BP6_2009112_Flickr_in_the_Classroom

In regards to the Web 2.0 tool Flickr, I searched the web for a lesson or two that I might be able to use with my high school students. As an English teacher, I was looking for something that involved writing, critical thinking, and/or the use of a piece of literature, such as a short story, fable, or poem. While I did not find something exactly like I would want to use, I did get some ideas from some others' posted ideas.

One idea that would work with my poetry unit involves choosing a photo that "goes with" a poem or a couple of lines from a poem. With my lower level students, I would have to give the students the lines to use, then ask them to find or take a picture that they feel "describes" those lines of poetry. As the yearbook adviser, I could probably even allow students without cameras to use my cameras (around the school) to take their own pictures. This would probably make the lesson more meaningful to students. I would create a group in my Flickr account for students to post their pictures and poetry lines to. Then everyone could view the class photos!

An idea that I did find in my web research was called "Six Word Story." It appears that this is a very popular Flickr activity with many people, even those who are not teachers. Just as it sounds, the object is to make up a "story" about a given picture, using six words. I looked at several samples and was quite amused by it. There were some great photos and awesome "Six Word Stories" of the pictures. I know that my high schoolers would love doing the activity.

I have never thought about doing these kinds of activities with my students before, but I am definitely curious about the possibilities that the lessons could hold, as well as how my students would react to the activities.