BACK to Ontario Media Literacy Main Page
WIINDMILL PRESS (Canadian publisher of media literacy books and resources)
identify camera angles and distance from the subject in photographs and describe their effects on the viewer's perceptions
identify and describe the different types of advertising that they encounter in their surroundings
create a variety of media works
review camera angles and camera subject distance with a handout
have students look through old magazines to find the different angles and distance shots
give students a theme (hockey, happy people) and have them find two examples of a high, low and flat angle shot and close-up, medium and long distance shot
put a variety of pictures on overhead and have students identify camera angle and distance and say why the photographer chose this angle or distance
explain the effects different camera angles can have on you as audience
show a tasteful clip from Jurassic Park or another appropriate film and find different camera angles and distance; discuss why the particular shot was chosen and how it makes the audience feel
as a homework assignment, ask students to bring in as many logos (actual or drawn) as they can find (to a maximum of 5 or 6)
as the teacher, bring in some lesser known logos (cars, insurance companies) and have students identify them
discuss why companies would want to have their logo in as many public places as possible; ask students if they believe people buy the products they see every day on billboards or on TV commercials
in a ten minute exercise, find as many logos as possilbe within the classroom--on T-shirts, baseball caps, etc
make a chart of the most popular logos and ask students in discussion why these logos are so popular
show the Nike logo or another that is highly popular in your classroom; ask students why this logo is so important to children; write down words students use to describe why the Nike Swoosh is important, for example--cool, awesome, etc
ask students how they decided the Nike Swoosh was "cool" or who told them the Nike swoosh was "cool"
introduce some Greek and Roman mythology (Nike means "Greek goddess of Victory") and what each mythological character means, the qualities that character stands for
find evidence of Greek myths in advertising and discuss what the advertiser is saying about that product when a certain mythological name is used
list animals and give them qualities (ie lions are mighty; rabbits are fast)
list three products that might go well with each of these animals
place students in groups; have students take pictures of each other with each providing one of each angle and camera-subject distance
challenge students by giving them a specific task in the pictures so that they might demonstrate other communication skills as outlined in the language curriculum: using gestures, facial expressions, to give a visual tour of a farm
have students use the video camera for the same purpose as above, encouraging students to work on voice, gestures, facial expressions, etc
CLICK HERE FOR BOOKS AND RESOURCES THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IN TEACHING MEDIA