iPad Basics: Camera Introduction Lesson

I recently introduced the camera app in several kindergarten classes.  Teaching students how to work the camera lays the groundwork for using content creation apps throughout the year.  Students will be able to take pictures to document skills we are practicing or what they are learning.

I taught several mini lessons, over the span three days, on the basic features of the iPad camera.   I would model each of these skills, then the students would practice.  I would take good and not good photos for each item so we could talk about the difference.

Camera Basics:

• take a photo
• delete a photo
• delete multiple photos at the same time
• focus the camera while taking a photo
• double tap for the yellow square
• hold the iPad steady (you may need to prop up on your elbows)
• zoom in with a two finger pinch
• zoom in by moving closer to the object is best
• change from front to back cameras
• switch to video
• crop a photo

After our intro to the camera mini-lessons, the students completed a short activity to practice using the camera the following day.  Since kindergarteners were practicing counting to 10, we had the students count groups of objects and practice taking photos.

Materials: number cards and math manipulatives

With this activity we could quickly see where students were on their counting skills.  After looking at the photos, we had the students recount pictures where we saw an error.