How can photography and poetry help us notice and appreciate the world around us?
OVERVIEW
This project invites Grade 4 students to become observers, photographers, poets, and storytellers. Using the Camera, Photos, Pages, and Voice Memos apps, learners document real-world moments and transform them into original haiku that celebrate the world around them. The project culminates in a multimedia digital gallery that showcases student voice, creativity, and appreciation for their environment.
Students will participate in a nature walk around the school, using iPads to capture meaningful moments in nature and everyday surroundings that others might overlook. They will then reflect on their chosen photographs in an observation journal, describing what they see, hear, and feel, as well as what the images remind them of. Using these observations as inspiration, students will draft and refine a haiku based on one selected photo. Their final work will be published in Pages, combining the photograph, haiku, title, and student name in a creative digital layout. To conclude the project, students will record themselves reading their haiku using Voice Memos.
WORKFLOW SUMMARY
By the end of this project, students will be able to:
- Observe and appreciate details in their surroundings;
- Capture meaningful photos using an iPad;
- Compose original haiku inspired by real-life observations;
- Create and publish a digital work that combines photography, poetry, and audio recordings
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Day 1: Science Class: Observing Our Environment
Students will take a guided walk around the school with a challenge in mind – using an iPad, capture a moment that others might overlook (plants, animals, weather conditions, everyday moments, etc.). Encourage students to practice their observation skills.
Day 2: Science Class: Photo Observations
Students will examine the photos they captured and reflect on them by answering the following question: What do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel? And what does this image remind me of? These observations will help students notice important details, make personal connections, and gather ideas for their writing. Students will record their responses in Pages, creating a digital observation journal that will serve as the foundation for their haiku.
Day 3: English Class: Haiku Making
Students will select one photo from their collection and use it as inspiration for writing an original haiku. Drawing from the observations recorded in their digital journals, they will compose a three-line poem that captures a moment, feeling, or detail reflected in the image. Using Pages, students will create a visually appealing page that showcases their work. They will begin by inserting their chosen photograph and then add text boxes to include the title of their poem, the haiku, and their name. As they design their page, students will learn how to format text by adjusting the font size, font style, color, alignment, and other design elements to enhance the presentation of their work.
Day 4: English Class: Voice Recording
Students will bring their haiku to life by recording themselves reading their poems using Voice Memos. Before recording, students will find a quiet area with minimal background noise to ensure clear audio quality. They will practice reading their haiku aloud, paying attention to pronunciation, pacing, expression, and volume so that their voices can be easily heard and understood by listeners. Students may listen to their recordings and re-record if necessary to improve clarity and fluency. Once satisfied with their final recording, they will save the audio file for inclusion in the project’s Audio Poetry Gallery. This activity helps students develop oral communication skills while allowing them to share the mood and meaning of their poetry through their own voices.
NOTE: Activity may be adapted to different subjects. To ensure concept mastery, activities may be adjusted or added between activities.
Attach up to 5 files which will be available for other members to download.