Camera Obscura Lesson

This lesson is based on a 24 student classroom.

45 Minute High School Photography Class

Samantha Lindsey
Materials
Computer with projector or smartboard. All materials will be at the front of
the classroom prior to the lesson so students can see the materials that they
will be permitted to work with.
Materials for the students;
● Black Trash Bags
● White Butcher Paper
● Cardboard of various sizes
● 5 lenses (premade from cardboard and a washer with the center of
the washer cut out)
● Masking Tape (4 rolls)
● Blue Painters Tape (4 rolls)
● Large Poster of pin hole camera box
● Group cards explaining their role in the process
Handout/Poster
 Warm up
Students, please grab a crossword,
you have about 5 minutes to
complete this.

Do not turn on your computers

today as we will not need them.
Objective:

Students will be able to

understand how to build a
Students will have prior knowledge of
camera obscura/pinhole camera
the vocabulary and the information
and be able to explain the parts needed to complete this project.
of the device and how it works.
 Direct Instruction Material List:

● Black Trash Bags

Today we will be creating a camera Obscura out of our classroom. In previous lessons ● White Butcher Paper
we have gathered information on the Camera Obscura or Pinhole Camera and how it ● Cardboard of various sizes
works, Today you will be using that knowledge to create this device. ● 5 lenses (premade from
●
cardboard and a washer
What do you remember about the Camera Obscura and the Pinhole camera?
with the center of the
● How does a Camera Obscura work? washer cut out)
● Masking Tape (4 rolls)
● Is it better to have more or less light in the room? ● Blue Painters Tape (4 rolls)
● Large Poster of pin hole
● What is a light ray?
camera box
● Is a lens required to make an image?
 What is a Camera Obscura and how does it work?
● Camera Obscura means Dark Room, the room or box must be
completely blacked out.
● The camera obscura was originally used for artists to be able to see
what they were drawing easier.
● Unnecessary light in the room will make the image harder to see.
● Light rays travel through a hole or lens and are projected upside down
on a wall opposite the lens, this is still how camera process images
today.
● The images are best shown on a blank white wall/surface.
● A lens will help to make the image clearer but is not needed, a hole in
the window letting in light will work just as well.
● The Camera Obscura is what helped William Henry Fox Talbot make
the first Camera.
● The Camera Obscura didn’t take pictures.
Handout/Poster
Group Roles
● Task Manager/Timekeeper: The students in this role will be expected to keep their classmates on task and keep
an eye on the time that is left for students to complete the project.

● Wall Covering Engineers: The task of this group is to determine the best wall for the images to be projected onto
and cover the posters and other objects on that wall using the white butcher paper. This group will need to
collaborate with the lens group to ensure that the wall they are covering is opposite of where the lenses will be
placed.
● Window Blackout Engineer: The roll of this group is to cover all the windows in the classroom with the
cardboard and the black trash bags, this group should be collaborating with the lens group to determine where
the lenses will go and make sure there is cardboard on those windows.

● Lense Placement Engineers: This group will need to collaborate with multiple groups to determine the best
location for the lenses to be placed correctly and they will need to decide what height to place the lenses at, the
lenses should be placed to show the same viewpoint from different locations on the window.

● Recorders and Summarizers: These students should be recording the progression of the project, what worked
best and what did not work well. They should also make notes on where the lenses are and what is seen in the
images projected on the wall.
Group direction
Task Manager/Timekeepers: 3
Wall Cover Engineers: 2 groups of 4 (8)
Window Blackout Engineers: 2 groups of 4 (8)
Lense Placement Engineers: 3
Recorders and Summarizers: 2

When you receive your card please got to the designated spot in the classroom, once there you may start working
with your group members to come up with a plan. After a plan is made please come get your materials and begin.

You will have a total of 25 minutes to complete the project. At the 5 minute mark one of the instructors will turn
off the lights and we will begin testing the camera. (If the camera is finished before the time is up we will begin
looking at the different images at that time.

Time warnings will be given at 5 minute intervals starting with 15 minutes left in the project.

You may cut and tear the cardboard and trash bags in any way you need to complete the project.

Once the lenses are placed please find an instructor so that we can cut the hole from the center.
 Project Execution

During this time students will be working in their groups to complete the project. The instructors will be monitoring the classroom and
checking in with groups as the students continue working. The instructor will give time warnings at 5 minute intervals. The instructor will
also be watching over students safety and making sure that no students are misusing materials during the project.
 Testing the Camera
Students will be give the time to test the camera and the different
lenses, they will have time to view the images and discuss what they
see in the images.

What is similar about the images?

What is different?
Can you see more in some than others?
Debrief
● What challenges did you have during the project? Was it easy or hard?
● What do you think about the final outcome of the project?
● Did you finish the project in the time allowed to them or do they need to continue the project into
tomorrow?
Exit Ticket

Did the Camera Obscura work? Why or why not? Remember to use terms you have
learned and describe in detail.