Teaching Photography to Kids- NEED IDEAS

[Texasdaisey]

I need ideas for teaching kids at a local camp about digital photography. I have about an hour with a group of 20+ ages 8-18. I will repeat the class 3-4 times that day. Most kids will have a disposable 35mm up to a small digital point and shoot. I really want to make it interesting, but have nothing! I can talk about the dial and the different modes on a point and shoot, but honestly that's BORING! I'm afraid of getting to technical. Haven't found much online or using our 4H curriculum. I'd love to hear some fun ways of getting kids interested in photography!

[OsmosisStudios]

I'd suggest a roundtable discussion format. Ask them what they like to take pictures of, to show some of their pictures (if possible), to discuss a few. Maybe bring a few of your own to show and discuss. This'll be considerably easier with the 15-18 group, and harder with the 8-11 group, but it should yield some interesting results.

For the younger ones, ask them what they like about taking pictures, if they think they have a "style", if they dont like certain things, etc. Get them talking, basically. As long as it's photo related, youre golden. Teach them how to use their cameras at their most basic functions. For disposable film cameras, teach them about the minimum distance (3'), for digital teach them how to half-press to focus then fire.

The older members might be a bit harder to engage (depending on their attitudes). Dont TRY to make it interesting, just try to engage them. I used to help out with an after-school photo program at a high school, and it was useless to go in all excited if they werent. You had to get them interested first, then introduce some enthusiasm.

[JMS]

If they will be equipped with disposables and point and shoots, I would skip the technical discussion and focus on taking pictures and talking about them. What they like, what could be done differently.

It might be worth your while to see if your local library has a copy of I Wanna Take Me A Picture by Alexandra Lightfoot and Wendy Ewald. It's not a "how to" book, but it has a good discussion of ways to engage children with photography.

[candleman]

composition, posing and "reading" the light is all you can really teach if they have disposables.

as Osmosis said.. just be excited about your subject matter and they will be pulled in.

[kencaleno]

One thing that you may find useful when teaching composition,is a 6" x 4" black card for each pupil with a 3" x 2" cutout-by holding this at different distances from the eye they will be able to find an interesting part of a scene to photograph,without peripheral interference.

Regards, Ken