‘Snapshots of Joy’: Using Photography and Written Word to Cultivate Community within a Classroom

Abstract

This article presents, with hopes of replication, a program designed to foster the social-emotional growth, community, connection and self-discovery for students through a program called “Snapshots of Joy”. The multi-part program encourages students, of any grade level and any discipline, to take photographs of things that bring them joy, create an...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Children and Youth, Education, Emotions, Social Psychology

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Medium

Usage Notes

This classroom activity can be used in a number of different sociology classes including Introduction to Sociology or any other elective course related to childhood, education or emotions. To thoroughly utilize this activity, it will entail dedicating either three or four class periods over a span of multiple weeks. This exercise is best suited for...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. 1. to understand the sociological relevance and importance of studying happiness and joy
2. 2. to foster the social-emotional learning of the participants
   
   
3. 3. to learn the replication process of this exercise to employ in their future employment

Goal Assessment(s):

1. 1. During the final exhibit, students can share their process, their feelings and their outcomes of this exercise
   
   
2. 2. In a written response, students can submit a one word or one sentence description of how this exercise made them feel
3. 3. In course discussions, students can share the broader impact of this exercise