Sometimes we get so focused on the details that we miss the bigger picture. While this can cause problems, it can also be a lot of fun! This family friendly activity encourages kids to use their creativity and look at things in their environment in a slightly different way.
Goal: Take pictures of well-known objects using the zoom function on a digital camera to see if other people can guess what the objects in the pictures are.
Example: Visit the National Geographic Kids website and explore the “What in the World?” section.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: As much or as little as you'd like
Here's How:
- Find an object that will be familiar to friends and family.
- Zoom in on the object using the zoom function on the camera and take a picture. Try to focus on an area of the object that will give clues about what it is, such as the edges, special patterns and different colors that make it unique.
- Download the photos onto your computer and use the photo editing software to crop them. [“Cropping” means cutting off the excess parts around the edge of a picture, so you can focus on just thing things you want people to see. Read your software documentation if you don’t know how to use this feature.]
- Test your family and friends on the computer, or print the photos out and make a booklet.
- For more fun, try creating word puzzles similar to the “What in the World?” examples from National Geographic Kids.
Tips:
- Start out with larger objects, especially if your camera doesn't have a strong zoom.
- Stuck for ideas on what to photograph? Try close-ups of carpet, a pet’s fur, tree bark, grass, and flowers.
- Turn off the flash if you're very close to the things you're photographing. Try a different light source so they don't get washed out.
- Just in case you didn't guess, the object in the above photo is a kayak.
What You Need:
- A digital camera with zoom
- A computer to download photos from the camera
- Access to everyday objects around the house or in the back yard.
- Photo editing software (optional)
- Printer (optional)
- Art supplies (optional)
