High School Grade  Project 4 weeks

Snap Squad: Picture Perfect Portraits

Kari G
AI.F-IF.A.3
WHI.T3.9
WHII.T4.13
WHII.T5.7
WHI.T2.4
+ 5 more
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The Challenge

The challenge is to establish a sustainable portrait photography business that effectively serves a diverse school district, ensuring high-quality products while navigating the complexities of entrepreneurial operations. This involves mastering technical photography skills, understanding customer needs, and managing logistics to deliver timely and satisfactory services.
Challenge Question
How can students utilize entrepreneurial thinking and collaboration to create a successful portrait photography business that meets community needs and generates positive financial outcomes?
Standards
  • [Massachusetts] AI.F-IF.A.3 - Recognize that sequences are functions, sometimes defined recursively, whose domain is a subset of the integers.
  • [Massachusetts] WHI.T3.9 - Explain the global consequences of diseases, focusing on the Bubonic plague and its spread through the Eurasian and African trade routes several times, in particular the severity of the impact of the disease on mortality rates in Europe, Africa, and Asia in the 15th century CE.
  • [Massachusetts] WHII.T4.13 - Describe the Holocaust, including its roots in Christian anti-Semitism, 19th century ideas about race and nation, and the Nazi dehumanization and planned extermination of the Jews and persecution of LGBT and Gypsy/Roma people.
  • [Massachusetts] WHII.T5.7 - Explain the background for the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948, and subsequent military and political conflicts.
  • [Massachusetts] WHI.T2.4 - Describe indigenous religious practices in Africa and explain how these practices survived and shaped African Christian and Islamic religions.
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.

Learning Partners and Clients

A professional photographer will serve as a learning partner, guiding students through the technical and artistic aspects of portrait photography. Additionally, students will engage with clients—parents and guardians within the school district—by capturing and delivering personalized portrait packages. This collaboration will provide students with real-world insights into client relations and business operations, enhancing their entrepreneurial and communication skills.

Phase Outcomes

Phase Learning Outcome
Discover
I can identify the challenge and its root causes through an engaging launch activity, sparking curiosity about the intricacies of running a successful portrait photography business.
Examine
I can research the processes involved in commercial photography, including marketing strategies and customer service, to understand the factors that impact business success.
Engineer
I can develop a comprehensive plan to create and operate a portrait photography company, ensuring that the solution meets the needs of the school district and achieves high-quality results.
Do
I can implement my photography business plan by capturing, editing, and delivering portraits, while collecting feedback to assess the effectiveness and quality of my work.
Share
I can share my photography project and learning journey through a presentation to peers, school staff, and families, highlighting my personal growth and the impact of my work on the community.