A Class Project Inspired by Flotsam

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By Melissa Techman September 7, 2010

Need a book that can spark some technology-rich ideas? Look no further than David Wiesner's absorbing underwater fantasy Flotsam (Clarion, 2006). Excited by the chance to try new projects this year, I decided to have fifth graders create their own artifacts similar to the mysterious picture-within-picture photos discovered by the book's science-minded main character.

In our project, the smallest embedded photo will show a clue that relates to a time period the students are studying.

Each group about four or five kids will be given a digital camera and a short checklist. A student who helps me with technology will show the class via a document camera how to use their cameras, choosing fine image quality settings, in this case, and avoiding the zoom function. Our goal is to have fewer pictures with more pixels and larger file size.

Then each group takes a picture of one person, either with an interesting background, or holding an object, like a pyramid or a small tipi, etc. After printing the photo, the second person holds the photo of the first person. Repeat the process until everyone in the group has been photographed.

As a class, students will examine copies of the photos and connect each clue to a time period. Prompted by our principal Kendra King's goal of interschool connection, we'll share these photos with other schools and discuss during Skype sessions.

Copies of the photos can decorate the hall, along with an enlarged book cover and more images of undersea curiosities.

Now, to schedule the one-man submarine inventor.

About the author: Melissa Techman is a teacher librarian at Broadus Wood Elementary School in Albemarle County, VA.

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