Digital Photos and Videos – Reception 

Introduction
Possibly the biggest change in technology over the past 10 years has been the use of photos and videos. Virtually everyone has a portable camera in their pocket. For 4 and 5 year old children, they will only know photos that have been taken with mobile phones and tablets – even digital cameras are less common. These activities allow children to understand the different ways photos and videos can be taken then how they can be used and shared.

 Taking photo and videos

Discussion and Questions
What is the difference between a photo and video? (show examples)
Why do people take photos and videos?
What could be used to take photos and videos?
Discuss and demonstrate with the children the different ways digital photos can be taken (mobile phone, digital camera, tablet, laptop, camcorder) and why people use different devices to take photos and videos.
Where can we get other photos from? (Saved from the internet)
How can photos be shared? (link with discussion on e-safety).
Also demonstrate other camera techniques such as time-lapse (most digital cameras and iPads now have this feature) and maybe setup an example such as capturing chicks hatching. You could also make animations together in apps such as Puppet Pals. (see video tutorial below

Puppet Pals tutorial plus pupil example

Activities
The children can use the different technology to take photos and videos of different activities or objects, such as mini beasts, children performing PE activities (linked to keeping fit) or pieces of their work. The children should be allowed to choose which device they use to take photos/videos and explain why they have chosen it.

On a device such as iPad, a slideshow could be created around a certain theme such as pictures of holiday resorts or houses to be included travel agent or estate agents role play area.  

Using Photos and Videos

Discussion and Questions
Where do photos and videos go once we have taken them?
(Explain that photos/videos go into the memory of the camera/device but can then be sent to computers)
Why do we put photos and videos on a computer? (so we can edit them with a bigger screen)

Activities
1. The children can play and view the photos they have taken firstly on the camera or device they have used by moving through the photos and videos (play/pause etc) on the camera or tablet.
2.   The photos can be edited  – on an iPad the children could experiment by going to the Photos app and changing the size, colour filter (There is information about this here). Alternatively the photos and videos could be downloaded onto a computer and the children could use Photos in Windows.

Green Screen
The Do Ink Green Screen iPad App can be used by EYFS teachers to take photos or videos of the children and then place them against and background image. This works well for Christmas/celebration cards (see example above) and video performances. Pupils could be supported to choose an appropriate image for their background. We have made a video tutorial below. 

Augmented Reality
Augmented reality puts digital elements over real life using the camera. We have made video tutorials below for AR Makr app and Chatterpix

AR Makr

ChatterPIX