I Can Read Places

Title: I Can Read Book

Objective: To expose children and parents to digital photography and environmental print.

Materials: Olympus FE 310 camera

Preparation: Environmental print is the print a child recognizes by site. Often these are the first words a child can read. Some examples are McDonalds, street signs, cereals or favorite television programs. Talk with students about digital cameras and the print surrounding them.

Procedure:
1. Teach students how to shoot and take a picture. Practice with picture taking in the classroom.

2. Teach parents the basic lessons of using the camera.

3. Students will take home camera and parents will take their child around the neighborhood letting student take pictures of places they can read.

4. When child returns camera the teacher will download images to classroom computer.

5. Teacher will create a book titled " I Can Read Places." Each page will have a different image. For example the photo of McDonalds sign would say " I Can Read McDonalds."

6. Publish book and make copy for each student or one copy for classroom library.

Assessment: Have each child read the book pointing to words and reading the evnvriomental print.

This lesson is great for the beginning of kindergarten. Some benefits are: reaches multiple intelligences, helps ESOL students with surrondings, brings students and families together with a home/school connection and encourages reading. Best of all students get to use a camera.