Step 1: Camera operation and safety

Introduce how to use the cameras. Give the students a tour of the camera, pointing out the various operation and safety needs…stressing the importance of using the wrist strap! 

Introduce the five types of shots used in filmmaking to the students.  

1. Establishing shot
2. Wide shot
3. Two shot
4. Close up
5. Over the shoulder

Explain the different shots. Brainstorm and demonstrate how you can capture those shots by moving around the room with a camera. For example, show the students how you would take an over the shoulder shot by actually going up behind a student and taking a photo over their shoulder to show perspective.

Room Set up: Create small filmmaking groups for students to work in from this point forward.

Step 2: Capturing the five shots

Students will work in small groups. Explain the puzzle activity to the student.

Each group will get one puzzle, one camera, and one handout. While the group is working on the puzzle, one student will take the camera and practice their camera skills by capturing examples of the five shots. 

Teaching artists and the classroom teacher will each work with a group and mentor the student with the camera.

Teaching Tip: Students can and should move around the room while filming to capture their five shots.

Step 3: Using the camera

Teachers should check the footage on the cameras to make sure each of the students captured the five shots.  

When the first student is done, hand the camera to another student to capture their five shots while the rest work on the puzzle activity. This will continue until all the students have had a chance to work with the camera. 

Be sure to make clear to the students at the beginning of the activity that the goal is not to put the puzzle together, but to gain camera and composition skills.

Teaching Tip: If the puzzle is finished by the group before each student has a chance to work with the camera, break up the puzzle and start again.