Portraits That Speak

Unit Context

This is Lesson 7 of 10: Portrait Photography: Capturing People
Year Level: 4
Subject: Other (Visual Arts – Media Arts focus)
Duration: 40 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

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Australian Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area: The Arts - Media Arts and Visual Arts

(Years 3 and 4 level)

Content Descriptions:

• Visual Arts:
  • AC9AVA4D01 – Experiment with a range of ways to use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials .
  • AC9AVA4P01 – Share and/or display artworks and/or visual arts practice in informal settings .
• Media Arts:
  • AC9AMA4E02 – Explore how First Nations Australians use media arts to communicate cultural connection and creativity (reference for cultural sensitivity and respect) .
  • Use a camera and media technologies to experiment with image-making, focusing on representation of people and emotions.

General Capabilities:

• Literacy (describing, discussing photograph features)
• Critical and Creative Thinking (posing, capturing personality, selecting framing)
• Personal and Social Capability (collaborating, respecting subjects)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify key techniques for capturing personality and emotion in portrait photography.
2. Use posing strategies to make their portraits engaging and representative of their classmate’s character.
3. Apply basic technical skills in handling a camera or tablet for portrait photography.
4. Discuss the artistic choices made in their portraits using correct visual arts terminology.

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Lesson Overview

Time	Activity	Description
0–5 mins	Introduction & Objectives	Teacher explains what portrait photography is and its purpose. Introduce “capturing personality.” Outline safe camera handling.
5–12 mins	Demonstration: Posing and Framing	Teacher model poses; discuss composition elements (frame, background, lighting). Use photos and role-play posing examples.
12–30 mins	Student Photography Practice	Students pair up to take portraits of each other, experimenting with poses and expressions that reveal personality. Teacher circulates, giving tips.
30–38 mins	Reflection and Discussion	Students view some photos together; discuss what worked, focusing on how individual personalities were captured. Discuss feelings about being photographed.
38–40 mins	Wrap-up and Homework	Recap key learnings, assign a mini task: "Take a portrait of a family member showing their personality and bring it to class."

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Detailed Activity Plan

1. Introduction & Objectives (5 minutes)

• Briefly explain portrait photography as the art of capturing a person’s likeness and personality.
• Introduce vocabulary: portrait, pose, expression, lighting, personality.
• Emphasise respect for comfort levels when photographing classmates.
• Connect to prior lessons on photography basics.

2. Demonstration: Posing and Framing (7 minutes)

• Show examples of portraits with different poses and expressions.
• Model 2–3 simple poses students can try (e.g., standing facing forward, smiling, looking thoughtful, angles).
• Discuss how changing pose or angle can change the feeling of the portrait.
• Highlight framing the subject well (filling frame, leaving some space above head, clean background).
• Encourage use of natural light near a window or outdoors if possible.

3. Student Photography Practice (18 minutes)

• Students pair up, take turns being photographer and subject.
• Encourage them to try different poses and expressions.
• Teacher supports with technical advice (camera/tablet hold, focusing, lighting) and artistic advice (pose, framing).
• Include a challenge: "Can you show your partner’s personality in one photo?"
• Remind students to be patient and respectful.

4. Reflection and Discussion (8 minutes)

• Gather students around a display screen or share select photos.
• Facilitate discussion: “What do you see in this portrait? How does it show the person's personality?”
• Ask reflective questions:
  • What made a photo look friendly or serious?
  • How did the pose or expression affect the photo?
• Encourage students to share any thoughts on how it felt to be photographed.

5. Wrap-up and Homework (2 minutes)

• Quickly review the main points: posing, capturing personality, respecting others during photography.
• Set homework to take a portrait of a family member that shows their personality.
• Explain this will be shared in Lesson 8 to continue learning storytelling through photos.

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Resources Needed

• Cameras or tablets with camera functionality (one per pair ideally)
• Example portrait images for demonstration (printed or digital)
• Space for photography with good natural lighting
• Display device to show student portraits

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Assessment

Formative assessment during:

• Observation of student engagement and technique during photography practice.
• Participation and contributions in group reflection/discussion.
• Review of homework portraits in next lesson for demonstration of understanding portraits as personality capture.

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Innovative Ideas to Wow Teachers

• Use a simple app that allows live effects to demonstrate how tone and lighting change portrait feeling.
• Encourage students to verbally interview partners for 1-2 minutes to learn their personality, then capture photos reflecting what they learned.
• Incorporate cultural sensitivity by briefly discussing respectful photography practices, referencing how First Nations artists use media arts to express identity and connection (age-appropriate discussion) .
• Use Viewpoints questioning strategy from the curriculum (e.g., "What is my subject’s personality?", "How can I show this through pose and expression?") to deepen creative thinking.

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This lesson plan provides a highly practical, engaging approach to portrait photography that meets Australian Curriculum Visual Arts and Media Arts standards for Year 4, emphasising creativity, technical skills, and respectful representation of people in visual media.