Suggestions for photo pres'n to 2nd graders?

photobug

Parents in my 2nd-grader's class sometimes volunteer to give a short (20-30 minute) talk on various subjects to the class. I offered to speak about aviation, photography, or how computers work ... and the teachers practically jumped on the phtography topic. Now, I get to actually come up with a talk! (and, big surprise, they also want me to take a group photo and individual photos of all the students while I'm there...)

I plan to show them several different kinds of cameras -- old medium-format twin-lens reflex, a point-'n-shoot digital camera, and a dSLR of course. I expect that I'll draw a simple diagram of how light comes through the lens and is focused on the image plane ... and lead them to see that the diagram of how their own eyes work is almost identical. And of course open it up to Q&A (which could get interesting!).

But -- I would love to hear ideas of other photographic topics I could easily show, draw, or talk about that would appeal to 2nd-graders (7 year olds). Suggestions, anyone?!?

Thanks (and have a great Thanksgiving weekend, everyone)!
= Dave

Sean K

I bet macro photos of insects would be a hit. I doubt 2nd graders will appreciate a really nice portrait so if you do individual photos maybe do some camera/pp trick to distort the image and make it fun. Go for the ohh and ahh factor. Let the kids look through a lens (like a magnifying glass) that will flip everything upside down to help explain lens theory. Just some thoughts.

Young kids can be like cats. Buy them a big expensive scratching post and they'll love the box it came in type of thing. Good luck.

photobug

I bet macro photos of insects would be a hit

Probably so -- if I had any ;-).

I doubt 2nd graders will appreciate a really nice portrait so if you do...

Oops, I should have explained that actually taking photos of them isn't part of the presentation -- that was a request from the teachers of something they'd like me to do afterwards.

make it fun. Go for the ohh and ahh factor

Definitely!

Young kids can be like cats. Buy them a big expensive scratching post and they'll love the box it came in

Ain't that the truth -- both for kids and cats. We've had grandparents buy expensive toys for our kids (we've been guilty of that occasionally, too) and one of their favorite toys is literally when something comes in a big cardboard box and they get to play in it, ask me to cut "windows" in it, etc. Back to the photo presentation -- the KISS principle certainly applies!

Awais Yaqub

Yeah i think Insects will be hit
or world cultures !
do share your experience after the event

davev

Show them the difference of 2 shots of people. One with the persons head dead center, one that is a regular portrait, you know, head and torso shot.

Every pic that I see that a kid took of a person has their head, that looks like a dot, centered, and just a ton of nothing in the background.

That and show puppy and kitten pictures. There's your ohhhs and ahhhs.

SloYerRoll

I think a few shots of panning blurs would be pretty fun for kids to look at. It would be confusing why everything except one thing was blurry. That can get them talking....
Most of all. Be fun. 2nd graders love to have fun not get border to death by a half lecture.