State Goals and Standards addressed:
Visual Arts:
Middle School:25.B.3: Compare and contrast the elements and principles in two or more art works
that share similar themes.
26.A.3e: Describe how the choices of tools/technologies and processes are used to
create specific effects in the arts.
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to help the students learn how to use a camera to discover
the people, places, and things that make up their neighborhood or school.
Objectives: Students will demonstrate a knowledge of how to use a camera by framing images
in the viewfinder, composing photographs, using light to advantage, and using other photographic
techniques to produce photographs.
Grade Level: 3-7
Time Required: one or two 60-minute periods (depending on attention span and independence)
Materials: small, inexpensive, easy-to-use cameras (see resource list)
film
photograph development shop
volunteers who are members of a local photography club, photographer-in-residence, or teacher's
helpers
exhibit space
Motivation: Motivate students by having a discussion using examples of photographs or pictures
cut out of magazines that show how photographers choose what pictures to take (action, interesting
viewpoints, closeups). Students can point out why they think certain photographs are better than
others at telling a story about a person, place, or situation. If volunteer mentors are available, they
can assist students with hands-on help during a photographic fieldtrip.
Procedure:
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Students will need to handle the cameras and have a tutorial on how to look through
the viewfinder, locate the shutter, avoid covering the lens, and other tips.
*
Plan a route to the areas where photographs will be taken. The school's interior
would be a good place to start if flash is available. Otherwise, the school grounds or
neighborhood would be good choices. A place known well to everyone may give the
best results.
*
Teachers will rewind and remove the film at the end of the session and take it for
processing.
Publication and Closure: Post the finished pictures for class discussion. Students can point out
their best pictures and tell why they are technically or emotionally powerful. Combinations of
photographs can be displayed together to tell different stories. Summarize what students have
learned about photography as an expressive art.
Assessment: Photographs should reflect the skills taught in the lesson - framing images in the
viewfinder, composing photographs, using light to advantage, and using other photographic
techniques to produce photographs.
Double Exposure: Eye on Your Community