G. Photo Storybooks

The objectives of this section are to encourage learners to make decisions and plans and to have each one make a photo storybook. It is a lengthy exercise and may be spread over a number of learning sessions.

In addition to the usual supplies, you will need a camera and film enough for four photos for each learner, with an allowance for waste. I use a Polaroid camera for instant results. If you have access to 24-hour photo developing, a regular camera could be used.

You will need something to make the booklet covers, such as coloured paper, plastic report covers or covered cardboard.

1. Booklet construction

* Show learners a sample photo storybook which you have made to show the method of binding that you will use. Indicate the four photos with captions and the title on the cover.

* Ask learners to construct the booklets before they plan their stories, if they will be making their own covers. If not, ask them to choose the report cover they will use.

* While they are working, ask them to think about details of their life at school that they would like to put in a book to share with friends and family.

2. Story planning

* Ask the group to work together to plan their books around such themes as "What I Do at School," "My First Day in Class," "My School Day."

* Ask for a volunteer to plan her story. Ask the volunteer if she knows what she would like her story to be about. If she is stuck, get suggestions from the group. When she has chosen a theme, write her name on the flip chart along with her story theme.

* Draw four squares on the first volunteer's page on the flip chart, as a record of her plan. Draw similar squares on the blackboard to work things out initially. The learner, with help from the group, should plan the four photos that will tell her story. Stick figures and simple shapes will do.

* When the volunteer and the group are satisfied that the four planned photos will form a story, transfer the sketches onto the squares on the flip chart. Hang the page on the wall.

* Follow the same steps for each learner in the group until everyone has her story plan on the wall.

3. Picture production

* Choose the photographer according to experience and willingness. Ask for volunteer actors for staging the photos. The rest of the group will act as the critical audience of the photo poses.

* Have the photographer and the actors practise posing each person's planned photos according to the story-planning pages. Get the group's opinion as they practise for ways of improving the staging of the planned photos. Try to show people in action. When the group, and the person whose story it is, is satisfied with the poses, have the photographer take the photographs. Expect dud photos. Each learner should end up with four acceptable photos for her story.

* Ask each learner to tape her finished photos over the four squares on her posted story-planning page.

4. Caption writing and booklet completion

* Ask learners to write a caption for each photo on a strip of paper and attach it to her story-planning page.

* When all the captions are up on each learner's story-planning page, ask the learners to read all the stories. Ask them, "Are there spelling mistakes? Do the stories make sense?" Make the necessary corrections and changes on each story-planning page.

* Have the learners copy their photo captions neatly onto paper strips.

* Ask each learner to remove her photos from her story-planning flip chart, paste them into her prepared booklet and transfer the captions.

* Ask the learners to choose a title and write it on the cover of their prepared booklets

* Congratulate and praise each other - all have worked hard and have a photo storybook to show for it.