Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Art
Social Studies

Through My Eyes: Photo Project

Create a photo gallery that depicts an everyday moment of students’ lives, and learn about others’ stories and experiences.

Activity Partner
Total time estimate:
Multi-day
Activity Objectives
  • Students will capture and share a part of their daily life through photography, and explore images taken by others to understand their emotions, identity, and experiences
  • Through this activity, students will practice skills like storytelling, perspective taking, and empathy

This activity supports the development of the following social-emotional skills: self-awareness and social awareness.

Capture

Engage students in a discussion about using photography to share a story. You might explain: “Photography can be a very valuable storytelling tool. When we take a photo, we can experiment with choosing a subject, highlighting specific colors, or taking the photo at an angle. All of these things and more combine to tell the story of a particular moment. When we look at others’ photography, we can use skills like perspective taking and critical thinking to understand what they are trying to express, be it a message, emotion, or experience.”

Ask students to pick a part of their daily lives to capture through photography, such as: 

  • A meal that they prepared or ate 
  • The view from their window 
  • Their family, friends, or loved ones  
  • A funny moment 
  • Their neighborhood or community members 
  • A special item or tradition 
  • A challenge that they experience or observe
Share

Facilitate a live virtual exchange with your Empatico class, and invite students to a photo gallery walk. Share the link for a digital gallery using a tool like Flipgrid, Wakelet, or Padlet, or ask students to hold up their photography during the video call.

Students might share more about their photos, and why they chose to capture a particular subject or moment. Encourage them to use skills like perspective taking to put themselves in each other’s shoes, and critical thinking to ask questions and learn more about their peers’ experiences.

Reflect

Guide students through a post-activity reflection by asking the following questions:

  • How did you decide which subject to feature in your photography? What were you hoping to express or share with others? 
  • What did you learn about your classmates from their photography?
  • How did you feel while looking at others’ photography? What emotions or experiences do you think they were trying to express or share?
  • What questions do you have for your classmates?
Did you finish this activity? We'd love your input.