Camera Obscura Lesson Plan and Materials

This is an activity that engages all of my students. Truly it is like being inside a camera. This was a favorite beginning-of-the-year activity for my students, it's their buy-in to photography and its history.

Through the introduction of the camera, research, shock and aww at the whole room becoming a camera they are hooked. Everything for this lesson is laid out it the lesson plan from the sketchbook activity to questions I ask after we make the room a camera. Then I have each table make its own camera obscura out of cardboard so that they can transport it just like history.

Each step is outlined in a presentation with visuals but most importantly since this is their first project it's about teamwork! I love seeing their excitement for this project and how an image can be created and so will you.

Included materials:

• Lesson plan outlining 4-5 days of 90 minute class periods
• presentation on camera obscura intro
• notes on the camera obscura to handout for accommodations
• Presentation with step by step instructions for students to build their own camera obscura in teams/ pairs.