Species in focus: A photo critique activity

Species In Focus Activity

I expanded this activity in the following manner:

Prior to viewing photographs I showed students some data submissions from the Vital Signs sites. In particular I focused on species identifying photos. We talked about what were good photos and what were not. I then directed students to create a T-chart graphic organizer in their science notebooks. The two headings on the chart are: Good Characteristics and Bad Characteristics. Students were then directed to review the photos from the Species in Focus collection, entering comments about each photo on the T-chart under the appropriate headings. Comments needed to be specific and descriptive.

Students then paired with one other student to generate a list of common traits of good and bad photos. These two students then paired with two others to generate another list that summarized all four students ideas about good and bad photos.

We then discussed rubrics and how a photo quality rubric could help students take and choose photos for their data submission. Each student was to create a photo rubric to be used to determine if a photo would be used as part of the data submitted to Vital Signs.

For homework students were assigned to take photos of some plant or other organism that we would try to identify from the photo. Photos were to be downloaded to their laptops before the next class. Photo rubrics were also due at the next class.

During the next class students shared their photos and used their rubrics to review and critique each other’s photos.

The goal of this assignment was to help students determine what a good species identification photo would show, plan and take these photos and use their developed rubrics to help choose photos for their group’s Vital Sign data observations.