Description: Students take creative photographs of their local community through nature’s eyes: from a bird’s perspective, through a tree’s branches, or from the perspective of an insect.
Intention: Students develop digital, artistic, and photography skills while exploring environmental storytelling and seeing their local environment from new perspectives.
- Choose a nearby area, natural or urban, that is large enough for students to explore and take different kinds of photographs.
- Inform students that they will be working outside and ask them to bring suitable clothing, shoes, and a phone or camera.
- Agree on the area students can explore and briefly discuss outdoor safety and how to treat nature respectfully.
Introduce the activity
Explain the idea of point-of-view photography: students will imagine seeing the world through the eyes of an animal, insect, or plant. Give a few examples, such as a bee on a flower, a bird in a tree, or a worm looking through the grass. Briefly discuss how changing the angle or position of the camera can change the story.
Choose a topic
Students choose an environmental theme they can find around the school or in the local area, such as biodiversity, waste, flooding, soil, or pollution. They decide whose perspective they want to use.
Plan and take photos
Go outside and give students time to explore and photograph. Encourage them to experiment with different angles, distances, framing, and lighting. They should take several photos rather than settling immediately on their first idea. Remind them to respect nature and stay within the agreed area.
Choose a favourite
Back in the classroom, students look through their photos and choose one that best communicates their idea. Ask them to briefly explain to a partner what perspective and environmental theme they chose.
Nature’s Point of View – Part 1, students continue working with their photographs by putting their ideas into words and creating an exhibition to share their work with others.
Didactic tips
- This activity can easily be divided into two activities of 30–60 minutes.
- The activity aligns closely with the Nature’s Point of View – Part 1 method.
- Limit students to 3–5 photos to encourage thoughtful choices and make it easier to select a favourite.
- If students are leaving the school grounds, follow your school’s supervision and safety procedures and consider involving additional adults where appropriate.