This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I have the honor of being the art teacher at a very special urban elementary school on the South side of Dallas.
Each of our 540 students, grades kindergarten through 5th, have the opportunity to explore and create during a weekly, 45 minute, art lesson.
In our "studio" children play, sing, paint, draw, sculpt, design, analyze, observe, and learn. We discover and connect with the world around us through art while delving into the history and concepts behind famous masterpieces.
My Project
One of the most exciting things we do in my classroom each year is our School-Wide Photography show. Students from Kindergarten to 5th grade are encouraged to capture images of their community and neighborhoods from their own unique perspectives. Each year this initial project provides me insight on who among my 500 plus students shows a special interest or talent in photography. These particular students are invited to become a part of the school photojournalism team and are given special instruction on shooting and framing with a camera. I love to provide this service knowing that many of my past students have benefited immensely from it, going on to start careers in photography. I shadow these students as they photograph special school events as well as common everyday scenes. The students are allowed access to a digital SLR camera for the best quality images but I often find that some of their best photos just don't turn out well as the lens we have does not perform well in low light settings.
We need a 50mm lens to allow photo journalism students to capture the beauty of our school community.
Often times during instruction around the school, the teachers will turn off the lights for various reasons, including during a projected presentation. A low-light lens will allow us to capture the magic of teaching and learning taking place in at any time.
For a young artist, there are few things more invigorating than to overhear an adult comment in disbelief "A fifth grader made this?!" I am certain that your gift of a 50 mm lens would provide my students access to locations and photographs that that cannot be captured with the average lens and thus broaden their horizons.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Mitchell and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
