Short description of the topic
Children photograph different environments. They cut out their image and place it on different backgrounds. In this way, they produce “manipulated” photographs and realize that photographs do not always tell the truth about the past.
Learning outcomes
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Competencies
- Digital and media competence: understanding media manipulation
- Critical thinking: comparing work processes with everyday reality
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Target group
4 years and up- Individual work
Work in pairs
Small groups
- Individual work
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Required materials
- Camera
- Scissors
- Glue
- Printer
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Materials
- Photos of interesting backgrounds (desert, mountains, famous places, in the company of wild animals, etc.)
Download
(.pdf 465.38 KB)
Description of the activity (step by step)
Preparation:
Invite the children to take photos of different environments: inside, in the yard, on a walk, etc. Take photos of children standing in front of a neutral background. Print portraits of children and different backgrounds (you can use the photos which the children took, as well as the provided templates).
Implementation:
Let the children cut out their photos and place them on different backgrounds. Such pictures should be photographed then. Upload photos to your computer and print some.
Reflection:
Discuss the resulting photos together. Were they really in all the places the photos show? How is this possible? Explain that the photos we see around us every day do not necessarily reflect reality.
Variations and additional ideas
This activity can be combined with art – children can create different backgrounds through drawing, collage, etc.
Another interesting activity is to let children make backgrounds with the help of objects. For this activity, print a photo of a child or group of children with a neutral background. Have the children place objects on the photo. They can, for example, create a jungle from meadow plants or tree leaves to make it seem as if they have found themselves in an enlarged world. Stones can become huge rocks, and the rice grains can become pebbles on the beach. Let the imagination run wild! And do not forget to take a photo of the finished products.
Experience from kindergartens:
The children recognized and named most of the features of landscapes from the photos on calendars: snow, ice, desert, waterfalls… Photographs of landscapes from different parts of the world attracted them, and they began to tell about their experiences, what they would do if they were really there. They told us how they would jump into a waterfall; how they would ride a boat; how they would hunt bears on ice; how they would climb high mountains; sleep in palaces; watch the tall skyscrapers; look for pebbles and look at the water; they would observe life in a palace and the things you can find there; they would play in the mountains and make snowmen; fish and explore caves; walk on the rocks and bath in the river; go for a walk …
The children placed photos of themselves on the backgrounds and explained why the photo was or was not realistic; whether they have already been to these places or not.
Materials
Photos of interesting backgrounds (desert, mountains, famous places, in the company of wild animals, etc.)
Photos of the activity
