PBL: My Emotions! Day 5

Date: 16th November 2022; Wednesday.
Facilitators:
Auindrilla, Drishti, Sanmoyee, Priyanka, and Nikita.
Participants:
Adrived, Arya, Dhriya, Divit, Hazzel, Meher, Nitara, Parth, Rishit, Shannaya, Sharlav, Shivansh, Shivanshika, Shivanyaa, Taanush, Vaanya, Yuvaan (Bhopalka), and Yuvaan (Mehra).
Tags: sel, pbl, photography

Welcome to Day 5 of this PBL unit! The children are being exposed to different emotions, and are learning to recognize these emotions in other people. On this day, they will study the most expressive part of the human body — the face! Read on to know how the Arthlings captured their facial expressions using the language of photography!

PLANNING AND SETUP

The activity was divided into the following steps:

1. Taking My Selfie: ‘Happy and ‘Sad’ flashcards were kept as prompts. Colourful picture frames were prepared for the children to use as props. Mobile phones were made available for use.

2. Taking Photos of My Friends: Mobile phones were used as in Step 1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Taking My Selfie: The children sat down in groups to have a discussion about emotions. They focused on ‘Happy’ and ‘Sad’ feelings. Rishit and Yuvaan (Mehra) told Drishti Didi that toys made them happy, while Vaanya said that not coming to Arth made her sad. On a different table, Yuvaan (Mehra) chose to perform some funny faces for his group. It was then that the Arthlings were introduced to a new friend — the mobile phone! They took turns learning how to hold the camera, how to point it at the subject, and how to press the shutter button. After a small tutorial, it was selfie time!
The children passed the mobile phones around their tables so that each Arthling was given a chance. They put on their ‘Happy’ and ‘Sad’ faces, and recorded them with a click of the shutter button!

The Arthlings practise their faces with Sanmoyee Didi and her flashcards!

Drishti Didi shows her ‘sad’ face to her team of Arthlings.

Arya experiments with a mobile phone camera!

Rishit’s high energy selfie with Auindrilla Didi!

Yuvaan (Bhopalka) takes a ‘happy selfie’…

…And a ‘sad’ one!

Divit’s ‘sad’ selfie.

Hazzel’s close-up selfie!

Yuvaan (Mehra)’s selfie with Meher!

Shivanshika shows off her ‘happy’ face!

Taking Photos of My Friends: Next, the children made the leap from selfie photography to portrait photography! They stood in pairs to take photos: while one Arthling took the picture, the other posed as the subject! They accessorized their shots with colourful photo frames. The session saw many Arthlings taking turns, giving each other directions, and inviting their friends to pose with them!

Yuvaan (Mehra) takes a photo of Shivanshika in a frame!

Shannaya tries on a photo frame accessory.

Shannaya’s ‘happy’ face…

…And ‘sad’ face!

Nitara experiments with a yellow photo frame.

Adrived poses for a photo on Priyanka Didi’s lap!

Sharlav’s ‘happy face’.

Sharlav’s ‘sad’ face, which he performed with sound effects!

Meher’s ‘sad’ face, accessorized with a frame!

SKILLS USED

  • Socio-emotional skills

  • Photography

  • Cooperation

  • Turn-taking

OUTCOME AND FUTURE

This project instalment is the first time that the Arthlings of Arth Hours have used photography in class! Photography engages children in the study of real-life subjects, as opposed to cartoons or illustrations. This exercise invited them to examine the facial features of people around them, and the changes that occur with different expressions. As we expand and grow, Arth Hours will continue to encourage the use of different expressive languages for our children!