Lesson Overview
Students will explore Wright Morris’ black and white photography through visual arts, language arts, and social studies. Composition, communication, and lighting is emphasized while students learn to take photographs. Using disposable cameras, loaded with black and white film, students will photograph significant objects in various arrangements, angles, and lighting. After the film is developed, each student will select a photograph that portrays the message they want communicated and write a narrative telling the story of the object.

Art Exemplar
Title: Platform Rocker
Artist: Wright Morris (1910 - 1998)
Medium: silver print (black & white photography
Date: 1975

Objectives
• Students will determine the best way to communicate the sentimental value or importance of an object by photographing it using arranged compositions and various lighting situations to capture the message they want portrayed.
• Students will determine effective composition and lighting for their subject by arranging their subject in different situations and photographing it.
• Students will understand the connection between visual arts, language arts, and social studies by photographing items and writing a narrative relating to important elements in their life.
• Students will incorporate the use of multiple forms of writing for different purposes by writing a narrative composition telling the “story” of the item that they photographed.
• Students will demonstrate oral presentation skills by giving an organized oral presentation using complete sentences, clear enunciation, adequate volume and eye contact.
• Students will identify significant objects or symbols in their home environment and will state their importance by writing a narrative selection.
Procedure


1. Gather class and ask students to share personal experiences about photographs. Examples of questioning include: What kinds of photographs have you taken before? What kinds of photographs have you seen? What sizes of photographs have you noticed? Why do you think that people take photographs? How do people decide what to take photos of?

2. Show the students samples of Morris’ work. Ask them to make observations about what they see. Guide the discussion using the following terminology: still life, communication, composition, simplicity, lighting, and black and white photography.
3. Show completed sample of black and white photo page made by the teacher. The teacher will read aloud the narrative accompanying each photo. Explain to the class that they will be taking black and white photographs and will be writing narrative stories telling the importance, value, or “story” of their own chosen object.
4. Discuss the sample artwork and the accompanying narrative pieces. Why do you think that I chose these particular objects? What do you notice about the simplicity of the pictures? What do you notice about the composition? How does this tell a story without the narrative? How does it make an impact on you? How does it tell a story?
5. Show the students a disposable camera. Teach them the proper techniques for using the camera: using the flash / not using the flash, winding the film, horizontal and vertical alignment, using the shutter button, storage, transportation to and from school, and remembering to bring them back to school the next day.
6. Select an item in the classroom. Talk through and have students give examples of the options for photographing the object to communicate different meanings.
7. Pass out the photo brainstorming worksheet and attached parent letter and permission slip. Explain to the students that before they will be allowed to take the cameras home, they will be required to list at least three potential topics for their photos, and must bring back the signed note from their parents. They must acknowledge that they understand that they will be limited to taking 4 photos and must take pictures of the items that have been pre-approved by their parents and teacher. They will be encouraged to take photos of only the items that they chose.
8. While the photography sessions at home are taking place, teach and practice how to write an effective narrative.
Activities
1. After receiving the photo brainstorming worksheet and attached parent and student permission sheet back, begin sending the cameras home with each student. Send the cameras home each day with different students. They MUST bring back the camera the next day in order to give it to another student.
2. Once all the students have taken photos, develop the film, and distribute the pictures back to the students. Ask each student to choose ONE photo to use for the class book. The other two/three photos may be used for a class collage.
3. Using the chosen photo, the students will write a narrative telling the value, importance, or “story” of the item shown in the photograph. They will write a rough draft and will edit it with a classmate using the correct proofreading marks.
4. Once each piece of writing has been edited, the students will type their composition and print the completed work on white cardstock. Cut the print to size and paste on a piece of black cardstock along with the corresponding photo.
5. Each student will practice reading his/her writing aloud and when they are able to read it fluently, he/she will read the story into a tape recorder to make an audio cassette that goes along with the class book.
6. Place the cardstock pages into plastic page protectors and assemble in a binder following the order of the recorded stories.
Conclusion
1. Each student will be required to share his/her photo and narrative to the class. The student will be graded using a rubric for oral presentations.
2. Students may listen to, read, and observe each other’s narrative and photos at the classroom language arts center.
3. Assemble the extra photographs into collages that will be placed on the bulletin board outside the classroom. If time permits, attached abbreviated versions of the personal narratives along with each photo. Allow the students to take this home with them when it is time to change the bulletin board display.
Related Activities
1. Language Arts
   1. Write a letter to a friend telling them about the black and white photography project that you are taking part in.
   2. Swap one photograph with a friend and make up a story based on what you see in their photograph. What do you think is the story of their object?
   3. Cut out newspaper photos and ask the students to write a newspaper article based on what they see in the photograph. Create a headline and caption for the photo.
   4. Put yourself in the place of your object. Create a story or diary entry told from its point of view.
   5. During silent reading time, read aloud with a friend the stories written by the other students in the class.
   6. Check out books in the library that tells stories about simple household objects.
   7. With reading buddies in a lower grade, read aloud the stories found in the black and white storybook.
   8. Using photos of a family trip, create a narrative relating significant events that had impact on you personally. Focus on ideas and organization from 6 Trait Writing.