Project: Camera
Starting point: Children have a natural interest in what happens in
everyday life. At home, in kindergarten and in their environment, they are
interested in photographs. They enjoy looking at and finding themselves in
pictures, looking for and discovering well-known persons and "things and /
or objects" in the pictures. In this context children frequently develop
the desire to be allowed to make photos on their own. They are also interested
in how a camera works and they want to know, how the "images"
develop.
The project’s starting point
is the children’s inquisitive attitude and their urge to examine and discover.
The project’s emphasis is on the understanding of the scientific-technical
basis of a camera. The units and/or activities make an wholistic approach to
the topic possible for the children.
They become acquainted with
different cameras, examine them, and learn to take individual cameras apart.
Moreover, they can build a simple camera in order to experience and understand
how a camera functions. Excursions make it possible for them to interview
"experts" and to visit a photo laboratory.
The project closes with a
presentation of the results for parents and children.
Overview of the sequence of
activities:
1. Discussion circle and
paintings about the topic "camera" (What do the children know about
the medium?)
2. Taking apart and and
examining a reflex camera and a one-way camera, taking photos with the one-way
camera.
3. Getting to know and a
trying out a Polaroid camera.
4. Furnishing a
"researcher’s chamber".
5. Cutting out pictures of
cameras from brochures and putting together a collage.
6. Getting to know, examining
and experimenting with different models of cameras without film (one-way
camera, pocket camera, Polaroid camera, cameras).
7. Inserting films into different cameras and experimenting with
photography.
8. Making cameras.
9. Visiting different photo shops: Experts answer the childrens’
questions, renting of old cameras.
10. Examination of the old
cameras, comparison with the new models.
11. Exhibition of different
cameras in kindergarten.
12. Experiment:
How does a picture get into the camera?
13. Experiment:
In the human eye pictures appear in the same way as in a camera.
14. Experiment:
Exposing photo paper.
15. Visiting a private photo laboratory.
16. Slide-show for children.
17. Project presentation for
children and parents.
The activities printed in
bold letters exist as planned activities.
(conceived and tested by
AWO-Kindertagesstaette, Duelmen)
Download (german and
english): Projektfoto.zip
Contact:
Richard-von-Weizsäcker-Berufskolleg,
Lüdinghausen/Germany