Exploring Digital Photography

Overview

This 6-week unit is designed for Year 7 SEN students, including non-verbal learners, focusing on digital photography skills that support self-development, communication, and observation using devices such as tablets or digital cameras. The thematic approach reflects personal experience, everyday life, and culture, aligned to the National Curriculum for England (Art & Design and Computing). Each lesson is 45 minutes, for a class of 10 students, with highly differentiated learning objectives targeted at Secure, Developing, and Emerging abilities.

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National Curriculum Links

Art & Design

• KS3 Programme of Study: Develop ideas, techniques and processes (ACAD04): Pupils should be taught to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas.
• Respond to ideas and starting points, exploring visual language for communication (ACAD06)
• Use ICT confidently to create, organise and manipulate images (ACAD08)

Computing

• Select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create content that accomplishes given goals, including presenting data and information (KS3 Computing)
• Use logical reasoning to explain how simple algorithms work (Computing - linked concept)

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Weekly Themes & Learning Objectives

Week	Theme	Focus	Vocabulary	Differentiated Objectives (‘I can’ statements)
1	Press and Take	How to use a camera/tablet app	camera, press, focus, photo, capture	Secure: I can take a clear photo using a digital device. Developing: I can press the button to take a photo with some help. Emerging: I can understand to press a button to start the camera.
2	My Favourite Things	Taking photos of personal favourite objects	favourite, object, photo, digital	Secure: I can photograph my favourite object independently. Developing: I can choose and photograph an object with support. Emerging: I can look at an object and watch the camera screen.
3	Colours Around Me	Capturing colours outdoors or indoors	colour, bright, dark, light, shade	Secure: I can find and photograph 3 different colours. Developing: I can identify and photograph 2 colours with help. Emerging: I can see different colours and watch the screen.
4	People and Faces	Taking portraits/facial photos	face, smile, eyes, expression	Secure: I can take photos of people with different facial expressions. Developing: I can take a photo of a person smiling with support. Emerging: I can watch people’s faces and enjoy looking at the photos.
5	My Day Routine	Photographing daily activities (e.g., brushing teeth, eating)	routine, morning, evening, activity	Secure: I can photograph different parts of my daily routine. Developing: I can take photos of 1 or 2 daily activities with help. Emerging: I can watch pictures of daily activities and recognise them.
6	My Favourite Photos	Reviewing and communicating about favourite photos	favourite, like, share, communicate	Secure: I can choose and explain why I like my favourite photo. Developing: I can point to my favourite photo and say why with support. Emerging: I can look at my photos and show smiles or gestures.

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Lesson 1: Press and Take

Learning Objectives

• Secure: I can take a clear photo using a digital device.
• Developing: I can press the button to take a photo with some help.
• Emerging: I can understand to press a button to start the camera.

Key Vocabulary

• Camera, press, focus, photo, capture

Resources

• Tablets/digital cameras (one per pair ideally)
• Visual cue cards showing camera button and parts
• Large printed buttons (for tactile modelling)
• Worksheet (differentiated, see below)

Activity Outline (45 minutes)

Time	Activity	Notes
0-5 mins	Introduction: Show a tablet/computer camera app. Discuss what a camera does and parts of the camera with cue cards.	Use clear visuals and gestures.
5-15 mins	Demonstration: Teacher models pressing the camera button and taking photos. Use tactile buttons for emerging learners to press.	Allow learners to explore by touching real or model buttons.
15-30 mins	Guided Practice: Students in pairs practise pressing the button and taking photos of classroom objects. Provide support as needed.	Offer individual support; peers can help.
30-40 mins	Photo Sharing: View photos as a class. Praise effort. Discuss what happened when pressing the button.	Use simple sentences and visuals.
40-45 mins	Worksheet: Students complete differentiated worksheet questions.	See below.

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Differentiated Worksheet

Secure

1. Take one photo independently using a device. Name one thing you took a photo of.
2. Circle the camera button in the picture.
3. Draw what you see on the screen after you take a photo.

Developing

1. Press the button with help to take a photo. Point to the object you photographed.
2. Match the camera button symbol to the photo button on the tablet picture.
3. Colour the object you took a photo of.

Emerging

1. Can you press the big button? Yes / No (circle).
2. Look at the photo and point to where the button was pressed.
3. Show with a smile or thumbs up if you liked taking photos.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Check photo outputs: clarity, attempt to frame object, ability to press button
• Use observational notes on student engagement and independence
• Encourage peer and teacher praise, using visual reward charts
• Communicate successes using verbal, visual, or signed language depending on learner needs

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Use multiple sensory inputs: visual (pictures, screens), tactile (buttons), verbal (simple instructions), gestural prompts
• For non-verbal learners, incorporate communication aids (e.g., symbol exchange communication systems) to express preferences and observations
• Scaffold activities with careful modelling and repeated practice
• Peer pairing encourages social interaction and support
• Calm quiet spaces available for sensory breaks

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Ideas to Wow Teachers

• Use screen recording within the device to capture ‘behind the scene’ progress of students’ photo-taking, review afterwards for reflection.
• Incorporate a “Photo of the Week” digital slideshow to celebrate progress, accessible to all learners.
• Use a switch-adapted camera app for emerging learners with limited motor control for inclusive participation.
• Integrate simple coding apps (from computing curriculum) to create photo collages or slideshows in later weeks to connect computing to photography.

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Would you like the detailed weekly lesson plans for the subsequent weeks as well?