Digital cameras

Example activity

What will the children do?

Give the children a camera to record their favourite place. Limit this to one room or outside. Ask the children where they like to be best; are there any places they choose not to go to? Give the children a chance to explore with the camera and see what they can see through the display. Demonstrate how to click when they find the place they like best in the display, show them how to see their picture once it’s captured.

Areas of learning

• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Physical development

What do we want the children to learn?

• Find out about and identify the uses of everyday technology
• Have a sense of belonging
• Handle tools with increasing control
• Show curiosity, observe and manipulate objects
• Know how to operate simple equipment

Resources

• A digital camera

You will be able to obtain the resources used from the companies listed here.

Information and communications technology (ICT) levels of differentiation

• Able to use an on and off switch
• Able to point and click with the camera
• Knows how to use a button to change from camera to play mode and back again

Children’s individual targets, that this activity could meet

• To recognise oneself as part of a group
• To develop a sense of belonging
• To build self esteem by being valued for who they are
• To engage in language within a shared context

Adult input (including language to be introduced)

• Encourage discussion about places they like/dislike in the setting
• Adults will be needed to support the children in their use of ICT skills, to ensure safety, to encourage interactions and to follow the children’s interests
• Click, point, button, camera, play, display

Areas & resources inside & out for spontaneous learning

• Defunct cameras for the role-play area
• Defunct cameras for taking apart and investigating with due care to health and safety
• Making ‘play’ cameras with used materials

Questions for assessment opportunities

• Have you taken the picture?
• What did you take it of?
• Can I see it?
• What did you take a photograph of?
• What does that button do?